The two-time defending North Carolina State champions have sent players to Duke, South Carolina and now Harvard. Dee Giger, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard out of Arden (N.C.) Christ School, committed to the Crimson.
“It’s not so much the fact there were bigger schools,” Giger said. “For me, I’ve always been academic-oriented. Conference USA had 5 guys to the league and the ACC had 4-5. It’s not a big deal. For me, I’m more academic. The Harvard name speaks for itself and the education is going to be there.”
As a junior on a loaded team, Giger averaged 10 points a game. Known for his deep stroke and range on him jumper, Giger was attracted to Harvard’s recruiting classes and the chance to come in and be a sniper behind the line.
“Their grand plan for me is to come in shooting,” Giger said. “I’ll have to work hard for my spot but the way they have it set out they want me to come in shooting. They’ve got a lot of nice players to come in that can help me out and I’ve got a lot of chances to get shots. They want me to come in and score.”
Harvard won out over a host of programs largely due to the personal connection it made with Giger. “There wasn’t any other coaches that I had a connection with like I did with Coach Amaker and Coach Will Wade.”