Tag: Lathan Somerville

Andy Katz predicts Rutgers men’s basketball to return to the NCAA Tournament

Andy Katz predicts that Rutgers basketball will return to the NCAA Tournament.

After an up-and-down season, Rutgers men’s basketball has plenty to prove next season. Big Ten Network analyst and college basketball insider Andy Katz expects Rutgers to be headed to March Madness again.

Expectations are also higher due to an influx of talent that will include potential stars in [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag], [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag], [autotag]Lathan Somerville[/autotag] and [autotag]Bryce Dortch[/autotag].  Katz expects the Scarlet Knights to make a March Madness appearance for the first time since 2022.

There certainly is plenty of transition this offseason for Rutgers as only three players from last season are projected to return. That list includes Jeremiah Williams, one of Rutgers’ best scorers. In 12 games last year, Williams averaged 12.2 points while shooting a career-high 44.4 percent from the field.

Will we see @RutgersMBB and @UCLAMBB back in the Dance next season? 🕺 @TheAndyKatz says YES. #B1GMBball pic.twitter.com/rsRBnnwsS5

— Big Ten Men’s Basketball (@B1GMBBall) May 31, 2024

Although Katz is high on Rutgers, that was not the only team in the conference he highlighted. He also picked UCLA as a team to qualify for the NCAA Tournament after not making the cut last year.

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In a social media post on X, Katz highlighted some of the talent UCLA has brought in. That list includes Kode Johnson, who transferred from USC, and a talented freshman, Eric Perry. They will be led by veterans Andy Mara and Dylan Andrews. During their first year in the Big Ten, UCLA will look to make a good first impression.

 

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.

 

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 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.

Rutgers basketball: Lathan Sommerville is dominant (again) for Richwoods

Lathan Sommerville is having a strong senior season before heading to Rutgers.

It was a strong performance this weekend from Lathan Sommerville as the Rutgers basketball commit (and signee) put together another sparkling performance.

Somerville was dominant as Richwoods (Peoria, Illinois) beat a very solid O’Fallon (O’Fallon, Illinois) 60-46.

The Rutgers basketball center, who signed with the program in December, had 24 points and 12 rebounds to key the win for Richlands. With the win, Richlands is now 20-4 on the season.

Somerville is a big-time get for Rutgers basketball. Ranked a four-star in the 247Sports Composite, he is the No. 101 recruit in the nation according to Rivals. ESPN ranks him as the No. 84 recruit in the nation.

 

When he picked Rutgers, Sommerville did so from a final seven that included Villanova, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Bradley, Xavier, Missouri and Virginia Tech. He also had offers from Bradley, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Xavier.

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At 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, Somerville is the big man of the Rutgers recruiting class. He is a strong rebounder who controls the paint well and can alter shots. Offensively, he is light on his feet and moves well around the basket in addition to having some nice range to his game.