NEW YORK — There were two stools in front of a two-story screen inside a dazzling corporate office in lower Manhattan. One was for the man of the hour, Dylan Harper. The other was saved for, maybe, the only person who could understand the emotion, anticipation and level of certainty swirling inside Harper’s mind.
From the wings of the stage came Jalen Rose, who took a seat to Harper’s left as the event’s emcee.
As the spokesman for Michigan’s Fab Five, Rose, by his presence, raised the obvious question: Could Rutgers recreate its own version of a freshmen class that changes everything?
During a highly anticipated commitment ceremony on Wednesday, Harper gave his pledge to Rutgers, providing a transcendent talent that instantaneously vaults the Scarlet Knights into a realm of possibility few fans could even comprehend. With Harper’s commitment, Rutgers not only won out against the top teams — and spenders — in college basketball, but solidified the makings of a generational group.
Expectations — and the pressure that comes with them — will be through the roof for this accomplished class, which includes two of the top three ranked players in the country. Can they turn an improving but still middling program into a team that instantly competes next winter with the top teams in the country?
“I don’t mean to overhype what I’m seeing, but as someone who’s very close to this, it’s the Final Four ... sign them up! Sign them up!” Rose said.
Rutgers has signed a class that is headlined by two of the most talented recruits but also rounded out by players who will redefine coach Steve Pikiell’s program.
Here’s a look at each member of the greatest recruiting class in Rutgers basketball history:
Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey, Small Forward
Vitals: 6-foot-8, 195 pounds,
High School: McEachern High, Powder Springs, Ga.
Credentials: Five-star recruit ranked No. 3 nationally in Class of 2024
Why he chose Rutgers: The drama built as Rutgers and Ohio State traded leads 22 times — not only on the court, but in the high-stakes battle for Bailey. The elite prospect, then in the middle of his junior year of high school, had been pursued by Rutgers for over a year and had taken a liking to the coaching staff led by Pikiell and assistant Brandin Knight.
As he watched the epic overtime nail-biter from his seat behind the Scarlet Knights’ bench that January afternoon, Bailey told himself that if Rutgers found a way to win, he was committing on the spot. After the Scarlet Knights prevailed, 68-64, Bailey whispered to Pikiell that he was committing. The Rutgers locker room exploded in celebration when Pikiell announced: “He’s coming!” Bailey never wavered on his commitment from there, signing with Rutgers in November, officially choosing it over a list of national powers that included Kentucky, Kansas, Auburn and others.
Scouting report: Few players possess the athleticism and explosiveness that have made Bailey a transcendent prospect. He scores points in bunches and does it in multiple ways. Defenders will have a hard time figuring out how to defend a player that can pull up and shoot or blow past them with elite ball-handling. Bailey has great length, distributes the ball well and gets the most from his teammates. His ability to play above the rim should provide plenty of highlight-reel moments. While many offensive dynamos lack the will to defend, Bailey brings a unique ability to cover wherever he’s needed and a high motor that matches his talent. One of his few flaws, analysts say, is his propensity to chase home runs over making the simple plays. But at his best, when he is hitting those home runs, there are few players who can stop him. Fans can expect a ready-made prospect to be a generational playmaker from the day he steps on campus.
Bryce Dortch, Power Forward
Vitals: 6-foot-8, 190 pounds
High School: Brimmer and May School, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Credentials: Three-star prospect ranked No. 137 nationally
Why he chose Rutgers: Dortch took an unofficial visit after his sophomore year and saw all he needed to see. Rutgers was the best place for him, but he decided to wait a bit longer to make it official. Dortch made visits to Marquette and Providence, but the Scarlet Knights were the measuring stick that always won out. He eventually committed in June, telling Pikiell and his staff that “if you will accept me, I’d love to be a Scarlet Knight.” He signed five months later, picking Rutgers over other finalists Virginia Tech and Temple.
“When I went on my unofficial visit my sophomore year, I fell in love with the campus, the coaching staff and it was a thought in the back of my head that this is the school I wanted to go to,” Dortch said. “But me and my family talked about it, and it was just too early to commit, really. But I knew Rutgers was the place that I wanted to go to for a while.”
Scouting report: There’s always a fit at Rutgers for players who can defend. Dortch has a knack and willingness to defend against the best scorers and can be disruptive with his length. While he might be slightly undersized to battle with the bigs, his versatility makes him an asset for defenses that must run the floor. On the offensive end, Dortch passes with precision, moves efficiently and can surprise people off the dribble. Look for him to be a good wing defender who will develop into a solid two-way player, following in the footsteps of Mawot Mag and Caleb McConnell.
Dylan Grant, Power Forward
Vitals: 6-foot-7, 205 pounds
High School: Michigan Collegiate, Warren, Mich.
Credentials: Three-star recruit ranked No. 159 nationally
Why he chose Rutgers: Grant’s connection to the Rutgers staff comes from the AAU circuit in the Detroit area, where he played for a program that once was coached by Scarlet Knights assistant coach Marlon Williamson. Grant was one of the first players Williamson targeted upon joining the staff this summer, and the familiarity helped Grant feel at home. He ultimately chose Rutgers over offers from Cincinnati, DePaul and other mid-majors in the Midwest. Grant, who grew up in Ontario, committed in August and signed in November.
Scouting report: Grant plays with burst and a streakiness that shines through in his ability to score inside and out. A productive mid-range player, Grant fits into Rutgers’ mold of versatile wing players who can defend multiple positions. Consistency will be key for Grant, who thrives in his ability to crash the boards. Grant can slash, moves well in space and can provide exciting stretches. Recruiting experts believe Grant can flourish as a developmental piece in Pikiell’s system. There’s an energy that fans can get excited about and certainly the potential for explosive scoring that could electrify Jersey Mike’s Arena.
Dylan Harper, Combo Guard
Vitals: 6-foot-6, 210 pounds
High School: Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J.
Credentials: Five-star recruit ranked No. 2 nationally
Why he chose Rutgers: Insiders prodded for information, but Harper met them with a poker face at every turn. His recruitment was kept relatively under wraps despite massive attention that came with being one of the top recruits in his class. Fan bases clamored for his commitment as the timeline continued to be delayed. Ultimately, Rutgers built enough trust and leaned on his long-standing connections to the program to solidify his commitment. Harper took official visits to Duke and Indiana and considered a list of five finalists that also included Kansas and Auburn. In the end, the family connection — built by an older brother who was a superstar for the Scarlet Knights and a mother who deeply trusts Pikiell and Knight — helped persuade him.
Scouting report: There are intangibles about Harper’s game that come only with natural talent, mainly his ability to create scoring opportunities on and off the ball. He plays with poise and a steadiness that will serve well as a leader, with analysts saying the control he displays makes him appear to be playing in slow motion. Harper can be a spot-up shooter or creator off the dribble, which has forced defenses to pick their poison when guarding him. Not many insiders have seen a player develop into a national prospect as quickly as Harper, who continues to rely on a high basketball I.Q. to match the versatile skillset that makes him a pure scorer. He has the chance to solidify his position as as all-time great prospect in a state with a storied basketball history.
Lathan Sommerville, Center
Vitals: 6-foot-9, 225 pounds
High School: Richwoods High, Peoria, Ill.
Credentials: Four-star recruit ranked No. 124 nationally
Why he chose Rutgers: On the surface, it was an easy recruiting pitch. Rutgers assistant coach T.J. Thompson and his wife, Ilima, are so close to the Somerville family that they spent their wedding days together. As the two families grew closer, the Sommervilles even named them godparents for their daughter, London. The two families first met when Thompson and Marcellus Sommerville, Lathan’s father, played basketball together in France, one of the multiple countries the younger Sommerville spent his childhood before the family moved to Illinois in 2019. When it was decision time, Sommerville chose Rutgers over six other finalists that included Villanova and Seton Hall.
“All family and things like that aside, they really tried to make it about Lathan and not really about the relationship. We appreciated that,” Marcellus Sommerville said. “He ultimately ended up choosing them because of the honesty and the passion that Coach Pikiell and T.J. showed during the recruiting process.”
Scouting report: A strong interior presence, Sommerville attacks the rim and defenders with physicality. He’s a relentless rebounder who will get after balls and use his size to advantage. Sommerville has continually developed as a low-post scorer who benefits from second-chance opportunities and his ability to create space. He fits the mold of a Big Ten big man who will not be pushed around. While he might not be an immediate focal point of the offense, he has continued to develop his offensive skillset while playing with his back toward the basket. Sommerville brings a toughness and versatility that should provide Rutgers with a reliable rim protector in a conference that demands it.
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