When expected starter Tyree Graham was felled by a ruptured Achilles, the team lost a lot of depth at the shooting guard position. Left to play the position were sophomores swing man Mike Poole and Austin Carroll, plus incoming recruit Mike Taylor.
Neither of the remaining players mentioned started for the Knights last year.
Then rumors started to leak that Mike Rice and company were looking for another recruit.
See who after the jump....
The first name that came up was mentioned in an earlier post. Nigerian guard Maurice Aniefiok said that Rutgers was trying to get him in on a visit. So far, that was the last Aniefiok has been mentioned by the press. No word on if he'll actually take a visit.What has been confirmed via Twitter, however, is that Eli Carter will visit campus this weekend on an official. Carter is currently playing at Brewster Academy in MA. He is a guard at St. Anthony's. A lot of schools have projected Carter to be a point guard. But he is a scorer, and probably the best shooter of the recruits RU is looking at. He once dropped 54 in a game.
Seton Hall was really interested in Carter in the fall, but is appears the Pirates have backed off. Carter has an offer list a mile long.
Another guard RU is looking at is Bishop Daniels. Daniels is a former Miami commit, who asked for--and is expected to get--his release after Frank Haith was fired. Daniels is a freakish athelete, more a slasher than a shooter. He played with John Wall early in his high school career. Tennessee is also interested.
And finally, Rutgers is interested in NIA Prep guard Kelvin Amayo. Reports say that Amayo is a Pittsburgh type guard. A tough slasher who can bear down on defense as well. Providence, Seton Hall, and Oregon State have also shown interest.
One thing to note is that RU already has seven incoming recruits, which would bring them to 13 scholarship players--the maximum. How would RU open up a spot for one of these guards? Does another recruit go the prep school route? The Rutgers Rivals message board is flooded with rumors.
Meanwhile, Jerry Carino--in his Spring Clearning post--wonders if there will be transfers, both in and out. Wally Judge has been a persistent name in the rumor mill. He's someone who could help RU either as a practice player if he sits out a year, or as a regular roster player if, somehow, Rutgers could get him a hardship waiver.
In what was expected to be a quiet off-season, the Rutgers roster continues to be interesting. It should be exciting to see what Mike Rice puts on the floor next season.