P.J. Hayes talks “family” at Rutgers, what he can bring to the team

Rutgers was one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the nation last season.

The Scarlet Knights shot 28.7% from deep, which was last in the Big Ten and 350th in the country. This has been a major area of concern for the team and it has created a path in the transfer portal. This is where San Diego transfer P.J. Hayes comes into play.

“I think I can shoot the lights out,” Hayes said.

On Wednesday, Hayes announced that he will spend his final year of eligibility with the Scarlet Knights. Hayes averaged 10.5 points and 3.1 rebounds in 32 games for San Diego last season. He shot 42.5% from the field, 39.7% from three-point range, and 79.1% from the free throw line.

During a comeback victory on January 23, Hayes set a San Diego program record by knocking down nine three-pointers.

“You can expect that every shot I shoot is with confidence and I think it’s going in every time,” Hayes said. “I think I can be sneaky and athletic and I am good at finding my teammates and making them better. I think I can bring an energy the fans will love.”

Hayes’ recruitment began early. Assistant coach Marlon Anderson contacted the sharpshooter the day he went into the transfer portal. After conversations with head coach Steve Pikiell, Hayes committed to a visit and did not waste time making his decision.

“I could tell from the moment I got to New Jersey that this was a family,” Hayes said. “I just knew that the coaches wanted what was best for me and they were looking out for my future as well. Not a lot of coaches think about that. Coach Pikiell is looking out for me for the rest of my life and this is a coach I want to play for.”

“We are excited to officially welcome P.J. Hayes to The Knighthood,” Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell said in a press release. “We are adding another great student-athlete, from a great family, who can shoot the basketball. P.J. is a player who has shown the ability to hit nine three-pointers in a game and he can pass it as well. I love the basketball journey that he’s taken to our program, and I am proud to add another elite student-athlete to our program.”

Hayes became the fourth addition in the transfer portal for Steve Pikiell’s Scarlet Knights. He now joins Princeton transfer Zach Martini, Eastern Michigan’s Tyson Acuff, and Merrimack’s Jordan Derkack. This is to go with the best recruiting class in program history, led by Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey.

“I just know this team is going to be really good next year,” Hayes said. “I met a bunch of the guys and they are all great. I think with my shooting ability, I can really space the floor for them and I know that they’ll find me when I’m open. I haven’t played with a program that has this much talent coming in, but I think I can help make these guys better than they already are.”

The 6-foot-6 forward began his career at Black Hill State, a Division II school in South Dakota, before transferring to San Diego. Now, he will get a chance to play in the Big Ten and plans to make it an incredible year.

“I’m appreciative of all the stops on my journey,” Hayes said. “We won a lot of games at Black Hills and that afforded me the opportunity to show I could compete at a higher level at San Diego. For my fifth year of college basketball at Rutgers, I am going to make sure it’s my best one yet.”