Quotables
Mike Bimonte on Tom Savage transferring:
“There’s been a lot of talk he’s been transferring for a while so there wasn’t much surprise involved. Basically, it opens a huge door for me to compete as a freshman and that’s all I need. I’m going to be competing with some very good talent so I just need to train my tail off and I’ll be fine. It’s a shame to see him go but it makes my chances that much better.”
Mike Rice on playing Georgetown:
“They have so many different weapons. You look at their game against Missouri where they were firing on all cylinders. It can happen. So they worry me, the offense it does [worry me] but the pieces worry me more.”
Woodland Hills head coach George Novak on Lafayette Pitts:
“I’ve been fortunate enough over my career to have some kids play division 1 and then go on into the pros. Steve Breaston, Ryan Mundy, Shawntae Spencer. He’s that caliber a player.”
Mike Rice following RU’s 67-53 loss to UConn on Tuesday:
“We understand we are undermanned at times, undersized at times, but that doesn’t mean that you have to stop fighting and stop playing for your teammates. You’re going to get punched in the Big East every once in a while. You have got fight back and we took a standing eight count.”
Fat Cat Top 5
Top 5 juniors? vynig for thecoveted #1 ranking in NJ's class of 2012 (in no particular order)
Darius Hamilton (Don Bosco)
Elijah Shumate (Don Bosco)
Leonte Carroo (Don Bosco)
Devin Fuller (Old Tappan)
Quanzell Lambert (Timber Creek)
The Numbers Game
10 wins for RU hoops
9 .3 points per game average for Gilvydas Biruta
8 minutes of playing time for RU walk on Charlie Rigoglioso vs. UConn
7 more RU hoops games inside The RAC this season
6 national ranking for RU 149-pound wrestler Mario Mason
5 Don Bosco kids will be at the Rutgers Junior Day
4 former Pitt commits visiting RU on January 21st
3 tackles last week for Eric Foster against the Jets
2 St. Peters Prep players visiting on the 21st
1 loss for RU wrestling all season
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
Three new offers will go out at the Rutgers Junior Day
Savon Huggins will commit to Rutgers
Rutgers will play Georgetown close, but lose on Saturday
The next RU commit will come on the weekend of January 21st
Recruiting Tidbits
Sheldon Royster (St. Peter’s Prep)
Scarlet Nation spoke to Sheldon’s father, Shelly.
"Just waiting, just waiting to make a decision. He canceled his trip to North Carolina. Bascially down to Rutgers and South Carolina."
On the meeting with Coach Hansen:
"Coach Hansen just wants to talk to him. It is basically down to crunch time. They have two weeks. He just wants to touch base with us now.".
Will Sheldon wait until Signing Day?
"I don't want him to do that. I would like him to commit so that others kids who didn't commit knows what he is doing and they can make a decision.? If he goes to Rutgers, that could influence other kids in New Jersey to stay. Whatever school he goes to, it can help."
Is he being pressured to stay home??
"It is a lot of pressure with that. A lot of expectations? If all of the New Jersey kids go there, that would be a nice thing. If four or five stay there this year, I have always been a fan of kids staying there. These other schools pick New Jersey dry. When you look at other state schools' rosters, they are filled with New Jersey players.? If Rutgers gets the the top New Jersey kids this year, they could go to the BCS within two years. At this time in college, that is all you really want."
On if he is leaning to South Carolina:
" Don't believe everything you read in the press."
On playing for Rutgers:
"I would like to see my son play [there]. Just for these kids to stay home. I do believe we can compete. Stay home and see what that brings you. It would just be interesting for once to see what NJ brings to the table."
On family connection with RU:
"His mother is a Rutgers alumnus."?
Josue Matias (Union City)
Union City head coach Wilbur Valdez said that Josue Matias decided to take his official visit to Miami this weekend largely due to the efforts of newly-hired head coach Al Golden and defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio. Valdez has a good relationship with both coaches and he said that no matter what schools they have coached at, Golden and D'Onofrio have checked in on how he (Valdez) is doing.
"I would definitely trust a player of mine with those guys, " Valdez said of Golden and D'Onofrio. "I think the talent is there at Miami, and I'm not just saying that as a alumnus."
However, Valdez said Miami had a lot of ground to cover recruiting wise, and probably would not factor into Matias' collegiate decision. Valdez added that the main four schools left on Matias' plate--UNC,FSU, South Carolina and Rutgers-- all have a legit shot at landing the big tackle.
"After his visit to Rutgers (on the 21st), we're going to sit down, me him and his family, and make a decision. I think he is getting tired of the process. I think he will ultimately announce on the 28th, although I really don't know if any school is in the lead right now. He has a tough decision to make."
Valdez is confident Matias will enjoy his RU visit and praised head coach Greg Schiano for being committed to his vision.
Marquie Wright (Paramus Catholic)
When Wright announced he was opening up his recruitment, he did not speak very favorably of RU. That has suddenly changed.
“They've always been a strong candidate, they just never offered,” Wright said yesterday.
Wright will now visit Rutgers on January 21st.
Marquis Lucas (Miami Central)
Lucas won’t be arriving early as some personal issues have come up which will keep him in Florida.
Daniel Dingle (St. Raymond’s) 2012
Rutgers continues to recruit the 6-foot-7 power forward from the Bronx, whose offer list has moved into the high teens. Dingle said that he is still ‘very open’ and has also been receiving quite a bit of interest from RU.
“Coach Rice and Coach Van [Macon] came out this year to see me play,” said Dingle.
Dingle will return the favor as he will be at The RAC when Rutgers takes on Georgetown tomorrow.
Ben Martin (Absegami)
Martin confirmed that he will be making his official visit to Rutgers on the 21st of January and has finally been able to get some down time after an injury-plagued season.
“It's been going well,” Martin said of the off-season. “Just getting ready for next season.”
Kaleb Johnson (Ed White, FL)
Johnson will visit Louisville this weekend and multiple sources have confirmed that he is still very open and has yet to name a true leader.
Andre Davis (Jefferson, FL)
Davis will visit South Florida this weekend and sources have indicated that there is a good chance he will wind up committing to USF. It doesn’t look as though Davis will make an official visit to Rutgers even though he maintained that he would throughout the season. It also appears that RU has backed off his recruitment as well.
RU Junior Day attendees (updated list on confirmed participants)
Armani Reeves (Catholic Memorial, MA)
Yuri Wright (Don Bosco)
Stacey Bedell (William Floyd, NY)
Leonte Carroo (Don Bosco)
Alvin Cornelius (Tottenville, NY)
JJ Denman (Pennsbury, PA)
Mike Giaccone (St. Peter's Prep)
Darius Hamilton (Don Bosco)
Devin Fuller (Old Tappan)
Dan Crimmins (Demarest)
Shayne Jones (Immaculata)
Jazzmar Clax (Freehold)
Jamil Pollard (West Deptford)
Quanzell Lambert (Timber Creek)
Kaiwan Lewis (St. Joe’s-Hammonton)
Lakai Robinson (Paul VI)
Chirs Muller (Boyertown, PA)
Dan Valles (Carteret)
Sam Lebbie (DeMatha, MD)
Brent Wilkerson (DeMatha, MD)
Kye Morgan (Franklin)
Carlton Agudosi (Franklin)
Nigel Jones (Holy Spirit)
Ethan Gambale (Holy Spirit)
Greg Moore (Ocean Township)
Elijah St. Hilaire (Palisades Park)
Mike Strizak (Don Bosco)
Brandon Napoleon (St. Peter’s Prep)
Ryan Morris (Barnegat)
Jared Crayton (St. Peter’s Prep)
Tim Donahue (Howell)
Wayne Morgan (Erasmus, NY)
Ryan Davies (Howell)
D.J. Singleton (St. Peter’s Prep)
Brandon Nosovitch (Central Catholic, PA)
Casey Cochran (Masuk, CT)
Blake Rankin (Bloomsburg, PA)
Jordan Powell (Lacey Township)
Tyrell Smith (Lacey Township)
Kalief Joyner (Christ The King, NY)
Ryan Brodie (Long Branch)
Kahlif Herbin (Montclair)
Julian Pinnix (Montclair)
Elijah Shumate (Don Bosco)
Taylor Wrice (Bristol Eastern, CT)
Josh Goldsboro (Schalick)
Errol McCarthy (Depaul)
Nick Golz (Depaul)
Colin Thompson (Archbishop Wood, PA)
Desmon Peoples (Archbishop Wood, PA)
Frank Taylor (Archbishop Wood, PA)
This post was edited on 1/14 10:19 PM by John Otterstedt
This post was edited on 1/15 10:47 AM by John Otterstedt
Mike Bimonte on Tom Savage transferring:
“There’s been a lot of talk he’s been transferring for a while so there wasn’t much surprise involved. Basically, it opens a huge door for me to compete as a freshman and that’s all I need. I’m going to be competing with some very good talent so I just need to train my tail off and I’ll be fine. It’s a shame to see him go but it makes my chances that much better.”
Mike Rice on playing Georgetown:
“They have so many different weapons. You look at their game against Missouri where they were firing on all cylinders. It can happen. So they worry me, the offense it does [worry me] but the pieces worry me more.”
Woodland Hills head coach George Novak on Lafayette Pitts:
“I’ve been fortunate enough over my career to have some kids play division 1 and then go on into the pros. Steve Breaston, Ryan Mundy, Shawntae Spencer. He’s that caliber a player.”
Mike Rice following RU’s 67-53 loss to UConn on Tuesday:
“We understand we are undermanned at times, undersized at times, but that doesn’t mean that you have to stop fighting and stop playing for your teammates. You’re going to get punched in the Big East every once in a while. You have got fight back and we took a standing eight count.”
Fat Cat Top 5
Top 5 juniors? vynig for thecoveted #1 ranking in NJ's class of 2012 (in no particular order)
Darius Hamilton (Don Bosco)
Elijah Shumate (Don Bosco)
Leonte Carroo (Don Bosco)
Devin Fuller (Old Tappan)
Quanzell Lambert (Timber Creek)
The Numbers Game
10 wins for RU hoops
9 .3 points per game average for Gilvydas Biruta
8 minutes of playing time for RU walk on Charlie Rigoglioso vs. UConn
7 more RU hoops games inside The RAC this season
6 national ranking for RU 149-pound wrestler Mario Mason
5 Don Bosco kids will be at the Rutgers Junior Day
4 former Pitt commits visiting RU on January 21st
3 tackles last week for Eric Foster against the Jets
2 St. Peters Prep players visiting on the 21st
1 loss for RU wrestling all season
Bobby’s Crystal Ball
Three new offers will go out at the Rutgers Junior Day
Savon Huggins will commit to Rutgers
Rutgers will play Georgetown close, but lose on Saturday
The next RU commit will come on the weekend of January 21st
Recruiting Tidbits
Sheldon Royster (St. Peter’s Prep)
Scarlet Nation spoke to Sheldon’s father, Shelly.
"Just waiting, just waiting to make a decision. He canceled his trip to North Carolina. Bascially down to Rutgers and South Carolina."
On the meeting with Coach Hansen:
"Coach Hansen just wants to talk to him. It is basically down to crunch time. They have two weeks. He just wants to touch base with us now.".
Will Sheldon wait until Signing Day?
"I don't want him to do that. I would like him to commit so that others kids who didn't commit knows what he is doing and they can make a decision.? If he goes to Rutgers, that could influence other kids in New Jersey to stay. Whatever school he goes to, it can help."
Is he being pressured to stay home??
"It is a lot of pressure with that. A lot of expectations? If all of the New Jersey kids go there, that would be a nice thing. If four or five stay there this year, I have always been a fan of kids staying there. These other schools pick New Jersey dry. When you look at other state schools' rosters, they are filled with New Jersey players.? If Rutgers gets the the top New Jersey kids this year, they could go to the BCS within two years. At this time in college, that is all you really want."
On if he is leaning to South Carolina:
" Don't believe everything you read in the press."
On playing for Rutgers:
"I would like to see my son play [there]. Just for these kids to stay home. I do believe we can compete. Stay home and see what that brings you. It would just be interesting for once to see what NJ brings to the table."
On family connection with RU:
"His mother is a Rutgers alumnus."?
Josue Matias (Union City)
Union City head coach Wilbur Valdez said that Josue Matias decided to take his official visit to Miami this weekend largely due to the efforts of newly-hired head coach Al Golden and defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio. Valdez has a good relationship with both coaches and he said that no matter what schools they have coached at, Golden and D'Onofrio have checked in on how he (Valdez) is doing.
"I would definitely trust a player of mine with those guys, " Valdez said of Golden and D'Onofrio. "I think the talent is there at Miami, and I'm not just saying that as a alumnus."
However, Valdez said Miami had a lot of ground to cover recruiting wise, and probably would not factor into Matias' collegiate decision. Valdez added that the main four schools left on Matias' plate--UNC,FSU, South Carolina and Rutgers-- all have a legit shot at landing the big tackle.
"After his visit to Rutgers (on the 21st), we're going to sit down, me him and his family, and make a decision. I think he is getting tired of the process. I think he will ultimately announce on the 28th, although I really don't know if any school is in the lead right now. He has a tough decision to make."
Valdez is confident Matias will enjoy his RU visit and praised head coach Greg Schiano for being committed to his vision.
Marquie Wright (Paramus Catholic)
When Wright announced he was opening up his recruitment, he did not speak very favorably of RU. That has suddenly changed.
“They've always been a strong candidate, they just never offered,” Wright said yesterday.
Wright will now visit Rutgers on January 21st.
Marquis Lucas (Miami Central)
Lucas won’t be arriving early as some personal issues have come up which will keep him in Florida.
Daniel Dingle (St. Raymond’s) 2012
Rutgers continues to recruit the 6-foot-7 power forward from the Bronx, whose offer list has moved into the high teens. Dingle said that he is still ‘very open’ and has also been receiving quite a bit of interest from RU.
“Coach Rice and Coach Van [Macon] came out this year to see me play,” said Dingle.
Dingle will return the favor as he will be at The RAC when Rutgers takes on Georgetown tomorrow.
Ben Martin (Absegami)
Martin confirmed that he will be making his official visit to Rutgers on the 21st of January and has finally been able to get some down time after an injury-plagued season.
“It's been going well,” Martin said of the off-season. “Just getting ready for next season.”
Kaleb Johnson (Ed White, FL)
Johnson will visit Louisville this weekend and multiple sources have confirmed that he is still very open and has yet to name a true leader.
Andre Davis (Jefferson, FL)
Davis will visit South Florida this weekend and sources have indicated that there is a good chance he will wind up committing to USF. It doesn’t look as though Davis will make an official visit to Rutgers even though he maintained that he would throughout the season. It also appears that RU has backed off his recruitment as well.
RU Junior Day attendees (updated list on confirmed participants)
Armani Reeves (Catholic Memorial, MA)
Yuri Wright (Don Bosco)
Stacey Bedell (William Floyd, NY)
Leonte Carroo (Don Bosco)
Alvin Cornelius (Tottenville, NY)
JJ Denman (Pennsbury, PA)
Mike Giaccone (St. Peter's Prep)
Darius Hamilton (Don Bosco)
Devin Fuller (Old Tappan)
Dan Crimmins (Demarest)
Shayne Jones (Immaculata)
Jazzmar Clax (Freehold)
Jamil Pollard (West Deptford)
Quanzell Lambert (Timber Creek)
Kaiwan Lewis (St. Joe’s-Hammonton)
Lakai Robinson (Paul VI)
Chirs Muller (Boyertown, PA)
Dan Valles (Carteret)
Sam Lebbie (DeMatha, MD)
Brent Wilkerson (DeMatha, MD)
Kye Morgan (Franklin)
Carlton Agudosi (Franklin)
Nigel Jones (Holy Spirit)
Ethan Gambale (Holy Spirit)
Greg Moore (Ocean Township)
Elijah St. Hilaire (Palisades Park)
Mike Strizak (Don Bosco)
Brandon Napoleon (St. Peter’s Prep)
Ryan Morris (Barnegat)
Jared Crayton (St. Peter’s Prep)
Tim Donahue (Howell)
Wayne Morgan (Erasmus, NY)
Ryan Davies (Howell)
D.J. Singleton (St. Peter’s Prep)
Brandon Nosovitch (Central Catholic, PA)
Casey Cochran (Masuk, CT)
Blake Rankin (Bloomsburg, PA)
Jordan Powell (Lacey Township)
Tyrell Smith (Lacey Township)
Kalief Joyner (Christ The King, NY)
Ryan Brodie (Long Branch)
Kahlif Herbin (Montclair)
Julian Pinnix (Montclair)
Elijah Shumate (Don Bosco)
Taylor Wrice (Bristol Eastern, CT)
Josh Goldsboro (Schalick)
Errol McCarthy (Depaul)
Nick Golz (Depaul)
Colin Thompson (Archbishop Wood, PA)
Desmon Peoples (Archbishop Wood, PA)
Frank Taylor (Archbishop Wood, PA)
This post was edited on 1/14 10:19 PM by John Otterstedt
This post was edited on 1/15 10:47 AM by John Otterstedt
