"Harvard was never considered very good in basketball, but Coach Sullivan's really turned the program around," Prasse-Freeman said. "He's really developed a consistent ethic of winning, and knowing that Timmy was graduating, I was really excited that I'd get a chance to come play and help a program that was really on its way up."

However, Prasse-Freeman wasn't the only highly touted guard to choose Harvard. Alongside him, 6'4, 180-lb. shooting guard Brady Merchant will likely make an impact this year behind Long.

A good defensive player with the ability to dunk the ball, Merchant grew up in Lebanon, Ohio playing high school basketball on his father's team.

"My dad was the high school basketball coach and I've grown up around basketball all my life," Merchant said. "It was great playing for him, because if I didn't understand something, I could just go home and ask him. It's different now that I can't just go home and ask the coach questions, but the entire coaching staff has been just so helpful. They've just made it so easy, and they really want to teach us and help us learn."

Merchant's Harvard career got off to a rough start, however, as he pulled his groin a week before Sunday's exhibition season started and had to sit out.

Merchant is the third Crimson guard to fall to injury in recent weeks, but he's hopeful that after resting this week he will be ready to go.

"It's definitely set me back personally," Merchant said. "Right now I'm not sure what my role on the team's going to be and I'm just looking to find mine. Everyone has to find their role, but I see myself contributing a lot defensively early on."

Likewise, freshmen forward Onnie Mayshak will probably make his mark on the defensive end.