Scarlet Surge: Rutgers Basketball's Historic 2024 Recruiting Class
The college basketball November signing period has come to a close after being open for the past week, and Rutgers had among the best classes to come together officially. All four of Rutgers’ 2024 commits put pen to paper, signing their National Letters of Intent to join the roster for the 2024-2025 season. Here is an overview of who will be joining the squad as Freshmen next season:
Ace Bailey:
The highest ranked recruit to sign in the history of Rutgers basketball, Ace Bailey. A freak of nature athlete, originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee before moving to Georgia to play for McEachern High School, is almost unanimously ranked in the Top 3 in every major recruiting site, with the highest being at #2 in the nation. This kid, who only turned 17 this past August, is expected to be a future NBA Lottery Pick, possibly even projected Top 5 in the draft, after his time in Piscataway. The ceiling is the limit with Ace, as his scoring ability as well as his outrageous dunks and blocks will send Jersey Mike’s Arena into a frenzy.
Lathan Sommerville:
Lathan Sommerville is an intriguing prospect in his own right, being a Top 100 prospect and a 4 star big man. Sommerville has all of the potential to become Rutgers’ starting Center in the near future, as the Illinois native is a huge body to guard, and is a double-double machine. Some have even compared Sommerville’s playstyle to former Illinois Center Kofi Cockburn. During his Junior season, Sommerville averaged 13.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 1.5 BPG.
Bryce Dortch:
Bryce Dortch, a borderline 3/4 star and ranked in the Top 150, is expected to be a really solid player for Rutgers in the future. His ability to defend is what really stands out, as he is regarded to be as good as current Rutgers Forward Mawot Mag on defense. Dortch can also score the ball at a consistent rate as well, and could be a great Power Forward standing at 6'8. Dortch, a Massachusetts native, chose Rutgers over some pretty solid offers, and will be exciting to watch a year from now.
Dylan Grant:
Michigan native Dylan Grant was the last of the four commits to make his pledge, with his lead recruiter being new assistant coach Marlon “Smoke” Williamson. Grant is Williamson’s first recruit landed at Rutgers, and that is a first of many to come in the future. Grant is also the lowest rated recruit, as a 3 star ranked in the Top 200. But that is not a reflection of the player he truly is, as Grant is quickly progressing as a much better prospect, and one who is an elite rebounder, and very solid player on defense.
Rutgers has a Top 10 class nationally, but are they done yet? Nope. Don Bosco star Dylan Harper is still available on the market, is also a Top 3 player in the nation, and is an obvious Rutgers lean. So much of a lean in fact, that it is almost impossible the 5 star guard doesn’t join his best friend Ace Bailey in Piscataway next season. Assuming Harper commits to Rutgers, they would solidify the #2 ranked class in the nation for 2024, only behind North Carolina. The future is bright for the Scarlet Knights, and this is only the beginning of a pipeline of elite talent for seasons to come.
Ace Bailey:
The highest ranked recruit to sign in the history of Rutgers basketball, Ace Bailey. A freak of nature athlete, originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee before moving to Georgia to play for McEachern High School, is almost unanimously ranked in the Top 3 in every major recruiting site, with the highest being at #2 in the nation. This kid, who only turned 17 this past August, is expected to be a future NBA Lottery Pick, possibly even projected Top 5 in the draft, after his time in Piscataway. The ceiling is the limit with Ace, as his scoring ability as well as his outrageous dunks and blocks will send Jersey Mike’s Arena into a frenzy.
Lathan Sommerville:
Lathan Sommerville is an intriguing prospect in his own right, being a Top 100 prospect and a 4 star big man. Sommerville has all of the potential to become Rutgers’ starting Center in the near future, as the Illinois native is a huge body to guard, and is a double-double machine. Some have even compared Sommerville’s playstyle to former Illinois Center Kofi Cockburn. During his Junior season, Sommerville averaged 13.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 1.5 BPG.
Bryce Dortch:
Bryce Dortch, a borderline 3/4 star and ranked in the Top 150, is expected to be a really solid player for Rutgers in the future. His ability to defend is what really stands out, as he is regarded to be as good as current Rutgers Forward Mawot Mag on defense. Dortch can also score the ball at a consistent rate as well, and could be a great Power Forward standing at 6'8. Dortch, a Massachusetts native, chose Rutgers over some pretty solid offers, and will be exciting to watch a year from now.
Dylan Grant:
Michigan native Dylan Grant was the last of the four commits to make his pledge, with his lead recruiter being new assistant coach Marlon “Smoke” Williamson. Grant is Williamson’s first recruit landed at Rutgers, and that is a first of many to come in the future. Grant is also the lowest rated recruit, as a 3 star ranked in the Top 200. But that is not a reflection of the player he truly is, as Grant is quickly progressing as a much better prospect, and one who is an elite rebounder, and very solid player on defense.
Rutgers has a Top 10 class nationally, but are they done yet? Nope. Don Bosco star Dylan Harper is still available on the market, is also a Top 3 player in the nation, and is an obvious Rutgers lean. So much of a lean in fact, that it is almost impossible the 5 star guard doesn’t join his best friend Ace Bailey in Piscataway next season. Assuming Harper commits to Rutgers, they would solidify the #2 ranked class in the nation for 2024, only behind North Carolina. The future is bright for the Scarlet Knights, and this is only the beginning of a pipeline of elite talent for seasons to come.