Tag: Rutgers women’s basketball

Rutgers women’s basketball hosting elite guard Payton Dunbar this weekend

Rutgers women’s basketball is hosting Payton Dunbar this weekend.

Payton Dunbar is on an official visit to Rutgers this weekend, with the Big Ten program hosting one of the nation’s top guard prospects.

A 5-foot-11 guard with off-the-charts athleticism, Dunbar plays for Jefferson Christian Academy (Ripplemead, Virginia). She has been offered by Miami, Michigan, Providence, Syracuse William & Mary, UPenn and Wake Forest among others.

A class of 2025 recruit, she has taken official visits to Wake Forest, Virginia, Michigan and Virginia Tech already.

Dunbar is on an official visit to Rutgers this weekend. She spoke to Rutgers Wire prior to the start of the visit, including about her relationship with assistant coach Jeanine Wasielewski and head coach Coquese Washington.

“I’ve developed a great relationship with coach Jeanine, who would be my position coach, and coach Washington,” Dunbar told Rutgers Wire.

“I chose to schedule a visit with Rutgers because of the relationships I’ve formed and can’t wait to get there.”

On the visit, Dunbar is hoping to make a connection with the staff and see what a possible future in Scarlet might be like.

 

 

“I’m really looking forward to experiencing the team culture and getting to know the players and coaches better,” Dunbar said.

“I’m also excited to see the campus and facilities.”

Dunbar will be making her commitment on July 27.

 

Rutgers women’s basketball to host Payton Dunbar on official visit

Payton Dunbar will be taking a Rutgers basketball official visit this summer.

At the end of the month, Rutgers women’s basketball will host Payton Dunbar, for an official visit,

The news of Dunbar’s Rutgers visit came via Rivals beat writer Alex Crouthamel. Dunbar has received offers from schools such as Miami, Michigan, and Syracuse.

During her high school career, Dunbar has frustrated her opponents with athleticism and excellent length. She has also displayed impressive range as a shooter and has been a sparkplug on offense. Due to her play, schools nationwide, including Rutgers, have taken notice as they look to add to their 2025 class.

While Dunbar’s collegiate debut is still over a year away, Rutgers will get a chance later this month to make their pitch. The Scarlet Knights are coming off an 8-24 campaign but have added some intriguing talent. That list includes Janae Walker and Jojo Lacey in the transfer portal and five-star recruit [autotag]Kiyomi McMiller[/autotag].

 

pic.twitter.com/Sx1AiSXUwS

— Payton Dunbar (@DunbarPayton) May 9, 2024

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Before June comes to a close, Dunbar will be busy. The talented guard also has visits scheduled with Michigan, Wake Forest, and Virginia, according to 247Sports. On her tour, Rutgers will be the last stop, giving Rutgers ample time to prepare. If they can add Dunbar to the mix, then the 2025 class will have another talented scorer.

Class of 2025 recruit Amaia Jackson visits Rutgers women’s basketball

Amaia Jackson took a visit to the Rutgers women’s basketball program this week.

Amaia Jackson took an unofficial visit to Rutgers women’s basketball on Thursday. The class of 2025 guard has one of the most impressive offer lists in the country.

In late May, Rutgers offered Jackson, a guard from New York who transferred last year to Montverde Academy (Montverde, Florida). She plays for EYBL team the Miami Suns.

Earlier this week, Jackson also took a visit to Fairfield University. A class of 2025 recruit, she has been offered by Clemson, Memphis, Mississippi State, Missouri, UPenn and Penn State among others.

Rutgers head coach Coquese Washington had a very strong 2024 recruiting class that was headlined by five-star guard Kiyomi McMiller and four-star forward Zachara Perkins. The group is projected to be a big part of the program’s rebuild in the immediate and the long term.

 

McMiller was the No. 27 recruit in the nation in the ESPN rankings. She committed to Rutgers from an offer list that included Arizona State, Baylor, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan and Ole Miss among others.

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On Thursday, Jackson posted on social media about her visit to Rutgers:

 

Watch -Former Rutgers basketball star Kahleah Copper gets the game winner in the WNBA

Kahleah Copper made a huge play this weekend in WNBA action.

On Saturday night, Phoenix Mercury fans had a reason to celebrate thanks to former Rutgers guard Kahleah Copper. With the Mercury facing an 80-78 deficit, Copper got the ball with 2.9 seconds left and drained a three-pointer. Due to her clutch shooting, the Mercury won 81-80 and improved to 5-6.

So far this season, Cooper has been one of Phoenix’s best players. She is averaging a career-high 24 points per game while shooting 44 percent from the field. The 29-year-old has taken her game to a new level in her eighth season.

While Copper is currently putting together her best season in the WNBA, her success comes as no surprise to this in Piscataway. During the 2015-2016 campaign, Copper averaged 19.6 points per game for Rutgers. She was also a menace on defense, recording 25 steals. Her ability to affect the game at both ends of the court has helped her carve out a solid pro career.

RUTGERS!!! https://t.co/wNWjKcCidK

— Jason McCourty (@JasonMcCourty) June 8, 2024

 

Her success has not gone unnoticed, as former Rutgers football star Jason McCourty posted a video of Copper’s heroics. However, her focus is on helping the Mercury build on their performance in the WNBA Commissioner Cup. The Mercury have gone 3-1 in Commissioner’s Cup play, with their only loss coming against the Seattle Storm.

Following a four-day break, Copper and the Mercury will be back in action on June 13 against the Las Vegas Aces. Cooper will be looking to score at least 20 points for the third straight game.

No surprise but Rutgers women’s basketball recruit Autumn Fleary makes the ‘Super 60’ list

Autumn Fleary makes the ‘Super 60.’

Autumn Fleary, offered recently by Rutgers women’s basketball, is ranked among the top players in the class of 2026.

Rutgers offered Fleary in late May, getting involved with the point guard from Sidwell Friends School (Washington, D.C.). In the ‘Super 60,’ Fleary was ranked the No. 14 player in the nation.

And she is now a five-star in the ESPN rankings. She has been backing that up with her recent play, averaging 11.8 points per game at the recent EYBL Session 2.

She has recent offers this month from Miami, North Carolina and Wake Forest. She also holds offers from Boston College, Central Florida, Florida, Marquette, Memphis, Mississippi State, St. John’s, SMU, TCU, Virginia and Virginia Tech among others.

She was recently named one of 22 finalists for a roster spot with the United States women’s U17 national team.

 

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The incoming 2024 recruiting class for Rutgers is certainly a strong one. Head coach Coquese Washington landed two bigtime recruits in five-star guard Kiyomi McMiller and four-star forward Zachara Perkins.

Rutgers women’s basketball offers talented guard Amaia Jackson

Amaia Jackson has been offered by Rutgers women’s basketball.

Class of 2025 recruit Amaia Jackson was offered by Rutgers women’s basketball last week, the offer from the Scarlet Knights just one of several for the guard prospect.

Jackson plays for Montverde Academy (Montverde, Florida), one of the top programs in the nation. The offer from Rutgers came during a week when she was also offered by Clemson, Memphis, Mississippi State, UPenn and Penn State among others.

She also holds offers from Harvard, Rhode Island and St. John’s among others.

A devastatingly good shooter from distance, Jackson is a prolific scorer at the prep and the EYBL level (she plays for the Miami Suns). A playmaker with the ball in her hands, she is a strong passer and runs the court well in transition.

Originally from New York, she transferred from Bishop Kearney (Brooklyn, New York) to Montverde last year.

 

Rutgers head coach [autotag]Coquese Washington[/autotag] has done a good job of landing elite recruits as she enters her third season with the Scarlet Knights.

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Last year’s recruiting class was headlined by Kiyomi McMiller, who was the No. 27 recruit in the nation in the ESPN rankings. She selected Rutgers from an offer list that included Arizona State, Baylor, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan and Ole Miss among others.

Rutgers women’s basketball’s Kiyomi McMiller on her NIL deal with the Jordan Brand

Kiyomi McMiller has an NIL deal with the Jordan Brand.

Last year, Kiyomi McMiller signed a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal with the Jordan Brand. The five-star athlete from New Jersey signed with Rutgers basketball this spring.

McMiller finished as the No. 27 recruit in the nation in the ESPN rankings. She picked Rutgers from an offer list that included Arizona State, Baylor, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan and Ole Miss.

She is the highest-ranked recruit to commit to head coach [autotag]Coquese Washington[/autotag], who is entering her third season with the Scarlet Knights.

As for McMiller, her NIL deal with the biggest brand in basketball is certainly a big deal and puts her on not just a national stage but an international one.

And she made history with the deal, becoming the first high school athlete to sign an NIL deal with the Jordan Brand.

“I really got the deal by actually being watched by the brand a couple years before I was selected,” McMiller told Rutgers Wire.

“They watched my workouts and watched how I grew better as I got older. And they had just texted me through Instagram and told me that they wanted me to be a part of the brand and we just went from there.”

McMiller finished her senior season with Life Center Academy (Burlington, New Jersey) averaging 30.1 points per game.

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She also had 6.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. In addition, McMiller averaged 2.8 steals per gam as the Warriors finished 12-16 on the season.

Rutgers women’s basketball offered Maryland four-star guard Autumn Fleary

Autumn Fleary pulled in another offer this week.

Autumn Fleary is one of the latest offers to be sent out from Rutgers women’s basketball. The Maryland guard was offered by Rutgers on May 23.

In addition to being offered by Rutgers, she recently participated in the trials for the United States U17 national team. She is a guard for the McDonogh School (Owings Mills, Maryland).

Fleary is a four-star guard according to ESPN. She is the No. 21 recruit in the nation in the ESPN rankings for 2026 and is considered one of the top point guards in the country (if not the top point guard).

Along with Rutgers, other programs to have offered Fleary include Boston College, Central Florida, Florida, Marquette, Mississippi State, St. John’s, SMU, TCU, Virginia and Virginia Tech among others in a very crowded recruitment.

Fleary is electric with the ball in her hands. Her court vision and basketball IQ are impressive for a class of 2026 guard and she has the ability to create for herself offensively and distribute to teammates.

 

Rutgers has built some nice momentum on the recruiting trail with their 2024 class.

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Headlining the incoming class are five-star guard [autotag]Kiyomi McMiller[/autotag] and four-star forward [autotag]Zachara Perkins[/autotag].

 

Rutgers women’s basketball latest to offer Zaniah Zellous

Zaniah Zellous offered by Rutgers women’s basketball.

Zaniah Zellous, a national recruit and one of the top forward prospects in the nation, was offered by Rutgers women’s basketball this week.

Zellous is a 6-foot-2 forward from George Washington High School (Charleston, West Virginia). She can play either forward position.

At the AAU level, she plays for the prestigious WV Thunder program.

Zellous has a strong offer list that includes BYU, Clemson, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Memphis, Michigan, Penn State, Pittsburgh, St. John’s and West Virginia among others.

Rutgers currently does not have a recruit committed in the 2025 class.

Zellous tweeted about the offer from Rutgers on Wednesday evening, tagging head coach Coquese Washington.

 

The 2024 recruiting class was a solid one for Rutgers. It featured five-star guard Kiyomi McMiller and four-star forward Zachara Perkins.

Committed to Rutgers since early January, McMiller is ranked the No. 22 player in the nation by ESPNW.  Perkins picked Rutgers from a final three that included Syracuse and Tulsa.

Former Rutgers star Erica Wheeler posts video of her WNBA life with Caitlin Clark

Erica Wheeler posts a video of traveling with Caitlin Clark.

Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark is creating all the buzz in the WNBA, and veteran teammate Erica Wheeler is here for the fun. Wheeler, a former standout guard at Rutgers, showed a glimpse into the life of the WNBA.

Wheeler, who was a standout at Rutgers, played in Europe for the first three seasons of her professional career before joining the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA in 2015. She scored 16 points in the season opener last week along with four assists and four rebounds in a 79-76 loss to the Dallas Wings.

The game was the much-anticipated debut of Clark, the first pick in the WNBA draft. Clark scored 21 points in the loss.

The WNBA, boosted by the arrival of star players in the league, announced over the weekend that teams will now take charter flights for away games. For Wheeler and her teammates, this is a big deal and a bit of luxury.

Wheeler, who has a tremendous personality and is always up for a laugh, took a video over the weekend that has gone viral showing the charter flight life.

 

And there was also this interaction that Wheeler had when she took on the role of being a media member on Monday, interjecting herself into Clark’s press conference.

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Caitlin Clark press conferences are a big deal these days, for what it’s worth.

One can’t help but think Wheeler, who has been in the WNBA for eight seasons, might be poking fun at the media rather than Clark. After all, with Clark’s arrival has come a flood of media attention.

And with all that media attention has come some pretty bad questions.

 

Wheeler…and Caitlin Clark…will play the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night (7:30 PM ET, ESPN2)