Tag: Dylan Harper

TBT – Rutgers basketball incoming forward Ace Bailey is an explosive, elite athlete

Rutgers basketball’s Ace Bailey is a special and unique player.

On Throwback Thursday, a simple reminder of how special Ace Bailey is and what a special kind of talent he has the potential to be for Rutgers basketball.

Bailey, a consensus five-star forward, joins five-star guard [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag] as the foundation of a top-10 recruiting class for Rutgers basketball. The duo of Bailey and Harper mark the highest-ranked commits in the program’s history.

While playing in the McDonald’s All-American Game, Bailey showed off the uniqueness of his skillset. There is the high-flying Bailey who can play above the rim and can posterize opponents.

Then there is the Bailey who has grown his game to include an impressive outside game with considerable range.

These two components of Bailey’s game have been seen consistently from Bailey over the past year.

Here is the elite athleticism as Bailey gets to the rim:

 

And then there is Bailey in this cut-up, showing his athleticism and shot-blocking ability but also his range.

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Over the past year, Bailey has really developed a nice outside game.

 

USA TODAY High School Sports has Bailey as the top-ranked recruit in the nation.

And for the first time in New Jersey, the duo of Bailey and Harper will be together this weekend for an autograph signing in Parsippany as part of the Morris County Card Show:

Photo credit: Morris County Card Show.

This is the first public signing for either Bailey or Harper since they signed their National Letter of Intents with Rutgers.

Watch Rutgers basketball commit Lathan Sommerville hits the gym, shows his growing game

Lathan Sommerville has elevated his game this offseason.

Lathan Sommerville had a recent gym session where the Rutgers basketball commit showed not just his athleticism but the emerging nuances of his game.

Ranked a four-star by ESPN and Rivals (where he is the No. 105 recruit in the nation), Sommerville arrives at Rutgers this summer with the potential to be an impact player and a multi-year starter in the Big Ten. The 6-foot-10 center from Richwoods High School (Peoria, Illinois) showed the ability to run the court and has a growing outside game that is impressive.

Combine that with being strong in the post as well as being a good rebounder and a shot-blocking threat and Sommerville’s skill set projects very well to the next level.

But it is the fluidity of motion that really stands out in Sommerville’s game. Watch the way Sommerville moves in these highlights.

It is clear that he has put in significant time into his footwork and increasing his agility this offseason:

 

And this one:

 

Sommerville comes in as part of a strong Rutgers basketball recruiting class that features five-star forward [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] and five-star guard [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag].

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The duo will be together this weekend at an autograph signing in Parsippany as part of the Morris County Card Show:

Photo credit: Morris County Card Show.

Watch this! Rutgers basketball recruit Tay Kinney is a highlight reel on the court

Tay Kinney is a special athlete.

Tay Kinney is nothing short of being explosive. The Rutgers basketball recruit, one of the top players in the nation in the class of 2026, has a unique blend of athleticism and a refined skill set.

Rutgers offered Kinney at the end of April. The 6-foot guard from Newport High School (Newport, Kentucky) has a strong offer list that includes Cincinnati, Dayton, Illinois, Louisville, Notre Dame, Purdue and Texas A&M among others.

He is a four-star and ranked the No. 30 recruit in the nation by ESPN, where he is also the fifth-best point guard in the nation. He is also ranked as a four-star by Rivals and 247Sports.

Kinney has the ability to get to the rim, almost with ease. He is a glider in his movement and then can explode upwards vertically.

This, coupled with a good handle and some very nice range, makes him a complete guard.

Check out a couple of these highlights as Kinney is a name to watch:

 

 

Rutgers put together a strong class of 2024 that included five-star forward [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] (the No. 1 recruit in the nation according to USA TODAY High School Sports) and five-star guard [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag].

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The class was ranked top-10 in the nation and No. 4 in the 247Sports Composite.

 

 

Rutgers basketball predicted as landing spot for transfer portal center Ugonna Onyenso

Rutgers basketball predicted to land a transfer portal center.

After landing forward P.J. Hayes this week, another transfer portal addition is being predicted for Rutgers basketball: center Ugonna Onyenso.

A former four-star recruit, Onyenso committed to Kentucky as part of the 2022 recruiting class. Onyenso would certainly fill a need at Rutgers.

The 7-foot center played his high school basketball at Putnam Science Academy (Putnam, Connecticut). He is a member of the Nigerian national team.

In high school, he was ranked the No. 39 overall recruit in the nation by 247Sports.

Last year as a sophomore at Kentucky, Onyenso averaged 3.6 points and played 18.6 minutes per game. He is a strong rebounder (4.8 rebounds per game) and an elite shot blocker (2.8 blocks per game).

His skill set, including an emerging offensive game, would be a good fit at Rutgers.

 

College Basketball Report projected that Onyenso, ranked the No. 14 player in the transfer portal, will land at Rutgers:

Onyenso would join an incoming group at Rutgers that features two five-star recruits in the class of 2024. Forward [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] (the top player in the nation by USA TODAY High School Sports) and guard [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag] are both five-star recruits and are part of a top-10 recruiting class for Rutgers.

Rutgers basketball offer one of many this past week for Brady Koehler

Brady Koehler has been offered by Rutgers basketball.

Brady Koehler counts his Rutgers basketball as one six offers he has received over the past week.

A 6-foot-8 forward from Cathedral High School (Indianapolis, Indiana), Koehler is a three-star recruit according to 247Sports. In addition to his Rutgers offer on May 20, he has been offered by DePaul, Stanford, UC San Diego, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia over the past week. In early May, he was offered by Northwestern.

A class of 2025 recruit who has great length, Koehler also has a well-rounded inside/outside game.

He has the ability to get to the rim while also having a deft outside shot. Defensively, he is aggressive and committed.

Last year, the Koehler averaged 15.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Underscoring the defensive side of his game, he had 2.3 blocks per game.

 

Nationally, he is the No. 49 small forward in the nation. He is the eleventh-ranked recruit in Indiana in the class of 2025.

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The 2024 recruiting class for Rutgers is top-10 in the nation and features two five star players in forward [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] and guard [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag].

Rutgers basketball hosted class of 2024 center this weekend

Jamie Vinson visits Rutgers basketball over the weekend.

Rutgers basketball hosted a priority recruit over the weekend in Jamie Vinson.

A class of 2024 recruit, Vinson had committed to Vanderbilt last fall but has since re-opened his recruitment. He visited Rutgers over this past weekend and is scheduled to be at Kentucky this week.

A 6-foot-10 center from Austin, Texas Vinson has plenty of potential. ESPN ranks him as a three-star and the No. 36 center in the nation and Rivals has him at No. 26. He has offers that include Cal, George Mason, Ole Miss and Texas Tech in addition to Kentucky and Rutgers.

With some position versatility, Vinson is athletic and quick enough to play at power forward and potentially chip in immediately at center as well.

 

Rutgers currently has one of the top recruiting classes and is ranked top-10 nationall. The 2024 class is headlined by five-star forward [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] (the No. 1 player in the nation according to USA TODAY High School Sports) and five-star guard [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag] (Co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game).

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Adding a potential piece like Vinson, who is a strong defender with a nuanced offensive game, would give head coach Steve Pikiell an impressive core.

 

 

Rutgers basketball adds NCAA Tournament team to their non-conference schedule

Rutgers basketball has another non-conference opponent.

With the start of the 2023-2024 college basketball season drawing closer, excitement is building for Rutgers future. On Wednesday, their schedule got a little clearer as one non-conference opponent was revealed, one who played in the NCAA Tournament last year.

The Scarlet Knights will host Wagner, according to CBS Sports insider Jon Rothstein.

While these two programs have only met a few times, Rutgers has dominated the all-time series. In ten games, Rutgers has gone 9-1 against Wagner and scored 776 points while allowing 649. During the 2024-2025 campaign, things won’t get any easier due to a talented Rutgers freshman class.

In the upcoming matchup, the Seahawks will be tasked with stopping A[autotag]ce Bailey[/autotag], [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag], and [autotag]Lathan Somerville[/autotag]. They are expected to provide Rutgers with a boost offensively and help turn the program around. During the 2023-2024 campaign, Rutgers went 8-4 in non-conference play.

Sources: Rutgers will host Wagner as part of its 2024-25 non-conference schedule.

Game is set for November 6th.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 15, 2024

Although Wagner will have its hands full, they performed well in non-conference play last season. The Seahawks finished with a 10-7 record and won one game in the NCAA Tournament. Their championship run came to an end in the first round against North Carolina.

 

Rutgers basketball is ranked in the latest CBS Sports Top 25

Rutgers basketball makes another top 25 ranking.

A season of anticipation for Rutgers basketball shows no signs of slowing down. And the most recent top 25 from CBS Sports will only ramp up that anticipation.

Rutgers checks in at No. 21in the latest updated of the CBS Sports Top 25.

Following a 15-17 (7-13 Big Ten) season, the hype for Rutgers is largely centered on an incoming recruiting class that is among the best in the nation. Featuring five-star forward [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] and five-star guard [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag], the Rutgers class is top 10 in the nation.

And with a solid haul in the transfer portal, there is a definite feeling that Rutgers can take a step forward and be an NCAA Tournament team this upcoming season.

In giving Rutgers a top 25 ranking, CBS Sports college basketball analyst Gary Parrish wrote:

“This ranking is based on Steve Pikiell’s Scarlet Knights only returning one double-digit scorer (Jeremiah Williams) from a team that finished below .500. But the enrollment of five-star prospects Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper — plus NEC Player of the Year Jordan Derkack and Eastern Michigan transfer Tyson Acuff — will give Rutgers enough talent to start the season with a number beside its name.”

The anticipation for the season is playing itself out in other ways as well for Rutgers, including an upgraded non-conference schedule. This week, it became official that Rutgers will participate in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas.

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The tournament is set to take place over Thanksgiving weekend.

2024 Players Era NIL basketball event in Vegas to feature Rutgers

Rutgers basketball to participate in Players Era Festival NIL tournament

All eyes in the college basketball world will be on Las Vegas during Thanksgiving week. Sin City will host the “Players Era Festival,” which will include live music and other attractions. The list of schools participating includes Creighton, Alabama, Houston, Notre Dame, Rutgers, Oregon, Texas A&M, and San Diego State.

While the event will provide great exposure for the schools involved, players will also benefit. Players involved will have future earnings opportunities through long-term NIL contracts, according to CBS Sports. Each school will also receive $1 million NIL payouts. For Rutgers, it will be an opportunity to showcase a talented recruiting class on the national stage.

Saturday’s news, ICYMI: Creighton is the last team in the 2024 Players Era NIL basketball event in Vegas this November. It’s expected to be two four-team MTEs: Alabama, Houston, Notre Dame, Rutgers in one; Creighton, Oregon, San Diego State, Texas A&M in the other. Story below👇 https://t.co/2v3EKtLXUe

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) May 13, 2024

In just a few months, Rutgers basketball will welcome a 2024 recruiting class that includes Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, Lathan Sommerville, and Bryce Dortch. With them in the mix Rutgers offense should improve making the Scarlet Knights a team to keep an eye on in the Big Ten.

Although the event is still months away, excitement is growing for what the week will hold. Some of the best talent in college basketball will get to showcase their skills in a once-in-a-lifetime event. The Rutgers bracket is expected to include Notre Dame, Houston, and Alabama.

During the festival, teams will play at any or all of its three major venues: T-Mobile Arena, MGM Grand Garden Arena, and Michelob ULTRA Arena, according to CBS Sports. With the start of the college basketball season quickly approaching, this is one event fans should mark on their calendars. 

Rutgers basketball recruiting – Bronny James is heading to the NBA, per report

Bronny James won’t be returning to college basketball.

Bronny James, who was very much in the mix for Rutgers basketball as a member of the 2024 recruiting class, appears headed for the NBA draft.

He is the son of NBA superstar LeBron James.

Bronny James was heavily linked to Rutgers as a former four-star recruit before picking USC. Following his freshman season, Bronny James entered the transfer portal while also keeping his option to pursue the NBA draft. It now appears that James is heading professional.

Per a report from The Athletic’s Sham Charania, Bronny ames appears headed for the NBA draft and won’t be pursuing a college option. Over the weekend, James was invited to the NBA Combine.

In 25 games played at USC last year, the freshman guard averaged 19.4 minutes played. He scored 4.8 points per game while shooting 36.6 percent from the floor and 26.7 percent from 3-point range.

There was some thought and speculation that Rutgers might have been a landing spot for Bronny James this time around, where he would join a star-studded class of 2025:

 

Rutgers basketball currently has a top-10 national recruiting class coming in this summer. It is headlined by five-star forward [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] and five-star guard [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag].