Basketball in the Ivy League explores the complex intricacies of being a college basketball player at an Ivy League school. Orton’s in depth research and stories paint a picture of a basketball world that not many choose to explore. One could argue that Ivy League basketball is almost like the deep unexplored sea portion of college basketball. Often passed over by viewers, analysts, and NBA teams alike, Ivy League schools are home to a plethora of talented players with a strong passion for the game of basketball.

These are schools where student athletes are truly students first and then athletes. Schools where most strut their stuff on the court and in the classroom. Though most may go on to be CEOs, lawyers, or doctors, their spirit of the game is not dampened.  As a former high school basketball player, who played with someone that currently plays for Cornell, this book is particularly meaningful. With stories from the perspective of both players and coaches alike, one truly comes to understand the hardships and triumphs of today’s smartest college athletes. There are no athletic scholarships for these players and rarely is there an NBA contract at the end of the tunnel.

They simply play for the true love of the game. This book travels through an entire season with various teams culminating into the March Madness postseason. It not only touches on the numbers and mechanics of the game, but also the emotional aspects of team dynamics/camaraderie and the struggles of managing academics and athletics. These relatively untold stories are finally done justice.

For anyone who is a serious college basketball fan (or just a basketball fan in general) this is a great choice. The book itself is light, but still a fun and easy read.

Written by Kathy Orton, Outside the Limelight