Tag: Lathan Sommerville

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.

How did the Rutgers basketball duo of Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper do in the 247Sports final rankings?

Rutgers basketball has two of the top three recruits in the nation.

With the incoming arrival this summer of Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, Rutgers basketball has two of the top three players in the nation in the 247Sports final rankings.

The 247Sports rankings for the class of 2024 were certainly quite the flex for Rutgers, with the five-star tandem of Bailey and Harper ranked second and third in the nation, respectively.

Duke commit Cooper Flagg remained the top player in the class. Harper is coming off an offseason where he was the Co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game and then followed that up with 30 points in the Jordan Brand Classic.

Flagg played in both games.

And with two players in the top three nationally, Rutgers has the No. 9 overall class in the class of 2024. Bailey and Harper are both signed with Rutgers.

Also in the 247Sports ranking from the Rutgers class is three-star center [autotag]Lathan Sommerville[/autotag] (No. 106 in the nation) and three-star small forward [autotag]Bryyce Dortch[/autotag] (No. 150 in the nation).

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Rutgers has never before had four recruits ranked in the top 150 nationally, a first-ever for the program.

USA TODAY High School Sports ranks Bailey as the top player in the nation.

 

 

Former Rutgers basketball recruit Gus Yalden is in the transfer portal

Gus Yalden is in the transfer portal. The former Rutgers basketball recruit entered last week.

Gus Yalden entered the transfer portal last week. A former four-star recruit, Yalden was heavily involved with Rutgers basketball in his recruitment.

Rutgers could be an interesting landing spot for Yalden, given that Rutgers came in second in his recruitment to Wisconsin.

And with Rutgers needing a center following Cliff Omoruyi’s entrance into the transfer portal, there could be a need and a fit for Yalden.

Nicknamed ‘Gus Bus,’ Yalden is a 6-foot-8 center who was a four-star recruit when he was in the 2023 class. Rivals ranked him as the No. 114 player in the nation and the No. 22 center.

He has the ability to bang inside, rebound and block shots. But Yalden also has a nice outside game and can put the ball on the court.

Rutgers has been active in the transfer portal and will likely be looking for at least one center to come in and challenge for playing time.

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In the 2024 recruiting class, Rutgers has center [autotag]Lathan Sommerville[/autotag], a four-star recruit coming in. Sommerville is coming off a tremendous senior season, including several dominant performances in the Illinois playoffs.

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.”

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!

 

Watch: Lathan Sommerville breaks an opponent’s ankles with this crossover

Lathan Sommerville puts up a strong stat line in his Jersey Mike’s Arena debut.

While there was a ton of buzz on Friday from Ace Bailey’s debut at Jersey Mike’s Arena, there really should be some headlines written about the play of Lathan Sommerville. The four-star center/forward was beyond solid while producing a number of highlight plays.

Including one tantalizing moment where he showed a truly impressive handle for a player of his size.

The Rutgers basketball commit, who signed and is part of the 2024 recruiting class, was outstanding in making his own debut at Jersey Mike’s Arena.

Sommerville had 28 points, eight rebounds four assists as his Richwoods (Peoria, Illinois) team came out 81-71 winners over College Achieve. The game was one of several this past Friday at Jersey Mike’s Arena as part of ‘The Battle.’

Sommerville is a four-star according to ESPN and Rivals.

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Check out this highlight where his dribbling leaves an opponent on the floor:

 

Sommerville is an impressive recruit. At 6-foot-8 and 245 pounds, he has the size and strength to be able to handle the physicality of the Big Ten.

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But his footwork is impressive – and continues to improve. He also has an emerging inside/outside game that he showed off on Friday at Jersey Mike’s Arena.

 

Sommerville took an official visit to Rutgers over the weekend. He also has his own collection of apparel via Holostars.

Vincent Osazee visits Rutgers over the weekend

Rutgers basketball hosted Vincent Osazee over the weekend.

Vincent Osazee projects to be one of the top prospects in the nation in two year’s time, making it significant that Rutgers basketball is getting in early with the forward prospect.

Over the weekend, Osazee took an unofficial visit to Rutgers where he saw a thrilling win over Stonehill.

Osazee is a 6-foot-8 forward at Reason Prep (Boston). He is a three-star recruit who is ranked the No. 65 player in the nation in the 2026 recruiting class according to Rivals.

Osazee’s unofficial visit came on the same weekend that Rutgers hosted Lathan Sommerville, a four-star center/forward from Illinois. Sommerville signed with Rutgers in December and is officially a part of the 2024 recruiting class.

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The sophomore currently holds offers from Rutgers as well as Arizona State, Bryany, George Mason, High Point, LSU and N.J.I.T. among others.

 

Steve Pikiell in attendance for Rutgers recruit Lathan Sommerville’s latest game

Lathan Somerville has been incredibly impressive to start the year.

Every time Lathan Somerville takes the court, excitement builds for the Rutgers basketball commit (and signee’s) future. The Illinois native is part of Rutgers 2024-2025 class after choosing Rutgers over schools such as Missouri, Seton Hall, and Villanova. While his debut is still months away, Steve Pikiell spent Saturday watching the talented forward/ center.

With Pikiell in attendance, Somerville showed off his dynamic skillset. While he added multiple dunks to his resume, the future Scarlet Knight was also a menace on defense. He finished the afternoon with a few blocks while creating turnovers.

 

His performance came as no surprise. In the past, Pikiell has highlighted Somerville’s ability to impact a game in multiple ways.

When discussing his play in November, Pikiell said, “He is a player that can play multiple positions. He can rebound and pass as well as any player in the nation at his position. I know he’s going to have a great career and we are really excited about how good he is going to become. We’re so excited to add Lathan to the RU family.”

Once Somerville joins the mix, he will be part of a program with high expectations. Rutgers is off to a 4-1 start, with new faces like Gavin Griffiths already playing key roles. This weekend gave a sneak peek of what Pikiell can expect when Somerville calls Jersey Mike’s Arena home.

Why did 4-star Lathan Sommerville pick Rutgers basketball this week?

Lathan Sommerville believes in the direction of Rutgers basketball.

Lathan Sommerville made it official this week, turning his commitment into a signed letter of intent to play for Rutgers basketball. The four-star forward is certainly a building block piece for the Scarlet Knights and head coach Steve Pikiell.

He is part of a Rutgers basketball recruiting class that is the best in program history.

Sommerville was a national recruit and a big get for Rutgers at a position of need. He was ranked as a four-star recruit and ranked No. 120 nationally in the 247Sports Composite.

In May, Sommerville announced a top seven that included Villanova, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Bradley, Xavier, Missouri and Virginia Tech as in addition to Rutgers. His offer list also included the likes of Bradley, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Xavier.

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“I picked Rutgers because it’s a great program with a coaching staff and supporters,” Sommerville told Rutgers Wire this week.

“I also fit their system offensively and defensively. That’s where I feel I will progress the most.”

Sommerville is one of four recruits who signed with Rutgers over the past week. On Saturday, five-star forward [autotag]Airious Bailey[/autotag]. Also part of this class are [autotag]Dylan Grant[/autotag] (a four-star guard) and three-star forward [autotag]Bryce Dortch[/autotag].

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ESPN ranks this class as having three signed players who are four-star recruits. This could be a program-defining class for Rutgers.

“I feel like we are really versatile and skilled. I also feel like we have a lot of potential and a lot to prove,” Sommerville said.

“We’re getting closer and closer as the time goes on.”

Rutgers basketball recruiting: Lathan Sommerville announces signing day plans

Lathan Sommerville is set to sign for Rutgers next week.

Lathan Sommerville is locked into his decision for Rutgers basketball, with the highly-ranked center prospect announcing his signing day.

On X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Somerville announced on Sunday afternoon that he will be signing his National Letter of Intent (NLI) on Nov. 15.

Sommerville is a four-star recruit and ranked No. 120 nationally in the 247Sports Composite. He plays for the Skill Factory (Atlanta, GA).

Rutgers beat out some very competition for Sommerville. In May, he announced a top seven that included Villanova, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Bradley, Xavier, Missouri and Virginia Tech. He also held offers from Bradley, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Xavier.

Sommerville is a strong, physical presence with an impressive motor and work rate. He has a good understanding of floor spacing and some deft nuance to his game, including some good range to his jump shot as well as the ability to play in the low post.

 

He is a very good rebounder and can challenge shots at the rim.

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He is a big part of this vaunted 2024 recruiting class for Rutgers which is ranked top 10 nationally.