2018 Recruiting

[RutgersFbFan]

I know a lot has been said about how good NJ's 2018 class is but just taking a look now and WOW. There are 8 guys on the top 150 list, which is the most in years. Just to put that into perspective, 2017 had 3, 2016 had 5, 2015 had 7 and 2014 had 5. Hopefully our winning and new facilities are gaining momentum because this is the class that could finally get us over the hump. Anyone have any info of how we fare with these kids?

(ranking) *offer

Naz Reid (18)* - 5 star center that played w/ Bullock. Visited Rutgers twice w/ multiple coach visits
Louis King (26)* - 4 star SF. Visited Rutgers twice w/ multiple coach visits
Jahvon Quinerly (37)* - 4 star PG. Visited Rutgers w/ a coaches visit
Jalen Carey (55)* - 4 star PG. Visited Rutgers
Luther Muhammad (60)* - 4 star SG. Visited Rutgers w/ a coaches visit
Jordan Walker (118) - 3 star PG. Plays for Mike Rice..
Valdir Manuel (122) - 3 star PF. Plays for Mike Rice..
Tavon Jones (131) - 3 star SG.

Not on 150 but part of NJ "Fab Five" (Sports U AAU Team: Reid, King, Quinerly, Muhammad, Taylor)

Atiba Taylor*- 3 star PG w/ multiple offers including SHU and Temple. Visited back in October

 

[onesimus]

What's everyone's general opinion on Mike Rice and Rutgers (today)?
Wondering if he still has a positive opinion on the university, or if it's a negative.

 

[LevaosLectures]

What's everyone's general opinion on Mike Rice and Rutgers (today)?
Wondering if he still has a positive opinion on the university, or if it's a negative.

I doubt he has any warm feelings.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

Rice is fine with RU folks, don't make too much out of it......some of the Catholic HS programs aren't in line or on great terms with everyone, so it works both ways.

Regarding 18 recruiting, a lot of those names in the region are going to see their rankings reshuffled a bit. Some are overrated by a LOT and some are severely underrated as well.....probably best to focus on the remaining 2017 kids, RU needs to find a piece or two there as well.

 

[RUfinal4]

Hopefully Rutgers can get 1 or 2 of these kids. We have not done well with the top NJ kids the past few years. We need to start to get a couple of the top 10 kids each year to be a top team.

For 2016 we got 1 of the top 12 in Bullock
(http://247sports.com/Season/2016-Basketball/RecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool&State=NJ)

For 2017 SHU has the #2 guy and all but 3 players have verballed already. No Rutgers choices yet
(http://247sports.com/Season/2017-Basketball/RecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool&State=NJ)

 

[RutgersFbFan]

Rice is fine with RU folks, don't make too much out of it......some of the Catholic HS programs aren't in line or on great terms with everyone, so it works both ways.

Regarding 18 recruiting, a lot of those names in the region are going to see their rankings reshuffled a bit. Some are overrated by a LOT and some are severely underrated as well.....probably best to focus on the remaining 2017 kids, RU needs to find a piece or two there as well.

I wouldnt want you to bash any of these kids but who do you see as the underrated recruits that will shoot up the rankings?

 

[hoquat63]

How many scholarship spots will we have for them?

 

[ScarletKid2008]

Fab 5 to RU ... get the ESPN 30 for 30 ready now !!!

"Rutgers breaks 30 years of futility, with 5 freshmen taking them to the Final Four"

 

[RutgersFbFan]

Ok so who's next?!?

What Pikiell has done in this short amount of time is AMAZING

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

I wouldnt want you to bash any of these kids but who do you see as the underrated recruits that will shoot up the rankings?

The Linden kid is vastly underrated, but need to see him live (will probably do so over this holiday break).....I think there is a LOT of regional talent that is in High School here OR played in HS in our area and are at a JUCO right now......

There aren't a lot of places RU can go wrong with 2018 and 2019 recruiting, quite honestly, shooting for the stars with Carey, King, Muhammad, Reid and those types of talents are where we want to be....it's an unusually high amount of New England talent as well, that this staff is familiar with, we don't have to survive locally to improve the program, although it's always perceived to be easier to do so.

The practice facility groundbreaking is a huge step forward.....we will have a top notch facility to pitch to the AAU folks and can still leverage the RAC properly during the spring and summer, with AC now in place for non-stop tournaments to host as well. Improving Livingston's appearance and adding places like Henry's Diner, etc, are big items to sell when you have visitors.

I think we are doing well with a few recruits, it would be wrong to isolate any one or two kids at this point. Doucoure is a REALLY important get for the staff, he brings credibility in that he can play in the B1G and not be intimidated, we landed a big that a lot of schools really wanted and needed, just as badly as RU did.

If he reclassifies back to 2017 (initial rumors that it was a very real possibility) and arrives in the summer, RU has a lot of positive momentum to match with Geo Baker. The 2017 class could really reshape things and set up 2018 nicely.

I am more focused on 2017 recruiting, the pieces like Omoyuri, Baker and Diocoure show immediate dividends for the staffs hard work.

 

[Greco85]

What are the spots that we are looking to fill in 2018? What type of position do we need?

 

[RUJMM78]

Greatest need is for a 3 point shooter at either guard position or small forward.

 

[RutgersFbFan]

The Linden kid is vastly underrated, but need to see him live (will probably do so over this holiday break).....I think there is a LOT of regional talent that is in High School here OR played in HS in our area and are at a JUCO right now......

There aren't a lot of places RU can go wrong with 2018 and 2019 recruiting, quite honestly, shooting for the stars with Carey, King, Muhammad, Reid and those types of talents are where we want to be....it's an unusually high amount of New England talent as well, that this staff is familiar with, we don't have to survive locally to improve the program, although it's always perceived to be easier to do so.

The practice facility groundbreaking is a huge step forward.....we will have a top notch facility to pitch to the AAU folks and can still leverage the RAC properly during the spring and summer, with AC now in place for non-stop tournaments to host as well. Improving Livingston's appearance and adding places like Henry's Diner, etc, are big items to sell when you have visitors.

I think we are doing well with a few recruits, it would be wrong to isolate any one or two kids at this point. Doucoure is a REALLY important get for the staff, he brings credibility in that he can play in the B1G and not be intimidated, we landed a big that a lot of schools really wanted and needed, just as badly as RU did.

If he reclassifies back to 2017 (initial rumors that it was a very real possibility) and arrives in the summer, RU has a lot of positive momentum to match with Geo Baker. The 2017 class could really reshape things and set up 2018 nicely.

I am more focused on 2017 recruiting, the pieces like Omoyuri, Baker and Diocoure show immediate dividends for the staffs hard work.

Thanks Hawk! If we could get Diocoure for '17 that would be HUGE. Just comparing Baker and Diocoure's offers relative to the guys in '16 that ended up leaving after Jordan left. KSU, GW, UCONN, Creighton, Pitt, etc. Those two, plus whatever mix of '17 guys we end up with and our current roster is true depth. We've come a long way from our injury riddled team of Laurent and Grier as our front court