Freshmen will play vital role for men's basketball

With the start of the men's basketball season just two days away, it is still anyone's guess how the Tigers will fare in and out of the Ivy League. Most years, the dynamic of a team is apparent heading in as role players step in to fill the shoes of graduated seniors. But this year will be different for head coach John Thompson '88 and his coaching staff.

With freshmen occupying seven of the squad's 16 roster spots, the play of the first-year men will go a long way toward determining whether Princeton can get back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2001. And while their true impact cannot be judged until they are tested in game situations, there are early signs that these seven youngsters might contribute as much, on the whole, as any incoming class in recent history.

"This group is very intelligent," Thompson said. "They are a great class in terms of basketball IQ and competitiveness. They all won in high school, and they are bringing that attitude here."

Not only did these kids win, they won big-time titles in big-time places. Among the list of accolades for their teams are a California state championship, a city crown in Washington, D.C., and countless league and county titles.

They also garnered a fair share of personal awards. Among them were numerous all-league, all-area, all-region and all-state honors, with several Most Valuable Player awards thrown into the mix. Looks more like the resume of a Kansas recruiting class than an Ivy League one.

"That is the power of Princeton University," Thompson explained. "Any player in the country will return your calls because they are impressed by this school. We also have a good program with a lot of tradition. That's the draw of this institution."

That appeal helped Thompson land Princeton's most acclaimed recruit in six-foot, eight-inch forward Harrison Schaen. Schaen hails from perennial powerhouse Mater Dei High School in California. Schaen made his national debut last winter when Mater Dei, No. 4 in the country at the time, faced off against No. 9 St. Vincent-St. Mary's of Ohio. The game was broadcast on ESPN2, as St. Vincent's boasted the country's biggest high school phenom in LeBron James.

Despite losing to the No. 1 pick in last June's NBA draft, Schaen still led Mater Dei to a 34-2 record and California state championship. At the season's end, he was named team MVP.

"Harrison is going to be a great player," Thompson said. "He's athletic, he's quick, and he rebounds the ball very well. Unfortunately, in high school, his team won by such large margins that he would only play one quarter and then sit on the bench. He just needs some playing time to get acclimated."

Luke Owings is another frosh that Thompson believes can contribute right away. The 6'6" swingman led Thompson's alma mater Gonzaga to the D.C. city title last year as a senior. He was a first-team all-league selection and has a competitive fire rarely seen in first year players.

"Luke has grasped what we are trying to do better than anyone, period," Thompson said. "He makes shots, he's a good passer, and he knows how to play. He understands the game and our approach to it."

Max Schafer is the other player that should see significant playing time at the onset. A New Jersey native, Schafer will see plenty of time in the backcourt at point guard. "Max is a tough kid," Thompson said. "He's played a lot of ball in his time, and he's a scorer. Now he's just trying to figure out the system."

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Rounding out the recruiting class are Edwin Buffmire, a 6'4" guard out of Phoenix, Patrick Ekeruo, a 6'8" forward from the Bay Area, 6'7" forward Michael Rudoy from Chicago and the big man of the group, 6'10" center John Reynolds from Greenville, SC.

Though untested and unproven, this year's freshmen have created a buzz surrounding the program that has been absent from Jadwin Gymnasium for three years. Experience may lead the Tigers this year, but the play of Thompson's freshmen will likely determine the team's ultimate success.