Rutgers’ expectations for this season have been constructing to a fever pitch ever since two five-star highschool recruits dedicated to this system.
They are not simply any two five-stars, both, however potential future NBA gamers who had been typically ranked second and third within the Class of 2024: Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper.
Rutgers believes it has constructed a formidable crew round Bailey and Harper for 2024-25. The Scarlet Knights are ranked No. 25 within the AP preseason ballot and can open a novel season Wednesday towards Wagner in Piscataway, N.J.
Bailey is a 6-foot-10 Atlanta-area native who will likely be used throughout the courtroom, however primarily at ahead and wing. Harper is a lead guard whose brother Ron Harper Jr. was top-of-the-line gamers in current Rutgers historical past. Bailey really dedicated earlier than Dylan Harper, and their long-distance friendship and occasional alternatives to play with each other through the summer season helped kind early chemistry.
They mixed for 45 factors, six made 3-pointers and 9 rebounds in a 91-85 exhibition loss to St. John’s in October.
“These two children are proficient. They’re nice children they usually’re actually good passers,” coach Steve Pikiell mentioned. “They undoubtedly need to be taught some issues. Faculty protection is one thing they are going to proceed to get higher at.”
The Scarlet Knights’ three returning gamers are guard Jeremiah Williams, a captain; guard Jamichael Davis, a highschool teammate of Bailey; and Emmanuel Ogbole, who could possibly be the crew’s beginning heart after lacking most of final yr recovering from a knee damage.
Rutgers is often identified for its protection and had one of many worst offenses in power-conference basketball a season in the past (65.4 ppg). Along with Bailey’s and Harper’s contributions, the Scarlet Knights will lean on transfers like Tyson Acuff, Zach Martini and PJ Hayes.
Acuff (Japanese Michigan) ranked seventh within the nation at 21.7 factors per recreation final season however will begin the season off the bench in a restricted position. Martini (Princeton) shot 38.5 p.c from 3-point land as a junior and was named co-captain with Williams. And Hayes (San Diego) shot practically 40 p.c from the arc as a freshman and did not miss a shot within the exhibition towards St. John’s (4-for-4, together with two 3-pointers).
Wagner was tied for first with Central Connecticut State atop the Northeast Convention preseason coaches’ ballot. The Seahawks completed sixth final season however then ran the desk within the convention match and defeated Howard within the NCAA Event First 4.
The Staten Island faculty rewarded coach Donald Copeland with a brand new five-year contract.
After accidents restricted his roster to seven wholesome scholarship gamers at match time, Copeland is glad to have again gamers like Javier Ezquerra (7.0 factors, 4.4 assists per recreation final season), Keyontae Lewis (6.9 factors, 5.4 rebounds) and Zaire Williams (9.3 ppg in 9 video games earlier than a season-ending damage).
“It is going properly. We’re working laborious,” Copeland informed PIX 11 in the summertime. “The gamers are jelling collectively, which I believe is at all times good right now of yr … We’re in a position to put in some issues that I believe will assist us come fall.”
–Subject Degree Media
