Rutgers basketball: Chris Nwuli, Class of 2025 forward, commits

Posted by Admin October 20, 2024 Basketball

Rutgers basketball’s 2025 recruiting haul has reached four with a commitment from its highest-profile prospect this cycle: Four-star power forward Chris Nwuli.

Here are three things to know about the 6-foot-8 Nwuli, who hails from Las Vegas and is a senior at Sierra Canyon High School in California.

1. He came onto Rutgers’ radar late.

Nwuli, who is ranked as Top-150 prospect by 247 Sports (No. 129) and Rivals (No. 117), said he chose the Scarlet Knights over USC and San Diego State after assistant coach Marlon “Smoke” Williamson reached out to him this fall.

“I feel like I had already made my decision and he was wondering if my recruitment was still open,” Nwuli said. “I wanted to hear him out because I always wanted to come to the East Coast.”

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nwuli grew up playing soccer (as a striker) and basketball. After speaking with Williamson, he visited Rutgers and was hosted by freshmen big men Bryce Dortch and Lathan Sommerville.

Williamson has been the lead recruiter for all four of Rutgers’ 2025 commits, including point guard Lino Mark of California, forward/center Gevonte Ware of North Carolina, and shooting guard Kaden Powers of Seattle.

2. He’s got high defensive upside

Adam Finkelstein, who is 247’s director of scouting, described Nwuli as “a high-level athlete” who “plays high above the rim, covers the court, can slide laterally, and has very good functional strength.” He called Nwuli “very competitive and a potentially standout defender with the tools to be versatile guarding multiple positions.”

Playing good defense on the college level is largely about attitude. In interviews, recruits typically tout their offensive acumen. Nwuli emphasized the other end of the floor.

“I love playing defense – defense is my main focus,” he said. “When I step on the court, I want to lock up the best player. One through five – I want to guard every position.”

3. He’s part of an old-school strategy

In an era when high-major rosters are built mostly through the transfer portal – just last week, St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino told the New York Post that he’s not signing any high school Class of 2025 recruits – Rutgers now has four freshmen coming next year on top of a five-man freshman class right now (two of those, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, are almost certainly headed for the NBA Draft in June).

It’s an interesting approach and indicates that Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell remains committed to player development to a larger degree than many of his peers. How much of that is straight philosophy and how much is circumstantial, it’s hard to say. Probably a mix.

Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.