We start the inaugural basketball notebook of the new season with a look at the finest Harvard freshman in years, forward Neil Phillips.

The Germantown, Md. native has scored in double figures in each of the cagers' five games and leads the team with 66 points (13.2 points per game). Furthermore, Phillips has shot field goals at over a 65 percent clip (29-44), good enough to lead the squad in that department as well.

Not only has the 6-ft., 5-in. big man put up some excellent overall statistics, but he has been there in the clutch for Harvard (2-3 overall) this year.

In the Crimson's opening game against Merrimack, a 63-62 loss, Phillips made a last-second steal and got off a 16-ft. heave as time ran out.

That shot fell short, but in Harvard's next game against Vermont, the freshman sensation hit a four-ft. bank shot at the buzzer to give the cagers their first win of the year, 64-62.

And to top that all off, Phillips sunk a shot in the last minute of the New Hampshire game, sending that contest into overtime (where Harvard eventually lost, 65-62).

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Not that it means anything, but: in each of the three games featuring last-second Phillips heroics, the losing team scored 62 points.

Makes you wonder, hub?

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Junior guard Keith Webster suffered a jolting in the Merrimack game. After just two minutes of play, the Masuk High School graduate was thrown to the floor in a loose ball struggle, and had to sit out the remainder of the contest.

Nevertheless, Webster has bounced back with four consecutive double-figure outings. His 25 points against Holy Cross were a career high, and his season total of 63 points places the Monroe, Ct. native second on the team behind Phillips.

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The Class of '89 is certainly making its presence felt. In Tuesday's 86-50 trouncing of the Engineers, the Yardlings contributed 57 points.

All of last year, freshmen scored a total of just 41 points.