Oct 3, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Rutgers guard/ahead Ace Bailey takes a query on the podium in the course of the 2024 Massive Ten Menís Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Conference Middle. Necessary Credit score: Melissa Tamez-Imagn Pictures Rutgers’ expectations for this season have been constructing to a fever pitch ever since two five-star highschool recruits dedicated to this system.
They don’t seem to be 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 staff 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 can be used throughout the court docket, however primarily at ahead and wing. Harper is a lead guard whose brother Ron Harper Jr. was among the finest gamers in latest Rutgers historical past. Bailey really dedicated earlier than Dylan Harper, and their long-distance friendship and occasional alternatives to play with each other in the course of the summer time helped type 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 youngsters are gifted. They’re nice youngsters and so they’re actually good passers,” coach Steve Pikiell stated. “They undoubtedly need to study some issues. Faculty protection is one thing they will 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 might be the staff’s beginning heart after lacking most of final 12 months recovering from a knee harm.
Rutgers is often recognized 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 (Jap 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 function. 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 Match First 4.
The Staten Island college 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 harm).
“It is going properly. We’re working laborious,” Copeland advised PIX 11 in the summertime. “The gamers are jelling collectively, which I feel is all the time good right now of 12 months … We’re in a position to put in some issues that I feel will assist us come fall.”
–Discipline Stage Media
