Gus Yalden is getting ready for a visit to Rutgers to check in on the men’s basketball program. The four-star big man out of IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) is emerging as a priority recruit for Scarlet Knights head coach Steve Pikiell.
Yalden is set to visit Rutgers the first weekend of October, per Rivals affiliate site The Knight Report.
The 6-foot-8, 240 pounds power forward is the No. 73 player in the nation according to Rivals.com. He is a member of the class of 2023. He is seriously checking out the basketball program and seems to be feeling the love from Rutgers, especially as he is consistently being recruited following a foot injury late this past season.
“I’m just looking forward to spending time with the team and getting to know the players, spending time with the coaches and actually seeing students on the campus… really just dive into the culture of what makes Rutgers a special place,” Yalden told ‘Rutgers Wire’ this week.
“Coming off an injury this summer and not being 100 percent and then not being able to play in front of coaches this fall – you really learn quickly which coaches are all in and have made you a priority. So in my book, if I’m a priority to them [then] they are definitely a priority for me and my future.”
Yalden said that the College of Charleston, Rutgers, Nebraska, Wake Forest, Ohio, and Wisconsin have been most interested in his recruitment. He currently holds offers from the aforementioned programs as well as Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, Iowa, Louisville, Stanford, and West Virginia among others.
“A coach that knows players strengths and finds ways within their style of play to highlight those skills but at the same time refuses to settle with what players can do and instead pushes the team to achieve what they never knew they could do or be taught to do,” Yalden said.
“Academically looking for a school that supports their student-athletes, offers a strong community and a program that has pride in their legacy both in the classroom and on the court.”