Tag: Lathan Sommerville

Rutgers basketball recruit Lathan Sommerville moves up in the 247Sports national rankings

Lathan Sommerville moves up in the national rankings.

Lathan Sommerville is moving on up. The Rutgers basketball commit made a nice jump in the rankings tthis week according to 247Sports.

During the summer, Sommerville was ranked the No. 133 recruit in the nation by 247Sports. But after a strong summer, he is now No. 102, making a significant leap in the national rankings; he remains a three-star according to the 247Sports evaluators.

With the bump, he is also No. 82 in the 247Sports Composite. In the national composite, Sommerville is a four-star.

Rivals and ESPN also rank Sommerville as a four-star, bumping his overall ranking in the 247Sports Composite.

Sommerville committed to Rutgers from a top seven that included Villanova, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Bradley, Xavier, Missouri and Virginia Tech. A 6-foot-10 center from the Skill Factory (Atlanta, GA), he is very strong in the post but his agility in transition has really stood out this summer.

[lawrence-related id=30101,30085]

A strong rebounder and defensive presence, Sommerville committed to Rutgers in April.

“I believe Rutgers is the best fit for me because they adjust to their players and nothing is promised there,” Sommerville said after he committed. “I love and trust the coaches so that made it even easier.”

Lathan Sommerville is one of the rated players from Illinois in latest recruiting update

Lathan Sommerville got a new ranking from Chicagoland Prep Hoops.

Chicagoland has four-star Lathan Sommerville as one of the top recruits in Illinois. The class of 2024 center committed to Rutgers basketball in April.

Sommerville is the second-highest ranked prospect out of Illinois according to Chicagoland Prep Hoops. He only sits behind Morez Johnson, a four-star forward who gave his verbal to Illinois.

Johnson is the No. 40 player in the nation in the 247Sports Composite. He is the top-ranked player in the state in the composite as well.

Coincidentally, the top-four players on the list are all committed to Big Ten programs.

This offseason, Sommerville transferred to Peoria Richwoods (Peoria, IL). He had been playing in Georgia.

 

A strong defensive presence and an excellent rebounder, Sommerville has shown some impressive nuance to his game this summer.

In the 247Sports Composite, Sommerville is a four-star recruit and the No. 85 recruit in the nation. He is part of a Rutgers recruiting class that is ranked No. 2 in the nation.

Also in the 2024 recruiting class is a five-star forward Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey and forward Bryce Dortch.

[lawrence-related id=29281,29275].

 

Five-star guard and Rutgers basketball recruit Dylan Harper remains the top recruit in the nation

On3 ranks Dylan Harper as the best player in the nation.

Dylan Harper remains on top, the Rutgers basketball recruit remaining the best player in the nation in a recent update from On3.

In an update of their top 150 recruits, On3 slotted in Harper as the nation’s top player. It is the second-straight update where Harper is the best player in the nation.

Right after Harper at No. 2 in the On3 update is Ace Bailey. The five-star forward committed to Rutgers in January.

Harper is a combo guard and a member of the 2024 recruiting class. He plays for Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) and participated in the recent FIBA U19 World Cup as a part of the United States national team.

According to On3, Rutgers has the ninth-best recruiting class in the nation in the 2024 class. On3 has center Lathan Sommerville and forward Bryce Dortch as three-star recruits.

Sommerville had originally been a four-star recruit per On3. In the On3 Industry Rankings, which aggregates the rankings from 247Sports, Rivals, ESPN and On3, Sommerville is No. 120 nationally.

[lawrence-related id=29108,29105]

Jon Rothstein says that Cliff Omoruyi could be an All-American this season

Clifford Omoruyi has apparently added some nuances to his game.

Over the last few years, Clifford Omoruyi has been vital to Rutgers success. The talented center has been a force on the boards while improving his offensive game. As Omoruyi prepares for his fourth season as a Scarlet Kight, he has continued to add a few new wrinkles to his skillset.

During the 2022-2023 campaign, he averaged a career-high 13.2 points per game while shooting 60.4 percent from the field. While the Nigerian native is not known for his three-point shooting, he posted a career-high 18.2 shooting percentage from beyond the arc. As Rutgers dealt with injuries throughout the season, Omoruyi was a reliable scorer.

Additionally, he will be even harder to guard during the 2023-2024 campaign. According to CBS Sports Insider, Jon Rothstein, Omuruyi has been working on his jump hooks in the paint and is an All- American candidate. That is welcoming news for a Rutgers roster that has lost Cam Spencer and Pual Mulcahy to the transfer portal over the last few months.

 

While Omoruyi will be relied on heavily, he will also benefit from an exciting supporting cast. This offseason, Rutgers added guard Noah Fernandes in the transfer portal and four-star forward Gavin Griffiths comes in as the highest-ranked recruit in program history.

If Derek Simpson is able to progress, there is plenty of room for optimism that Rutgers can return to the postseason.

 

[lawrence-related id=28985,28978,28971]

Rutgers target Nigel James joins LuHi basketball

Nigel James is switching program’s and joining a Long Island powerhouse.

A Rutgers target in the 2025 recruiting class, Nigel James, made headlines Wednesday night. Brian Reichert of Rivals announced that James is returning to the New York City market to join the Long Island Lutheran roster. He was previously playing for Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Massachusetts.

While Rutgers has the advantage of now being close to home for James, they are not the only school showing interest in the four-star recruit. They are also competing with Marquette, UMass, St. Joseph’s (Philadelphia), Providence, St. John’s, George Mason and Iowa. The talented guard has already received an offer from Rutgers.

While the Scarlet Knights already have a bright future, adding James would provide a significant boost. Prior to this decision to return to New York, he was ranked as one of New England’s top players in the 2025 recruiting class. He is also a potent scorer who can make an impact on both ends of the court.

If James were to join Rutgers, he would be part of a program that is only months away from showcasing one of the best 2024 recruiting classes in the country. That class includes a five-star in Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey, a four-star center in Lathan Sommerville, and a four-star forward in Bryce Dortch.

It is good news for Rutgers though to see James in the tristate area, giving them greater access to the talented player.

[lawrence-related id=28949,28946]

Rutgers basketball recruiting: Darius Adams, New Jersey’s top ranked player, is changing schools

Darius Adams is changing schools, leaving Manasquan.

Class of 2025 recruit Darius Adams is moving schools. The four-star recruit is the top-ranked player in New Jersey in his class and is a Rutgers basketball recruiting target.

Adams, who played last year for Manasquan High School (Manasquan, N.J.), announced on Thursday that he will be attending La Lumiere. The prep school is located in La Porte, IN.

He is a consensus top 50 player in the nation and is ranked New Jersey’s top player by On3, Rivals and ESPN. Adams holds offers from Florida State, Fordham, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Syracuse and Rutgers among others.

 

The 2024 recruiting class for Rutgers is ranked second in the nation. It currently has Airious Bailey, a five-star forward who is the highest-ranked commit in program history. 

[lawrence-related id=28155]

Also in the class are a pair of four talents in forward [autotag]Bryce Dortch[/autotag] and center [autotag]Lathan Sommerville[/autotag].

Getting in early with Adams is certainly a priority for Rutgers and head coach Steve Pikiell. Being able to land New Jersey’s top player would certainly set the tone for the 2025 recruiting class.

The move of schools was retweeted by his sister, Destiny Adams, who came to Rutgers this spring in the transfer portal. Destiny was a former four-star recruit who played the last two seasons at North Carolina.

[lawrence-related id=28190,28169]

Rutgers basketball: Four-star guard Nigel James gets an offer

Massachusetts guard Nigel James gets a Big Ten offer from Rutgers.

Four-star guard Nigel James was offered by Rutgers basketball this week as the Big Ten program looks to continue its relationship with one of New England’s top players in the 2025 recruiting class.

Nigel James – Basketball Recruiting – Player Profiles – ESPN

as the second-best player in the state and the No. 30 guard in the nation, James is a dynamic player who is a strong scorer with range and provides intensity on the defensive end of the court.

James is a 6-foot, 170-pound guard for Cushing Academy (Ashburnham, MA).

Offered by Rutgers in late AprilSince late April, James has been offered by Marquette, UMass, St. Joseph’s (Philadelphia), Providence, St. John’s, George Mason and Iowa.

 

Currently, Rutgers has the second-best recruiting class in the nation for 2024 according to both Rivals and 247Sports. Their class features a five-star in Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey as well as a four-star center in [autotag]Lathan Sommerville[/autotag] and a four-star forward in [autotag]Bryce Dortch[/autotag].

[lawrence-related id=27735]

Rutgers is also strongly in the mix for five-star guard Dylan Harper (class of 2024), who made the USA Basketball team this week and has talked about potentially playing for Rutgers and being a “hometown hero.”

Rutgers is also in contention for another 2024 recruit in four-star forward Naas Cunningham (who just announced this week that he will be playing his final season of high school basketball at Southern California Academy).

[lawrence-related id=27829,27791]

 

With the addition of four-star Bryce Dortch, Rutgers basketball now has one of the top recruiting classes in the nation (and might be No. 1 soon)

Rutgers basketball has a top six recruiting class in the nation.

With the commitment of four-star forward Bryce Dortch on Tuesday, Rutgers basketball made a move

A four-star recruit according to Rivals and 247Sports, Dortch’s commitment gives Rutgers two four-star commits (Dortch along with center Lathan Sommerville) and a five-star (Airious Bailey).

With the commitment of Dortch, the Rutgers class is currently second in the nation on both Rivals and 247Sports. The consensus top class currently is North Carolina, with 247Sports ranking the Tar Heels as currently having commitments from two five-star players and one four-star.

This is significant for Rutgers, as the program has never had such a highly-rated recruiting class in the modern era of recruiting services. The class has the chance to be a transformational one with the potential of adding another five-star player very much real.

Dylan Harper, the top-ranked player in the nation according to On3 and 247Sports, is a consensus five-star recruit who has Rutgers very much in the mix. He is the second-best player in the nation per ESPN.com and third overall for Rivals.

Bailey is ranked as the third-best recruit in the nation by ESPN.

Rutgers was out in Colorado this week at a USA Basketball event to recruit Harper. Assistant coach Brandin Knight was present at a practice over the weekend.

[lawrence-related id=27678,27654]

Ranked the No. 125 player in the nation according to Rivals, Dortch is a 6-foot-7 forwad at Brimmer & May School (Chestnut Hill, MA). He recently took an official visit to Marquette and holds an offer list that includes UMass, Providence, Seton Hall, Temple, Texas A&M, VCU and Virginia Tech among others.

 

On3 is the outlier when it comes to the national ranking for the program, with Rutgers at sixth nationally in their rankings. Bailey is a five-star at On3 but Dortch and Sommerville are both three-star recruits (both are top 50 players at their position according to On3).

[lawrence-related id=27695,27693]

Rutgers basketball’s 2024 recruiting class ranked No. 2 in the country

Rutgers basketball is taking strides in becoming the top program in the country, capturing the No.2 ranking for their 2024 recruiting class.

Rutgers men’s basketball is taking elite strides in becoming one of the top programs in the country, capturing the No. 2 ranking for their 2024 recruiting class. The Scarlet Knights have received three verbal commitments for their 2024 class, with many more pending. According to 247Sports, Rutgers men’s basketball is seven points behind North Carolina for the No. 1 spot.

2024 Verbal Commitments

The first player to commit to Rutgers’ class of 2024 was point guard Dellquan Warren from Keystone Athletic Academy (Erie, PA). Warren received offers from Alabama, Maryland, Dayton, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati, electing to play with head coach Steve Pikiell and the Scarlet Knights. The four-star recruit has excellent ball-handling ability, along with solid defensive ability. He also brings strong outside shooting, a skillset the Scarlet Knights lack in years past.

Stats are according to 247Sports and Rivals.com:

Town High School Verbal Commitment Position Size Weight 247Sports Composite Rankings (State) 247Sports Composite Rankings (Nation) Rivals Rankings
Erie, PA Keystone Athletic Academy 12/30/2022 Point Guard 6-1 170 Ibs. No. 4 (PA) No. 61 No. 75 (National)

[lawrence-related id=22416]

The second player to commit to Rutgers’ class of 2024 is small forward Airious Bailey from McEachern High School in Powder Springs, GA. The 6-foot-9, five-star prospect is an offensive threat on the hardwood. He can handle the ball like a point guard with high basketball IQ. Bailey can pass the rock and is a solid shooter from behind the arc. With his long length, Bailey is a rim protector who can block shots on defense.

Stats are according to 247Sports and Rivals.com:

Town High School Verbal Commitment Position Size Weight 247Sports Composite Rankings (State) 247Sports Composite Rankings (Nation) Rivals Rankings
Powder Springs, GA McEachern 01/15/2023 Small Forward 6-9 185 Ibs. No. 1 (GA) No. 6 No. 4 (National)

[lawrence-related id=23541]

The third player to commit to Rutgers’ class of 2024 is center, Lathan Sommerville. The four-star prospect received offers from Clemson, SMU, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, and Georgia. Sommerville got recruited by Rutgers assistant coach TJ Thompson for his size and physicality. The young prospect is a talented passer with an excellent midrange shot. His high basketball IQ is well advanced for his age, which will help him compete in the Big Ten.

Stats are according to 247Sports and Rivals.com:

Town High School Verbal Commitment Position Size Weight 247Sports Composite Rankings (State) 247Sports Composite Rankings (Nation) Rivals Rankings
Atlanta, GA The Skill Factory 04/21/2023 Center 6-9 225 Ibs. No. 9 (GA) No. 94 No. 92 (National)

[lawrence-related id=26144]

Watch: Rutgers basketball fans need to be excited about the addition of Lathan Sommerville

Lathan Sommerville is a good, solid get for Rutgers basketball.

Friday’s commitment of Lathan Sommerville is a significant addition for Rutgers basketball. The Scarlet Knights added the four-star center after a recruitment that saw them fend off some pretty big programs to land the top 100 recruit.

Sommerville, a 2024 recruit from Atlanta, also held offers from programs like Bradley, Missouri, Seton Hall and Villanova. The quality offers underscore what a big get this is for Rutgers.

The 6-foot-10 center is ranked the No. 92 player in the nation according to Rivals. Rutgers now has three commits in the top 100 for the first time in program history.

What is impressive about Sommerville is that he is a hybrid player in many ways. He uses his size and frame very well in the post with the ability to bang and hit the boards. Sommerville can alter shots and is a strong defensive presence.

[lawrence-related id=26135]

 

But his game is nicely nuanced as well. He handles the ball well for a player who projects as a four or a five and he has the ability to stretch the floor with his jump shot.

Attributes that could and should see Sommerville make an early impact at Rutgers.

 


He also has a nice touch in and around the basket, showing the ability to follow his own shot as well. What’s impressive about Sommerville is that for a player his size, he does a very nice job of creating his own shot. His intermediate jump shot is set-up well and he doesn’t shoot recklessly.

[lawrence-related id=26123]

It is a very encouraging part of his game that oftentimes is one of the last tools that a big man will develop.

 

[lawrence-related id=26095]

[mm-video type=video id=01gykyjbn8e862af7z22 playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gykyjbn8e862af7z22/01gykyjbn8e862af7z22-092946d1640f3eafe3a7d8f63cd5fc8f.jpg]