Tag: Scarlet Knights

Former Rutgers recruiting target Ryan Conway enters transfer portal

Former Rutgers recruiting target and Seton Hall Pirate Ryan Conway has entered the transfer portal. Rutgers should target him again

The NCAA transfer portal has been very active in April. One of the top 25  point guards overall and the No. 4 recruit in Maryland from the class of 2021 is a free agent. Ryan Conway from Seton Hall officially entered the transfer portal Thursday.

The 6-foot-one guard was a two-time All-Metro selection by The Baltimore Sun. Conway was also a First Team All-State selection by the Maryland Basketball Coaches Association.

As a sophomore in high school, he averaged 21.5 points, 4.5 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. He exploded for a 55-point game in January of his senior high school season, as well.

A three-star shooting guard in the 247Sports Composite, Conway did not see the court during his freshman season with the Seton Hall Pirates despite being heavily recruited out of high school. The sophomore will have four years of eligibility whenever he makes his decision. He committed to Seton Hall in May of his senior season. Prior to committing to play for the Pirates, Conway received offers from Stanford, Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh, Kansas State, and Rutgers.

Rutgers needs scoring help and depth at guard. With head coach Steve Pikiell’s penchant for getting the most out of players, Conway revisiting Rutgers may be best for both parties.

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Rutgers basketball latest to offer three-star Devin Royal

Rutgers men’s basketball offers three-star forward Devin Royal of Ohio.

Devin Royal is one of the latest high school ballers to receive an offer from Rutgers men’s basketball. The senior announced the offer on social media on Monday.

The 6-foot-6, 210-pound small forward fits the mold of the type of player coach Steve Pikiell wants on his squad. A physical, athletic finisher around the rim that excels off the dribble. Add in his developing jump shot, and he could see a higher level than his three-star rating.

Royal finished with a game-high 20 points to lead his school, Pickerington Central, to win the Ohio Division I state title. They snapped their opponents 45 game win streak in the process.

247Sports has Royal ranked as a three-star forward and the sixth best player in Ohio in the class of 2023. He already has offers from several Big Ten schools like Penn State, Ohio State, Illinois, and Michigan State – as well as Butler, Xavier, and Florida State among others.

The Spartans offer came just two days before the Scarlet Knights’.

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Former Rutgers recruiting target C.J. Roberts enters transfer portal

Former Rutgers recruiting target C.J. Roberts has entered the transfer portal. Here’s why Rutgers should target him again.

The NCAA basketball transfer portal continues to bustle. One of the top 35  point guards overall and top 15 in Texas from the class of 2017 is a free agent. C.J. Roberts from North Richland Hills, TX officially entered the transfer portal last week.

Roberts was a key contributor to the Aggies’ run to the WAC Tournament Championship game as a junior, averaging 6.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in 2020-21. Roberts scored in double figures six times for New Mexico State University.

A three-star shooting guard in the 247Sports Composite, this is the second time Roberts has entered the portal. Out of high school, he originally committed to and signed a letter of intent to play for the Missouri Tigers in November of 2016. He spent time at two different junior colleges, receiving Second-Team All-NTJCAC honors before enrolling at New Mexico State in June of 2020.

After playing in 20 games as a junior, Roberts transferred to Lamar. He never appeared in a game for the Cardinals prior to re-entering the portal.

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Roberts was rated as a four-star recruit by both ESPN and Rivals coming out of high school. As a prep, he collected three All-District awards. He averaged 22.5 points per game during his junior season and 25 points per game during his senior season.

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Head coach Steve Pikiell has gotten the best out of players during his entire tenure at Rutgers and he currently has the need to find ways to fill the scoring holes left from last season’s departing players. Add in his affinity for strong leadership, and Roberts and Rutgers could make a strong union.

Former Rutgers recruiting target Kyle Dobbins enters transfer portal

Former Rutgers football recruiting target Kyle Dobbins has officially entered the transfer portal.

One of the top 35 high school football players out of New Jersey and the No. 25 all-purpose back from the class of 2018 is now in the transfer portal. Former Temple Owl running back Kyle Dobbins officially entered the transfer portal Friday.

The Sicklerville, N.J. native is leaving Temple as a redshirt junior.

A three-star all-purpose back in the 247Sports Composite, Dobbins committed to Temple in June and signed a letter of intent in September of his senior high school season. He held offers from Northwestern, Boston College, North Carolina, and Rutgers. He also made visits to Penn State, Notre Dame, and South Carolina prior to enrolling at Temple.

Dobbins appeared in 11 career games for the Owls, rushing for 148 yards (3.8 per carry). he saw most of his action this past season.

Rutgers was active early in the portal. They do have options at running back, but with coach Greg Schiano’s recruiting background you can trust whomever he had his eye on.

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Former Rutgers recruiting target Kaymar Mimes enters transfer portal

Former Rutgers football recruiting target Kaymar Mimes is in the transfer portal.

One of the top 25 high school football players out of New Jersey from the class of 2018 is now in the transfer portal. Former Pittsburgh Panther tight end Karmar Mimes officially entered the transfer portal last week.

The Long Branch, New Jersey native is leaving Pitt as a redshirt senior.

A three-star defensive end in the 247Sports Composite, Mimes committed to Pittsburgh in January of his senior high school season. He saw a few other  offers from teams in the northeast part of the country including Boston College, UConn, Temple, Wake Forest, and Rutgers. Mimes originally committed to Rutgers in December of 2017, but decommitted shortly after that before deciding on Pitt. Rivals.com had Mimes rated as a three-star defensive end. They rated him the No. 33 prospect in New Jersey.

 

Mimes appeared in 24 games for the Panthers, mostly on special teams, with one reception for 4 yards. He switched his main position from defensive end to tight end after arriving to Pittsburgh and did see time at both positions.

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Rutgers has been active in the transfer portal, looking for tight ends. Rutgers was among the first to offer Lafayette tight end Steven Stillianos, who ended up committing to Iowa.

Rutgers lands guard Cam Spencer in transfer portal

Rutgers landed the second best player in the Patriot League Cam Spencer in the transfer portal

Rutgers men’s basketball team has experienced a bittersweet offseason thus far. After saying goodbye to the pillars of the program’s resurgence in Geo Baker, Ron Harper Jr., and Caleb McConnell – Rutgers has some exciting news in the form of junior transfer Cam Spencer.

Spencer was an unranked recruit out of Davidsonville, Maryland according to 247Sports Composite in the class of 2019. The former Loyola Maryland Greyhound guard had an outstanding season this past year, averaging 18.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. He shot 46.8 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three-point range.

He becomes the first transfer portal commit to Rutgers men’s basketball this offseason.

Spencer was the second-best player in the Patriot League by KenPom’s metrics and has a physical style of play. He shot 44.3 percent on 106 attempts across his first two seasons. Even in what was the worst shooting year of his college career, Spencer would have been Rutgers’ second-best 3-point shooter last season. He could easily fill the scoring void left by Baker and Harper.

Defensively, he is tenacious.

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Rutgers basketball’s Cliff Omoruyi hosting on-campus shoe drive

Rutgers center Cliff Omoruyi is running a shoe drive on campus. All donations will be sent to his hometown in Nigeria

Clifford Omoruyi is one of the stars of the Rutgers men’s basketball program. After leading the entire country in rim-rattling dunks, he is poised to be a leader for coach Steve Pikiell’s program this season on the court, but he’s making a bigger impact off the court to start the off-season.

 

Omoruyi has set up a shoe drive on Rutgers’ campus that goes the rest of this week. Daily, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., you can bring lightly worn shoes to campus and drop them off at the RWJBH Athletic Performance Center lobby, located next to Jersey Mike’s Arena. Shoes will be donated to Omoruyi’s hometown of Benin City, Nigeria.

The early donations to the shoe drive have been strong. Omoruyi and Rutgers will be also be accepting donations at SHI Stadium before and during the Rutgers Football Spring Game on April 22. Omoruyi was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten this past season, as well as Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree. His charitable endeavor shows that he is just as strong-willed off the court as he is on.

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Former Rutgers recruiting target Akok Akok enters transfer portal

Former Rutgers recruiting target and UConn Husky Akok Akok. has entered the transfer portal. Here’s why Rutgers should take another look at him

One of the top 100 recruits overall and the No. 2 recruit in Connecticut from the class of 2018 is a free agent as Akok Akok officially entered the transfer portal last week.

Standing at six-foot-ten with great mobility coming out of high school, it is no surprise that many programs were interested in Akok’s services. He saw offers from Rutgers, Louisville, Seton Hall, Syracuse, Georgetown, and Pittsburgh. UConn head coach Kevin Ollie and Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim both paid Akok a visit prior to him making his final decision.

The Putnam, CT native entered the portal one day after former UConn teammate Corey Floyd Jr. did the same.

A four-star power forward in the 247Sports Composite, Akok was a major player for the Huskies in his freshman season but has had to fight for time since after tearing his Achilles just seven games into his sophomore season.

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He committed to UConn in December of 2018. Akok averaged 5.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 2.2 blocks in what was his true freshman season prior to the injury.

 

The middle is strong for Rutgers, anchored by Cliff Omoruyi. That being said, head coach Steve Pikiell has done so much to get the best out of players and Omoruyi’s strength and transformation is in part a testament to the training staff at Rutgers.

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If Akok wants to rediscover that spark he showed as a freshman without the pressure to lead the way down low, Rutgers might be the best destination for him.

Rutgers alumni: Scarlet Knights’ most famous graduates and attendees

Rutgers is rich with sports history, but there are plenty of famous alumni throughout the school’s history

As an academic institution, Rutgers University has gone through a renaissance in recent years. Not only is the program certainly pointed up athletically, but the research institution and the academic standing of Rutgers has seen it become one of the elite higher learning institutions in the nation.

On the playing field, Rutgers has done well with the Olympic sports for years but has seen surges in success from the large sports such as basketball, led by head coach Steve Pikiell, and football led by head coach Greg Schiano.

What you may not realize is the rich, proud history of Rutgers’ graduates and former attendees that have made their impact felt across the country and beyond. Whether it be actors, politicians, or authors – Rutgers is well represented outside of the playing fields.

Call it pork roll or Taylor Ham…it doesn’t matter. Rutgers has put its stamp on the nation in major ways.

Check out some of the most notable alumni who have eaten at the grease trucks, spent a Friday night (and a few early Saturday morning hours) at Old Man Rafferty’s or have skipped class to go to Menlo Park Mall.

Rutgers upsets No. 1: Five keys from Thursday’s historic win

The Rutgers men’s basketball team beat Purdue on a buzzer-beater Thursday night to earn their first win over a No. 1-ranked team.

Coming off of a bad loss a week ago against Illinois, Rutgers faced the challenge of facing the newly crowned No.1 Purdue Boilermakers. To make matters worse, they would once again be without one of their leaders, senior guard Geo Baker.

There were a few things in Rutgers’ favor, though. First, things can’t be as bad as that Illinois game … right? Second, the Scarlet Knights returned home to a raucous crowd at Jersey Mike’s Arena that was sold out for the 15th consecutive game. Lastly, despite never having beaten the top-ranked team in the country, Rutgers had Purdue’s number as of late. Coming into the contest, the Scarlet Knights had won three in a row against the Boilermakers.

Many fans wondered if unranked Rutgers could compete with Purdue. Well, the Scarlet Knights did more than just compete, they earned a hard-fought 70-68 victory.

Let’s take a look at five key takeaways from the thrilling upset in Piscataway.