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Rutgers Men's Basketball: Class of 2017 Recruiting Updates

Eddie Jordan and staff are demonstrating a long term vision and plan in identifying talent for the program.

By Aaron Breitman
John Munson/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com-USA TODAY Sports

Last week, we covered updates regarding the 2016 recruiting class.  This week, let's look at the class of 2017.  Eddie Jordan is demonstrating, based on the type of players he is recruiting in all classes, that he covets athletic and versatile players that can score in multiple ways and play hard on both ends of the floor. He is also identifying top end talent early in the recruiting process, often the first high-major to offer a player whose profile is increasing.  The staff has also not been afraid to go head to head with the top basketball programs in the country for top tier talent. So who has Rutgers offered, who are their top targets, and who else they are tracking?

Chaundee Brown

Chaundee Brown is a former teammate of incoming freshman Jonathan Laurent from Dr. Phillips high school in Florida.  It is also the same high school of Rutgers football commit Jonathan "The Hit Man" Pollock.  He is a consensus 4-star guard/wing that is catching the attention of many high-major schools.  Florida and Maryland already visited him this week and Chaundee is scheduled to attend "Late Night at the Phog" next Friday, the midnight madness event for Kansas.  The good news is Rutgers is scheduled to visit Brown this week.  No offer has been confirmed but it's likely to be forthcoming.  Brown would be a major score for Eddie Jordan and staff.  It's obviously early in the process but the reality is Rutgers is in the mix right now.  The staff continues to cultivate their connections in Florida, as landing Laurent opened the door to Brown.  The fact that Rutgers continues to be in on multiple top 100 players per class is major progress.

Sidney Wilson, Isaiah Washington & Omar Silverio

Sidney Wilson and Isaiah Washington are two top targets that Rutgers offered back in June when they took their first unofficial visit to campus.  They also have offers from Big Ten competitor Minnesota and local rival St. John's. Not only would they be great fits at Rutgers, but they would mark a recruiting coup, landing two New York city players from such a prominent city school as St. Raymond's.  Wilson is 6'6" and an athletic wing, a position of need for Rutgers.  Washington is a 6'0" point guard who has a good handle and shoots well from three-point range.  Both are rated 3-star & 4-star recruits by multiple services.

Eddie and staff aren't stopping there, as their teammate Omar Silverio, visited back in June with Wilson and Washington.  Silverio is the class of 2018 and just starting to make a name for himself.  To have him back again this past weekend was important, as the staff is in on him early, before any other high-majors. Silverio has reported offers from Iona and Hofstra so far. He is a combo guard that has a ton of potential and someone we will be hearing from for the next few years quite a bit on the recruiting trail.

Andre Rafus & Nate Pierre-Louis

Andre Rafus is a consensus 4-star 6'8" wing who Rutgers offered back in July.  He recently transferred from Baltimore to attend Roselle Catholic, right in Rutgers backyard. Rafus has at least 15 offers including Wichita State, UCONN, Georgetown, UCLA, Missouri, Seton Hall and St. John's.  Nate Pierre-Louis is a 3-star 6'3" point guard from St. Benedict's Prep.  He also has offers from UCONN, Georgetown, and Seton Hall, as well as Florida State, Temple and Iowa State.  According to 247sports.com, UCONN is the favorite to land both players.  Regardless, it was big for Rutgers to have both Rafus and Pierre-Louis on campus earlier this month.  They attended the Rutgers football game against Washington State with assistant coach Greg "Shoes" Vetrone.  Rutgers hasn't had much success landing top recruits from New Jersey schools in recent years.  Landing one or both of these players would be a huge step for Eddie Jordan and staff.

Samson George

It was just reported last week that Samson George transferred from St. Patrick's to St. Anthony's for his junior year. The power forward picked up an offer from Rutgers at the end of last week.  He also has offers from VCU, who recently landed Rutgers class of 16 target De'Riante Jenkins, USC, FIU and Monmouth.  He has a great opportunity to grow his profile and attract more suitors while playing for the great St. Anthony's coach, Bob Hurley Sr.

Summary

Rutgers has made a lot of progress with the class of 2017 since the July live recruiting period.  Tevin Florent, LJ Figueroa and Terrell Turner are other players the staff offered over the summer, in addition to Wilson and Washington.  For more information on all of their backgrounds, click here.

The groundwork that Eddie and staff have laid in the past year has been nothing short of remarkable.  It all started with 4-star guard and highlight machine Corey Sanders, the engine that will make this season's Rutgers team go. Landing Deshawn Freeman and Jonathan Laurent last spring, so late in the recruiting cycle, were major scores. Securing the commitment of Kwe Parker in August was even bigger, because it showed tangible evidence that Rutgers is making significant progress recruiting top players.

While Eddie is still working on filling the other three scholarships for the class of 2016, he and his staff continue to scour the country for the right fits.  The offers and activity with the class of 2017 show there is a long term plan. Rutgers hasn't had much success in-state, so the staff adapted and are recruiting the entire east coast.  North Carolina and Florida have been key states.  The class of 2017 shows potential for the staff to land key targets in New York City and the garden state.  Keep believing in Eddie, Shoes, Van and Dalip.  If this team can make progress on the court this season, it will give them even more ammunition on the recruiting trail.  The future is bright for Rutgers basketball and it all starts with recruiting.  Better days are on the horizon.