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Sports

Vienna Native Thrives On The Court At Princeton

As the Tigers face Harvard tonight in a game that could give his team the Ivy League Title, Ian Hummer reflects on his young career

Ian Hummer was one of the top players in the area during his days at Gonzaga College High School. The Vienna native is finding similar success in the Ivy League.

Hummer,  a sophomore forward for the men’s basketball team at Princeton,
moved into a starting role this season and is a big reason why the Tigers control their own destiny in their quest for an Ivy League crown.

“Playing the amount of minutes I have in my freshman year and starting my
sophomore year has been pretty surprising,” Hummer said. “But I think I’ve been
playing pretty well and I’m just hoping to keep it going.”

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Hummer is averaging a team-best 13.9 points per game and is also grabbing 6.8 rebounds per contest. He has started in all 25 games this season and has helped lead the Tigers to a 20-5 record. After seeing time in 31 games off the bench last year, Hummer was ready to step into a starting spot this winter.

Hummer is part of a remarkable turnaround in the men's baskebtall program at Princeton. The proud program had fallen on hard times in recent years and hasn’t won an Ivy League title since 2004. This year, Hummer and the Tigers are completing a remarkable turnaround as they remain tied for first place with five games remaining.

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“The juniors and seniors before me did a great job,” Hummer said. “I’ve just been
one of the pieces that have been part of this program that’s gone from a losing record to where we are now. I think it’s a full team effort.”

One of the biggest challenges for Hummer is the same challenge that every Princeton athlete faces. It involves balancing athletics with one of the most demanding academic programs in the country.

“Princeton is a very tough school,” said Hummer. “Being on the road a lot, the time
management is tough. But Princeton gives you a lot of help. Balancing books and
basketball is tough at the beginning, but I have a pretty good handle on it.”

Hummer credits his time at Gonzaga College High School for his success on the
college level. He led Gonzaga to a city and conference title in 2008 and was named
conference player of the year during his senior season.

“It was one of the best times of my life at Gonzaga,” Hummer said. “There was the
school itself, and the basketball that was at such a high level. Our junior year team went 34-1. The guys I played with in high school really shaped the player that I am now.”

When it came time to decide where to play basketball in college, the choice was
clear for Hummer. He had the opportunity to play basketball and get one of the best
educations in the country at Princeton. Hummer also had the chance to carry on a family tradition.

“My father, my brother and my uncle all went to Princeton. But I loved Princeton and I got to know coach (Sydney) Johnson very well. It was a great fit for me," Hummer said.

The Ivy League is the only conference in college basketball that does not have a post-season tournament. The winner of the regular season race gets the ticket to the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers are tied with Harvard and their game with the Crimson tonight  could determine the conference champion.

“Our goal was to win the Ivy League championship going into the season,” Hummer
said. “The Ivy League is no joke. Every team scouts you so much and plays you twice a year. They know your tendencies and they know what you run. They play hard each and every night.”

As Hummer looks forward to tonight as well as two more seasons with the
Tigers, he is hoping his dream of playing in the NCAA Tournament will become a reality at the end of the season.

“It would be surreal,” Hummer said. “It would be a dream come true. I came in here
wanting to go to NCAA Tournaments. I’ve watched them for countless years. It would be so special for the team.”

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