Rutgers’ expectancies for this season had been development to a fever pitch ever since two five-star highschool recruits dedicated to this system.
They are no longer simply any two five-stars, both, however attainable long term NBA avid gamers who have been incessantly ranked 2nd and 3rd within the Magnificence of 2024: Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper.
Rutgers believes it has built a powerful staff round Bailey and Harper for 2024-25. The Scarlet Knights are ranked No. 25 within the AP preseason ballot and can open a novel season Wednesday towards Wagner in Piscataway, N.J.
Bailey is a 6-foot-10 Atlanta-area local who will probably be used all over the courtroom, however basically at ahead and wing. Harper is a lead guard whose brother Ron Harper Jr. was once one of the crucial perfect avid gamers in contemporary Rutgers historical past. Bailey in reality dedicated prior to Dylan Harper, and their long-distance friendship and low alternatives to play with one every other all over the summer season helped shape early chemistry.
They mixed for 45 issues, six made 3-pointers and 9 rebounds in a 91-85 exhibition loss to St. John’s in October.
“The ones two youngsters are gifted. They are nice youngsters and they are truly just right passers,” trainer Steve Pikiell mentioned. “They for sure have to be informed some issues. Faculty protection is one thing they will proceed to recover at.”
The Scarlet Knights’ 3 returning avid gamers are guard Jeremiah Williams, a captain; guard Jamichael Davis, a highschool teammate of Bailey; and Emmanuel Ogbole, who may well be the staff’s beginning middle after lacking maximum of closing 12 months improving from a knee harm.
Rutgers is generally recognized for its protection and had one of the crucial worst offenses in power-conference basketball a season in the past (65.4 ppg). Along with Bailey’s and Harper’s contributions, the Scarlet Knights will lean on transfers like Tyson Acuff, Zach Martini and PJ Hayes.
Acuff (Jap Michigan) ranked 7th within the nation at 21.7 issues in line with sport closing season however will get started the season off the bench in a restricted function. Martini (Princeton) shot 38.5 % from 3-point land as a junior and was once named co-captain with Williams. And Hayes (San Diego) shot just about 40 % from the arc as a freshman and did not leave out a shot within the exhibition towards St. John’s (4-for-4, together with two 3-pointers).
Wagner was once tied for first with Central Connecticut State atop the Northeast Convention preseason coaches’ ballot. The Seahawks completed 6th closing season however then ran the desk within the convention match and defeated Howard within the NCAA Match First 4.
The Staten Island faculty rewarded trainer Donald Copeland with a brand new five-year contract.
After accidents restricted his roster to seven wholesome scholarship avid gamers at match time, Copeland is satisfied to have again avid gamers like Javier Ezquerra (7.0 issues, 4.4 assists in line with sport closing season), Keyontae Lewis (6.9 issues, 5.4 rebounds) and Zaire Williams (9.3 ppg in 9 video games prior to a season-ending harm).
“It is going neatly. We are operating arduous,” Copeland instructed PIX 11 in the summertime. “The avid gamers are jelling in combination, which I feel is at all times just right presently of 12 months … We are ready to place in some issues that I feel will assist us come fall.”
–Box Stage Media
