Category: Rutgers basketball

Rutgers basketball offers sharp-shooting Michigan guard Daniel Smythe

Rutgers basketball offers Daniel Smythe, a guard from Michigan.

On Tuesday, an offer went out from Rutgers basketball to guard Daniel Smythe. The guard from Michigan is coming off a very strong senior season.

Smythe is a 6-foot-3 guard from St. Mary’s (Orchard Lake, Michigan). He has the versatility to play both guard positions. A strong outside shooter, Smythe’s offer from Rutgers this week is as a Preferred Walk On (PWO).

Last season, St. Mary’s finished the season 27-1. If that school sounds familiar, it is because St Mary’s features [autotag]Trey McKenney[/autotag], the MaxPreps Player of the Year in the state.

McKenney is a four-star recruit and one of the top players in the class of 2025 who is heavily being recruited by Rutgers. He is the No. 12 player in the nation in the 247Sports Composite.

On Tuesday, Smythe tweeted about the offer from Rutgers:

 

Recently, Smythe was offered by Hillsdale College, a Division II program based in Michigan that has a powerhouse men’s basketball program.

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Smythe has talent, especially when given an open look. In one state playoff game this past season, Smythe made six three-point attempts to key a big win for St. Mary’s.

Watch future Rutgers basketball guard Dylan Harper goes off for 30 points in the Jordan Brand Classic

Dylan Harper was sensational in the Jordan Brand Classic.

Dylan Harper had a big showing at the Jordan Brand Classic, the future Rutgers guard putting up 30 points in the Sunday night showcase.

A five-star guard who committed to Rutgers in December, Harper was named the game’s Co-MVP.

The showing from Harper follows up another recent dominant performance at the McDonald’s All-American Game. Harper shared co-MVP honors in that game as well.

A guard from Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey), Harper is a cornerstone piece of the 2024 recruiting class for Rutgers, one that is a consensus top-10 class in the nation. Harper joins Ace Bailey as the first five-star players to ever commit to Rutgers.

ESPN ranks Harper as the third-best player in this class.

Bailey was the top-ranked player in the nation in the most recent USA TODAY High School Sports rankings.

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Check out the Sunday night highlights from Harper, who showed everything in guiding Team Flight to a win over Team Air: His dribble-drive was on display as was his range and high-end defensive abilities.

 

The game was held at the Barclays Center (New York City).

Caleb McConnell, a Rutgers basketball legend, wins NBA G-League Championship with Oklahoma City Blue

Caleb McConnell wins the NBA G-League championship.

Former Rutgers basketball standout Caleb McConnell helped the Oklahoma City Blue make history this week. The Blue secured their first championship in team history by defeating the Maine Celtics in a best-of-three series, and McDonnell continued to be a lockdown defender.

While McConnell only played two minutes in the Blue’s 117-100 win on Monday, he added one offensive rebound to his resume. He was a mainstay in the lineup during the regular season, averaging 6.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Like he did at Rutgers, McDonnell thrived on defense.

In his first season with the Oklahoma Blue, the former two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year played in 32 games, starting 11. It is an experience that he did not take for granted.

 

“I am blessed to even get this experience to play beyond college in a top league like this,” McConnell told Rutgers Athletics. “I feel like I am just one step closer to achieving my dreams and aspirations. My first year in the NBA G-League was an awesome experience. I feel like this organization is run differently than other teams and I am just blessed to be a part of it.”

As McConnell prepares for a well-deserved offseason, he will look to build on his success. He averaged just under 20 minutes a game for the Blue. While his focus is on his professional career, McConnell has kept an eye on Rutgers basketball and is excited about what the future holds.

“I am so excited for next year, especially with some of the pieces we have coming in,” McConnell said. “Pikiell is bringing in all the right pieces. He deserves the best.”

5-star Rutgers basketball signee Dylan Harper named MaxPrep National Player of the Year

Dylan Harper was nationally recognized by MaxPreps as their player of the year.

Dylan Harper was announced as the 2023-24 MaxPreps National Player of the Year on Wednesday. It is a statement award for Harper, A Rutgers basketball commit who was the most dominant player in New Jersey this year.

Harper committed to Rutgers basketball in December during a commitment ceremony at the Fanatics headquarters in New York City.

A five-star guard, Harper led Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey) to a state championship this season.

He capped off his season last week by being named Co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game. In that game he partnered with future Rutgers basketball teammate Ace Bailey, a five-star forward.

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As for the MaxPreps honor, Harper is very much deserving even with a crowded field of candidates for the honor including Duke commit Cooper Flagg and the aforementioned Bailey.

“My goal is to win a national championship,” Harper told MaxPreps.
“The recruiting class we got in, the guys we have coming back and some guys we will probably get in the transfer portal. I think we are going to be really hard to beat.
“Staying home and having the people who watched me since I was a little kid grow up and go through stages of life, go through all the ups and downs. I think that is probably the biggest part of me going to Rutgers.”

 

Dylan Harper of New Jersey is the 2023-24 MaxPreps National Player of the Year 🏆🔥

Full story ⬇️https://t.co/qIoja7p5Wz pic.twitter.com/uQUjaDosa2

In the USA TODAY High School Sports rankings, Harper is the No. 6 overall player in the nation. Bailey, a 6-foot-9 forward, is the top overall player in the nation.

 

What did Rutgers basketball head coach Steve Pikiell say about Zach Martini?

Zach Martini officially joins Rutgers basketball.

Need met talent for Rutgers basketball last week, with Zach Martini committing to the Big Ten program out of the transfer portal. For a team with high expectations heading into next season, Martini is a big addition to Rutgers.

On Tuesday, Martini’s addition out of the transfer portal was announced by Rutgers basketball and head coach Steve Pikiell. He adds a Big Ten caliber skillset to the program.

Martini comes to Rutgers having made 29 starts last season for Princeton where he averaged 8.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for Princeton. In his final game for the Tigers, a loss to UNLV in the first round of the NIT, Martini scored 17 points.

The 6-foot-7 forward fits a major need for Rutgers. A solid scorer with range, Martini is a strong defensive presence and a high-character player. He adds experience and leadership to the program.

“We are thrilled to officially welcome Zach Martini to The Knighthood,” Pikiell said on Tuesday in a release from Rutgers basketball.

“Zach is a player that brings all the things we are looking for in the transfer portal with his experience, toughness, and the ability to shoot the basketball. Zach comes from a tremendous family and his ties to Rutgers and love for New Jersey were evident during the entire process. He is a proven winner, and I am so excited that he has embraced being a part of the unique opportunity next season provides.”

Earlier in the transfer portal process, Rutgers added guard Tyson Acuff.

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Last year for Eastern Michigan, Acuff averaged 21.7 points per game.

Rutgers basketball makes the USA TODAY ‘Way-too-early’ top 25

USA TODAY has Rutgers basketball in the top 25 of their ‘Way-Too-Early’ rankings.

The hype for Rutgers basketball is legitimate and real.

Rutgers basketball is projected to be nationally ranked this season, with head coach Steve Pikiell’s vaunted recruiting class the reason for much of the hype.

Expectations are high around Rutgers basketball, especially with a special recruiting class expected to arrive this summer. Highlighting the class are a pair of five-star recruits in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper.

The duo gives Rutgers a top-10 national class with three ESPN 100 commits.

This combined with a strong start to the transfer portal (Eastern Michigan guard [autotag]Tyson Acuff[/autotag] and Princeton forward [autotag]Zach Martini[/autotag]) and there is legitimate top-25 buzz around the Scarlet Knights.

On Monday, ESPN’s preseason rankings have Rutgers at No. 21 in the nation. The rankings from USA TODAY have Rutgers at No. 25 according to Paul Myberg.

In part, Myberg wrote about the impact of Bailey and Harper on Rutgers:

Harper and Bailey are the stars of a recruiting class that ranks in the top five nationally and will give Rutgers a huge influx of talent and athleticism.

Also part of the 2024 recruiting class for Rurtgers is four-star center[autotag] Lathan Somerville.[/autotag] and four-star forward Dylant Grant.

Oskar Palmquist says goodbye to Rutgers basketball, thanks Scarlet Knights fans

This week, Oskar Palmquist announced he is leaving Rutgers basketball.

After five years as a Scarlet Knight, Oskar Palmquist is moving on to the next chapter of his career. On Monday, the forward announced on social media that he will be pursuing professional opportunities overseas and will not return next year. The news marks the end of a solid collegiate career for Palmquist.

It also means that Rutgers basketball is projected to have three open roster spots to fill.

In four years as Scarlet Knight, Palmquist scored 156 points while recording 81 rebounds. He also dished out 26 assists and averaged a career-high 1.4 per game during the 2023-2-24 campaign. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, the Swedish native made the most of his opportunities.

Last season, he averaged 2.7 points per game as he came off the bench for Rutgers.

Additionally, since making his collegiate debut during the 2020-2021 season, Palmquist became a mainstay on a roster full of change. He still had a year of eligibility and could have returned as a veteran leader.

 

While Palmquists’ decision comes as no surprise, he did not take his time at Piscataway for granted. In his social media post, he thanked teammates and coaches who impacted his career.

Palmquist is the ninth member from last year’s team to leave Rutgers.

Where did Rutgers basketball fall in the ESPN Way-Too-Early-Top 25?

Rutgers basketball is ranked in the ESPN way-too-early top 25.

The hype for Rutgers men’s basketball is real, with the Big Ten program making the ESPN top 25 for next season.

Rutgers checks in at No. 21 on ESPN writer Jeff Borzello’s list. They are one spot behind Maryland and one of five Big Ten programs ranked on the first top 25 of preseason.

With McDonald’s All-Americans [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] and [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag] coming to campus in June, there are expectations that Rutgers can have a special season.

Duke is the top team in Borzello’s projections. UConn, winners of back-to-back national championships, check in at fourth in the nation.

In writing about Rutgers, Borzello offers a balance to the hype about the arrival of Bailey and Haper to the Scarlet Knights:

“Both should have a transformative impact on the team next season — but Steve Pikiell will have to surround the two with some veteran pieces. The return of Jeremiah Williams is a boost, and Pikiell has already landed Tyson Acuff (Eastern Michigan) and Zach Martini (Princeton) from the portal.”

To read Borzello’s full top 25 rankings, click here.

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As for the Big Ten, here is how the conference looks according to Borzello:

  • No. 6 Purdue
  • No. 19 UCLA
  • No. 20 Maryland
  • No. 21 Rutgers
  • No. 24 Wisconsin

Borzello has Ohio State and Michigan State as part of his ‘Next In Line’ grouping.

Why is Rutgers basketball so excited about Zack Martini? The proof is in the highlights (so click and watch them)

Rutgers basketball added an elite perimeter scorer in Zach Martini

With his commitment to Rutgers basketball on Wednesday night, Zach Martini brings some considerable range to a program that very much needs his skillset.

Martini, who played the last three seasons at Princeton, comes to Rutgers with one year of eligibility left. His range and ability to shoot from 3-point range very much fills a need for the Big Ten program.

With the loss of Cam Spencer in the transfer portal over the summer, Rutgers went into this season without an effective and proven perimeter scorer.

The 6-foot-7 forward is still developing his game but this past season he averaged 8.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for Princeton. He was 38.5 percent on the season from 3-point range (a career-high). And he shot 88.3 percent with his free throws.

This ability for Rutgers to potentially stretch the floor through a perimeter marksman like Martini brings some much-needed balance to the roster.

He can quickly spot-up and shoot, something that Rutgers could exploit given the number of players on their roster next year who have the ability to drive and kick the ball out:

 

Last season, Martini started all 29 games for the Tigers. They lost in the opening round of the NIT in a loss to UNLV where Martini scored 17 points.

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He was 5-for-11 from 3-point range in the loss.

Against Rutgers in what was the season opener for both teams, Martini was 2-for-3 from behind the arc as he finished with 10 points. Princeton beat Rutgers 67-61.

Transfer portal alert! Rutgers basketball lands transfer Zach Martini

Rutgers basketball landed an important forward in Zach Martini.

Rutgers basketball landed their second commitment in the transfer portal on Wednesday night with the addition of Princeton forward Zach Martini.

Martini was one of the top targets on the Rutgers basketball portal board and twice was on campus within the past.

The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 8.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for Princeton. He started all 29 games for the Tigers as they finished their season in the opening round of the NIT with a loss to UNLV.

He scored 17 points in the loss.

In a win over Rutgers in what was the season opener for both teams, Martini scored 10 points in a win for the Ivy League program.

Martini made the announcement official on Wednesday with a social media post.

 

Martini played his high school basketball at Gill St. Bernard’s School (Gladstone, New Jersey). He had an offer list that also included Columbia, Lafayette, Lehigh, Loyola (Maryland), Siena and Yale among others.