Tommy Amaker and the Harvard Crimson have struck early in the 2024 recruiting cycle, as the Ivy League bunch landed a big commitment from 2024 Los Angeles (CA) Harvard-Westlake guard Robert Hinton on Thursday. 

“I chose Harvard because of the culture,” Hinton told HoopSeen.com. “The coaching staff is amazing, the program is like a big family, and everyone has each other’s backs. The fact that I will have a shot to play in the NCAA Tournament every year but also graduate with a Harvard degree is amazing to me.”

Hinton, a 6-foot-5 guard, excelled on the travel circuit with the Team Why Not 16U bunch. His offensive skill-set, high basketball IQ, and playmaking ability separated himself from his peers, while also impressing plenty of college coaches in the process. 

Hinton ultimately chose the Crimson over fellow Ivy League foe Princeton, but if he would have waited to make a decision, it’s almost a guarantee that a majority of the Pac-12 would have been vying for his services. Despite that possibility, Hinton and his family are perfectly fine with the decision.

“Harvard was and is my dream school. When I was younger, I would always talk about going to Harvard, and now that I have the opportunity to go to this amazing school and play for this program, I decided I wanted to commit. I knew exactly where I wanted to go, so I didn’t see any positives in just waiting and racking up more offers if I knew where home would be,” Hinton explained.

The junior looks to be yet another impressive pull by Amaker and his staff. To pull it off this early is even more impressive and speaks to Harvard’s success on the hardwood in recent years.

“I love Harvard’s fast-paced style. I think I’ll thrive in it,” he added.

Now, Hinton will turn his focus to the high school season, as he hopes to help lead Harvard-Westlake to another successful season in California. He hopes for a redemption tour after falling in the CIF championship. 

“I’m completely focused on winning league, CIF, and a state championship with my team. Seeing Corona (CA) Centennial celebrate last year in front of us hurt my team. We’re all getting ready to get back to where we were last year.”