Tag: Zach Martini

What did Rutgers basketball head coach Steve Pikiell say about Zach Martini?

Zach Martini officially joins Rutgers basketball.

Need met talent for Rutgers basketball last week, with Zach Martini committing to the Big Ten program out of the transfer portal. For a team with high expectations heading into next season, Martini is a big addition to Rutgers.

On Tuesday, Martini’s addition out of the transfer portal was announced by Rutgers basketball and head coach Steve Pikiell. He adds a Big Ten caliber skillset to the program.

Martini comes to Rutgers having made 29 starts last season for Princeton where he averaged 8.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for Princeton. In his final game for the Tigers, a loss to UNLV in the first round of the NIT, Martini scored 17 points.

The 6-foot-7 forward fits a major need for Rutgers. A solid scorer with range, Martini is a strong defensive presence and a high-character player. He adds experience and leadership to the program.

“We are thrilled to officially welcome Zach Martini to The Knighthood,” Pikiell said on Tuesday in a release from Rutgers basketball.

“Zach is a player that brings all the things we are looking for in the transfer portal with his experience, toughness, and the ability to shoot the basketball. Zach comes from a tremendous family and his ties to Rutgers and love for New Jersey were evident during the entire process. He is a proven winner, and I am so excited that he has embraced being a part of the unique opportunity next season provides.”

Earlier in the transfer portal process, Rutgers added guard Tyson Acuff.

[lawrence-related id=37276,37225,37217]

Last year for Eastern Michigan, Acuff averaged 21.7 points per game.

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.

Why is Rutgers basketball so excited about Zack Martini? The proof is in the highlights (so click and watch them)

Rutgers basketball added an elite perimeter scorer in Zach Martini

With his commitment to Rutgers basketball on Wednesday night, Zach Martini brings some considerable range to a program that very much needs his skillset.

Martini, who played the last three seasons at Princeton, comes to Rutgers with one year of eligibility left. His range and ability to shoot from 3-point range very much fills a need for the Big Ten program.

With the loss of Cam Spencer in the transfer portal over the summer, Rutgers went into this season without an effective and proven perimeter scorer.

The 6-foot-7 forward is still developing his game but this past season he averaged 8.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for Princeton. He was 38.5 percent on the season from 3-point range (a career-high). And he shot 88.3 percent with his free throws.

This ability for Rutgers to potentially stretch the floor through a perimeter marksman like Martini brings some much-needed balance to the roster.

He can quickly spot-up and shoot, something that Rutgers could exploit given the number of players on their roster next year who have the ability to drive and kick the ball out:

 

Last season, Martini started all 29 games for the Tigers. They lost in the opening round of the NIT in a loss to UNLV where Martini scored 17 points.

[lawrence-related id=37048,37064,37042]

He was 5-for-11 from 3-point range in the loss.

Against Rutgers in what was the season opener for both teams, Martini was 2-for-3 from behind the arc as he finished with 10 points. Princeton beat Rutgers 67-61.