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Recruiting rundown: Top-100 forward takes unique route to Harvard

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Mike Miller

Harvard-Westlake (Calif.) power forward Zena Edosomwan, a bullish 6-8 interior presence, has the type of frame and skill set that made him the recipient for dozens of high-major scholarship offers, including many from his Pac-12 backyard. During his high school years, he has steadily grew from 6-6 to 6-8, adding post skills to his typical intensity and blue collar work in the paint.

A player such as Edosomwan usually would not have refused scholarship offers that UCLA, and to a lesser extent USC, had offered.

But Edosomwan will take a unique path to college though, as despite being one of the few remaining top-100 players, he will delay his entry to college hoops. As Edosomwan works to obtain the academic profile needed to enter Harvard and play for coach Tommy Amaker (pictured), he’ll prep next season at Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.) with the expectation of matriculating to Harvard for the 2013-2014 season, following a weekend commitment.

There aren’t many players, if any, in the Ivy League who have the upside and physical attributes that Edosomwan possesses. He played well last spring and summer on the grassroots circuit for Belmont Shore, and is a steady and talented presence ideally suited to play power forward at the high-major level.

His commitment to Harvard is perhaps a testament to a school that has quietly become a program du jour for high academic profile recruits.

In the Crimson’s 2012 recruiting class, they have borderline top-150 players already committed in point guard Siyani Chambers and spindly shotblocking center Mike Hall. While Edosomwan is clearly on a shortlist of top-100 players who have ever gone to the Ivy League, a year of prep school could make him an absolute beast when he actually hits campus. The Crimson trip to the NCAA tournament this year could become a yearly occurrence if the talent pipeline keeps flowing their way.

Kellon Hassenstab runs Hoopniks.com. Follow him on Twitter @hoopniks.