Rutgers basketball: Kaden Powers, class of 2025 guard, commits

Posted by Admin October 11, 2024 Basketball

Rutgers basketball’s 2025 recruiting class continued rounding into form Friday, with a third commitment – this one from 6-foot-5 Seattle shooting guard Kaden Powers.

He joins point guard Lino Mark of California and forward/center Gevonte Ware of North Carolina, both of whom pledged to the Scarlet Knights within the past month.

Here are three things to know about Powers.

1. He flew under the radar until the Peach Jam

Rated three stars by scouting websites Rivals and On3, Powers ultimately chose Rutgers over new Big Ten entrant Washington. His suitors were all mid-majors before July’s prestigious Peach Jam AAU showcase, during which he averaged 16.7 points and shot 47 percent from 3-point range.

After one particular red-hot showing he got an on-the-spot scholarship offer from Rutgers’ Steve Pikiell and Marlon “Smoke” Williamson, who were there to scout someone on the opposing team and couldn’t help but notice Powers’ long-distance barrage.

That was in keeping with how Powers finished his junior year at Rainier Beach High School. In Washington’s Class 3A semifinals, he racked up 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range, to lead the Vikings into the state title game.

Why did he fly under the high-major radar?

“I think it was exposure,” Powers said. “A lot of those teams didn’t see me until Peach Jam, when I was right in front of them.”

2. He’s got a notable mentor

Powers is a senior at Rainier Beach High School, which produced NBA ballers Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Doug Christie, Dejounte Murray and MarJon Beauchamp.

He’s well aware of the lineage.

“There are so many people to look up to,” he said. “Some of the guys who are on the banner on our (gym) wall, they check on me and see how I’m doing, they give me advice.”

Most notable of those is Jamal Crawford, who played 20 NBA seasons (including four with the Knicks) and won the league’s Sixth Man of the Year award three times.

“He’s been a really good mentor to me,” Powers said. “I work out with him all the time.”

Last December, Powers volunteered at Crawford’s annual toy drive giveaway at a Seattle community center. He plans to do so again this coming December.

“It was really good, seeing the smiles on those kids’ faces, getting toys they never thought they’d get,” he said.

3. Score another for Smoke

The current cycle has been quite a statement by Williamson, who is heading into his second season on Pikiell’s staff and was the lead assistant on all three of Rutgers’ 2025 commits. And he’s not done with this class.

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