Watch: Jonathan Sanderson, recently offered by Rutgers basketball, put up some insane numbers as a junior

Rutgers basketball recruit Jonathan Sanderson is a true scorer.

Jonathan Sanderson, offered recently by Rutgers basketball, is one of the most prolific scorers in the nation. The class of 2026 guard can score from anywhere on the court, with a range that is college-ready.

Rutgers offered Sanderson over the weekend. The 6-foot-2 point guard from Saline (Saline, Michigan) is the No. 53 player in the nation according to 247Sports. 

He took an unofficial visit to Indiana last summer.

Sanderson’s offer list includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Michigan among others.

As a scorer, Sanderson has incredible range but is multiple in terms of how he puts the ball in the basket. He has the ability to slash to the hoop but also can score from three-point range.

Last month, he scored 44 points in a game where his team clinched a conference title. He followed it up with 41 points in his next outing for Saline. Included in the 41 points was an incredible buzzer-beater:

 

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Rutgers recently topped off their 2024 class with the signing of five-star guard Dylan Harper. Their class features four recruits ranked as four-stars by ESPN.

Big Ten Network analyst Raphael Davis says Rutgers basketball will bounce back next year: ‘They can come in and be top 25’

Rutgers basketball’s down year is by no means a trend according to Big Ten Network analyst Raphael Davis.

A disappointing season for Rutgers men’s basketball comes down to this week’s Big Ten Tournament. And for college basketball analyst Raphael Davis, the dip from Rutgers was expected in many ways.

But, the Big Ten analyst doesn’t expect Rutgers to stay there for long. Davis believes that Rutgers will be one of the top programs in the nation next year.

It has been a down year for Rutgers basketball (15-16, 7-13 Big Ten) ahead of this week’s Big Ten Tournament. Rutgers opens the tournament on Wednesday against Maryland.

Rutgers has a top 10 recruiting class coming in, highlighted by two five-star recruits in forward [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] and guard [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag]. Also coming in is four-star [autotag]Lathan Sommerville[/autotag], a forward/center.

So despite the dip from Rutgers this year, a campaign that likely snaps a three-year streak of postseason appearances, Davis believes Rutgers will take a big step forward next year.

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And, they will go into next year anything but down, Davis said.

 

“They’re my favorite, I mean, obviously, you don’t know who’s going to get who in the portal, and I still think Rutgers will be a shooter away, a dead-eye shooter away,” Davis told Rutgers Wire on Monday.

“If, in the portal, they can get that to go along with the haul they got coming in to go along with if Cliff (All-Big Ten center Cliff Omoruyi) comes back…Derek Simpson…Jeremiah Williams. With what they can bring defensively, I think if they can get it right in the portal, Rutgers can definitely come and be in the top 25 and the favorite in the Big Ten.”

This season has been a disappointment for Rutgers but understandably so. The Scarlet Knights lost two key pieces in the transfer portal this summer from last year’s top in guards Paul Mulcahy (Washington) and Cam Spencer (UConn) and were unable to adequately replace either player so late in the cycle.

It is a fall from grace for Rutgers for sure, but one that might have been predictable given these late losses.

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A former standout guard at Purdue, Davis refers to his own college career to provide some perspective on this Rutgers season.

Davis made the connection between what Pikiell has done at Rutgers with the tremendous rebuild undertaken by Matt Painter at Purdue.

The Purdue head coach took over the Boilermakers in 2005. Following a losing first season with the Big Ten program, Painter took Purdue to the NCAA Tournament in six of his next seven seasons.

Then, Purdue underwent two years with a losing record and no NCAA Tournament appearances. They had some big losses due to graduation, including JaJuan Johnson (an All-Big Ten selection and a first round pick), E’Twaun Moore (an All-Big Ten guard) and Robbie Hummel (an All-Big Ten forward). It took two seasons, but Purdue bounced back.

Rutgers is going through a similar time, Davis explained.

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Since that dip, Painter rebuilt Purdue and led them to seven NCAA Tournaments in as many seasons that the tournament was held (due to COVID-19, the NCAA Tournament was not held following the 2019-20 regular season).

“I mean, we were dead last place in my sophomore year in the Big Ten so that was two years after those guys left,” Davis said of his time at Purdue.

“This the second year after (former Rutgers All-Big Ten guard) Geo Baker left. I just got to think you’re going through a transition as a program. And you have those years where you kind of go through your ups and downs. And then with this new transfer portal and stuff like that, it’s a little more detrimental when you lose guys late.

“But I think of coach Painter and going from last place in the Big Ten through losing some guys and now he’s regarded as one of the best coaches in college basketball. So I think we need to think about it that way. You kind of kind of expect the ups and downs of college basketball.”

It was an emotional Senior Day for Rutgers basketball, Cliff Omoruyi

Rutgers men’s basketball had a tough loss on Sunday against Ohio State.

For Cliff Omoruyi, it appears to be the last dance with Rutgers men’s basketball. Sunday’s home loss to Ohio State is likely the final home game for a player who has meant so much to the program over the past four years.

Rutgers dropped their final game of the Big Ten regular season on Sunday, 73-51 to Ohio State. The rejuvenated Buckeyes were simply too much in the second half for Rutgers.

If this is the last game at Jersey Mike’s Arena for Omoruyi, and there is plenty of reason to believe that is the case, then it was a disappointing finale to one of the best careers in program history.

Omoruyi came to Rutgers when it wasn’t a cool thing to do so, the local kid with strong national offers believing in the direction of Steve Pikiell’s program. He spent four years at Rutgers, a time that included two NCAA Tournament appearances and a trip to the NIT.

Against Ohio State, he had 10 points, seven rebounds and a block in the loss.

Now Rutgers (15-16, 7-13 Big Ten) will need a miracle in this week’s conference tournament to get to the postseason.

“Cliff’s recruiting journey started when he was a freshman. With the path he’s on, he’s going to be a top-20 scorer in school history,” Pikiell told reporters after Sunday’s game.

“He also achieved the dean’s list for just about any semester. It’s sad when they have to go. There aren’t going to be any more four-year guys, that isn’t where this program is headed. The fact that they stayed and continued to do what they do for our university, today didn’t go well but these guys represent us in every way, and couldn’t be more thankful. I appreciate you asking about them because it is their program.”

Omoruyi averaged 10.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game this season for Rutgers.

Scroll down and check out the best photos from Senior Day for Rutgers basketball in their loss against Ohio State!

The Big Ten regular season is over as Rutgers men’s basketball falls to Ohio State

Rutgers men’s basketball lost their Big Ten regular season finale.

On Sunday afternoon, Rutgers men’s basketball could not get much going offensively in their regular-season finale against Ohio State. After a strong start, Rutgers fell apart in the second half as Ohio State left New Jersey with a 73-51 win.

Rutgers finished the regular season 15-16 (7-13 Big Ten). They lost their last three games including six of their last seven.

As Ohio State outscored Rutgers 43-23 in the second half, they got impressive performances from Roddy Gayle Jr. and Bruce Thornton. Gayle Jr. led Ohio State in scoring with 14 points. Thornton added 11 points to his resume and was tied for second on the team in rebounds with five.

While Sunday ended in disappointing fashion, there were still a few bright spots for Rutgers. That list includes Aundre Hyatt and Clifford Omoruyi. Hyatt led the team in scoring with 11 points in 28 minutes of action. Omoruyi continued to make an impact on the board with a team-high seven rebounds.

 

 

In this matchup, Ohio State was able to build its lead partly due to its success from beyond the arc. The Buckeyes shot 45 percent from three-point range, while Rutgers shot 22.2 percent. They also had success close to the basket, outscoring Rutgers 28-20 in the paint.

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Although Rutgers regular season is over, the last few months have provided optimism for the future, with prospects like Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper months away from starting their college careers.

Oh, and there is the upcoming Big Ten Tournament as well.

Bryce Dortch: Rutgers basketball’s 2024 class will help the Scarlet Knights go to the next level

Bryce Dortch talks about how this class can impact Rutgers basketball.

Bryce Dortch believes that this current recruiting class will build upon the foundation currently in place at Rutgers. A three-star small forward, Dortch sees the incoming class of freshman as being a group that can help Rutgers take the next step in the Big Ten.

A 6-foot-8 forward from Brimmer and May (Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts), Dortch is a pivotal piece in the 2024 recruiting class. He had a strong offer list that included Marquette, UMass, Seton Hall, Texas A&M and VCU among others.

He is the No. 147 player in the nation according to 247Sports, where he also is ranked as the No. 33 power forward. ESPN ranks him as the seventh-best player in Massachusetts.

Committed to Rutgers since this past June, Dortch has been rock solid in his commitment all the way through signing in December. Now with his arrival at Rutgers just months away,

“I’m excited about playing at the RAC and just competing with a great group of guys,” Dortch told Rutgers Wire on Sunday.

“I think the players before us have really changed Rutgers basketball, but I do think we can come in and continue that upward trend.”

His class, Dortch said, is determined to leave a mark on the program.

“Because (of) how bad we all want to run,” Dortch said. “I know that is a collective goal of ours.”

Dortch had a strong season, including a number of double-double performances that point to the continued rounding out and development of his game. Since committing to Rutgers over the summer, he has been steadfast in his verbal.

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His belief in the program and connection with the Scarlet Knights staff carried him across the finish line to signing in December.

The initial attraction to Rutgers, Dortch said, was “Because of the coaching staff and relationships I have with them.”

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“My relationship with the staff is great,” Dortch said.

“It has been solid since I first met them and has only gotten better as time has gone by.”

Rutgers basketball: Dylan Harper scores 26 points to lead Don Bosco to a title

Dylan Harper wins a title with Don Bosco Prep on Friday night.

Playing on his future home court, Dylan Harper led Don Bosco Prep to the win in the Non-Public A state final on Friday night. The 56-29 win by Don Bosco over Paul VI showcased a dominant Harper, who signed with Rutgers basketball last week.

Harper nearly outscored Paul VI on his own, putting up 26 points as Don Bosco won a state title at Jersey Mike’s Arena. A five-star guard who committed to Rutgers in December, Harper was recently named the sixth-best recruit in the nation by USA TODAY High School Sports.

The Ironmen finished the season with 18 consecutive wins and a 28-3 record. Harper’s performance against a solid Paul VI side was vintage stuff from the guard prospect.

In addition to his 26 points, Harper had nine rebounds and four assists:

 

Expected to join Rutgers over the summer, Harper is part of a class with some very high expectations at Rutgers.

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Harper is one of two five-star recruits committed in this class. In December, five-star forward [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] signed with Rutgers after nearly a year of being committed to the program.

Bailey is the top-ranked player in the nation by USA TODAY High School Sports.

Also in this class is four-star forward/center Lathan Sommerville, who is having a very strong playoff run in Illinois.

Rutgers basketball: Struggles on both ends of the court see Scarlet Knights drop another Big Ten game

Rutgers basketball lost on Thursday night at Wisconsin.

Rutgers basketball struggled defensively on Thursday night at Wisconsin, suffering a second-straight loss in the Big Ten.

With the 78-66 loss at Wisconsin, Rutgers is now 15-15 (7-12 Big Ten). A loss on Sunday against Ohio State would give Rutgers their first losing regular season since 2018-19.

Poor shot selection hurt Rutgers in the second half.

On the offensive side, Rutgers struggled from three-point range, going just 7-of-21. The charity line was anything but with Rutgers making just 60 percent of their free throws.

Sophomore guard AJ Storr led all scorers in the game with 19 points, pacing the offensive effort for Wisconsin Up just 34-32 at halftime, Wisconsin turned things up in the second half as Rutgers struggled to guard from the perimeter.

Jeremiah Williams led Rutgers with 16 points. Off the bench, freshman forward Gavin Griffiths scored 14 points.

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Next up for Rutgers is Senior Day on Sunday against Ohio State. The Buckeyes come into Jersey Mike’s Arena having won five of their last seven games, all in the Big Ten.

Scroll down and check out the best photos from Thursday night’s loss at Wisconsin.

Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper named Naismith All-Americans

Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper named Naismith All-Americans.

Rutgers basketball signees Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper were both recently named to the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Boys’ High School All America Team.

Bailey (McEachern High School; Powder Springs, Georgia) and Harper (Don Bosco Prep; Ramsey, New Jersey), are both five-star players and part of Rutgers basketball’s 2024 recruiting class. A 6-foot-9 forward, Bailey was recently named the No. 1 player in the USA TODAY High School Sports top 10 recruits in the nation.

After battling some injuries, Harper checked in at sixth on the list. He signed with Rutgers in early March.

Both Bailey and Harper are in their respective state playoffs. The duo are the highest-ranked individuals to ever commit to Rutgers:

 

Tahaad Pettifird, a senior guard from Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, New Jersey) was an honorable mention selection. He is an Auburn commit.

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On the girls’ side, no Rutgers commits made the Naismith Trophy Girls’ All America Team.

Vanderbilt signee, Mikayla Blakes, a senior guard from Rutgers Prep (Somerset, New Jersey), was an honorable mention. Mia Pauldo, a junior guard at Morris Catholic (Denville, New Jersey), was also an honorable mention selection.

Rutgers men’s basketball looking for second straight win over Wisconsin

Rutgers men’s basketball faces a big test this week at Wisconsin.

For the second time this season, Rutgers men’s basketball will face Wisconsin on Thursday night. Rutgers won the first meeting between these two teams in February 78-56. They will be looking to continue that success on the road.

Entering this matchup, Rutgers has just one win in their last five games. Their only win in that span came against Michigan on February 29. As they look to improve their record in conference play, Rutgers will need to limit AJ Storr.

Through 29 games, Storr has been Wisconsin’s best player offensively. The Rockford, Illinois native is averaging a team-high 16.1 points per game this season. In his last four games, Storr has scored 57 points and added 15 rebounds to his resume.

 

While Rutgers will have their hands full trying to stop the talented guard, they will be looking for Clifford Omoruyi to have a big game. In Rutgers’ last win, Omoruyi put together one of his best performances of the season. He scored 19 points and added 15 rebounds to his resume as Rutgers snapped a three-game losing streak.

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This game also represents an opportunity for Rutgers to improve their road record. They are 3-8 away from Jersey Mike’s Arena. However, Wisconsin has been hard to beat at home, with a 13-3 record at the Kohl Center.

Rutgers basketball commit four-star Lathan Sommerville has been unstoppable in the Illinois state playoffs

Rutgers basketball commit Lathan Sommerville has been huge for Richwoods High School in the playoffs.

The latest showing from Lathan Sommerville certainly underscores that the Rutgers basketball commit is a dominant post player.

Sommerville, a four-star center at Richwoods High School (Peoria, Illinois), scored 30 points and had 11 rebounds in a playoff win over top-seeded Harvey Thornton. He signed with Rutgers in December.

ESPN ranks him as the No. 84 recruit in the nation. In the On3 Industry Rankings, he is a four-star and the No. 20 power forward in the 2024 recruiting class.

At 6-foot-9 and 240 pounds, Sommerville has tremendous size to play power forward or center at the next level. But it is his footwork and agility that are impressive for his size.

As is his ability to shoot from distance. Sommerville has some very nice range that complements his post moves. He is strong in the post and requires a double-team at the high school level.

He can also drive to the basket, squaring up at the key and dribbling before making his move. Rutgers is getting a player whose handle is impressive for a power forward.

Defensively, he crashes the boards effectively. He challenges the ball and can alter shots. He fits in perfectly to Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell’s system.

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A part of the vaunted 2024 class brought in by Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell, Sommerville is one of three blue-chip recruits who are nationally ranked.

The class is led by consensus five-star recruits [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] and [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag]. Bailey was recently named the No. 1 player in the nation by USA TODAY High School Sports.

As for Sommerville, his performance helped propel Richwoods into the semifinals of the Illinois Class 3A tournament.

Scroll down and check out the best photos of four-star forward and Rutgers basketball commit (and signee) Lathan Sommerville from this season!