Expectations for Rutgers this season have skyrocketed since two five-star high school recruits committed to the program.
Not just any five stars, either, but potential future NBA players who are often ranked second and third in the Class of 2024: Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper.
Rutgers believes it has built a strong team around Bailey and Harper in 2024-25. The Scarlet Knights are ranked No. 25 in the AP preseason poll and will open the regular season Wednesday against Wagner in Piscataway, NJ.
Bailey is a 6-foot-10 Atlanta native who will be used all around the court, but especially forward and on the wing. Harper is the leading guard for his brother Ron Harper Jr. he was one of the best players in recent Rutgers history. Bailey actually committed before Dylan Harper, and their long-distance friendship and some opportunities to play together during the summer helped build initial chemistry.
They combined for 45 points, six 3-pointers and nine rebounds in a 91-85 exhibition loss at St. John’s in October.
“Those two kids are talented. They’re good kids and they can pass,” coach Steve Pikiell said. “They have to learn some things. Defense in college is something they will continue to get better at.”
Three returning players for the Scarlet Knights are guard Jeremiah Williams, captain; guard Jamichael Davis, Bailey’s high school teammate; and Emmanuel Ogbole, who is likely to start the team after missing most of last year recovering from a knee injury.
Rutgers is often known for its defense and had one of the worst offenses in power conference basketball last season (65.4 ppg). In addition to the contributions of Bailey and Harper, the Scarlet Knights will rely on changes such as Tyson Acuff, Zach Martini and PJ Hayes.
Acuff (Eastern Michigan) ranked seventh in the nation in scoring at 21.7 points per game last season but will start the season off the bench in a limited role. Martini (Princeton) shot 38.5 percent from 3-point range as a junior and was named co-captain with Williams. And Hayes (San Diego) shot nearly 40 percent from the arc as a freshman and didn’t miss a shot in the exhibition against St. John’s (4-for-4, including two 3-pointers).
Wagner is tied for first with Central Connecticut State at the top of the Northeast preseason coaches poll. The Seahawks finished sixth last season but then ran the table in the conference tournament and defeated Howard in the NCAA First Four tournament.
The Staten Island school has awarded coach Donald Copeland a new five-year contract.
After injuries limited his roster to seven healthy players during the tournament, Copeland is happy to have returning players like Javier Ezquerra (7.0 points, 4.4 assists per game last season), Keyontae Lewis (6.9 points, -5.4 rebounds) and Zaire Williams (9.3) ppg in nine games before a season-ending injury).
“It’s going well. We’re working hard,” Copeland told PIX 11 over the summer. “The players are playing together, which I think is always good at this time of the year … We are able to put things in that I think will help us win.”
–Field Level Media
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