Scheduling presents a similar challenge off the ice. Although the recent success of the Harvard basketball program has aided the Crimson’s ability to draw high profile non-conference opponents, the professional realm has still been a challenge for hoopsters to conquer.

“Professionally, I think coming from Harvard does put you back,” said former co-captain Keith Wright ’12. “I think [Houston Rockets guard] Jeremy Lin [’10] opened the door a little bit.... I was talking to different teams, and one of the main things they brought up was that you’re not playing the top competition coming from the Ivy League.”

Wright, the 2010-11 Ivy League Player of the Year, went undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft and took his low-post game to Sweden, where he shot nearly 60 percent from the field for Uppsala Basket this past year.

While Wright has enjoyed success with the prominent club team, he is ready to pursue his childhood dream. Now back in the U.S., Wright plans to make another run at the big leagues, just as many undrafted athletes have done before.

“Me not making it in was based solely on them wanting to see professional success and professional experience,” Wright says. “I had to go out and prove myself.”

—Staff writer Samantha Lin can be reached at samanthalin@college.harvard.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @linsamnity.

—Staff writer Cordelia F. Mendez can be reached at cordeliamendez@college.harvard.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @CrimsonCordelia.