Hill Brings Top Talent To Rutgers
With Chandler and Rosario, the Future Is Bright For Scarlet Knights
Rutgers looks to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1991 with the help of highly regarded recruits.
Fred Hill and the Scarlet Knight coaching staff could be beginning to turn things around in New Brunswick. The future is looking brighter for Hill and his team with strong 2007 and 2008 recruiting classes awaiting their opportunity. And he did not have to look far to find two guards who will solidify the Scarlet Knight backcourt for years to come; both classes are headlined by top prospects from New Jersey.
Corey Chandler, a point guard from Newark East Side High School, leads the 2007 class. Known for his quickness and ball handling ability, Chandler is rated a four-star player by both Rivals.com and Scout.com. He will make an immediate impact when he enters Rutgers this season, and he may even start at some point this year for Hill.
Mike Rosario, the sharp shooting two-guard from St. Anthony in Jersey City, NJ, was Hill’s number one priority for the 2008 recruiting class. Shortly after Rosario committed to Rutgers, his stock soared after having a great showing at the NBPA Top 100 Camp in June. Rosario’s stellar summer helped propel him into the top 50 in the 2008 class. If Hill was not all over Rosario during his junior campaign for legendary high school coach Bob Hurley, Rosario would have attracted serious attention from high majors.
By keeping Chandler and Rosario in New Jersey, Hill will be rewarded with a good shot at a NCAA tournament birth, something that hasn’t happened for Rutgers since 1991. It may take a while for Hill to take Rutgers out of the cellar of the Big East, but he has proven that he can bring in top talent from New Jersey, which Rutgers has had trouble doing in the past.
These two playmakers aren’t the only reason Hill and his staff is excited about these two recruiting classes. The 2007 class has another two guards who Hill holds in high regard. Mike Coburn from Mount Vernon, NY, and Earl Pettis, a big-time scorer from Philadelphia, PA.
There’s no doubt Rutgers will have talent at the guard position for years to come, but they have had their issues in the frontcourt. Hill hopes that his 2008 class will help change that. Olu Ashaolu, a native Canadian who plays his high school ball in Texas, is a freak athlete who, like Rosario, has drawn much attention after his commitment to Rutgers. Ashaolu is still open with his recruitment but has a soft verbal to Hill and Rutgers. If Hill can manage to keep Ashaolu on board, he will have secured another upper echelon talent who could have ended up at a higher ranked school. Christian Morris, a 6-8 forward from Connecticut, should also help Rutgers in the post.
With two very good recruiting classes arriving in New Brunswick over the next two years, Hill is doing all he can to bring the Scarlet Knights to the promised land.
