Rutgers on Wednesday officially announced the signing of three-star center Gervonta Ware
Ware is a 6-foot-9, 235-pound three-star center and committed to the Scarlet Knights Sept. 23 after receiving offers from Alabama, Wake Forest, Arizona State, Duquesne and Charleston.
“We are excited to welcome Gevonte Ware to our Rutgers basketball family,” head coach Steve Pikiell said in a statement. “Gevonte is a big-time athlete with awesome energy from a great family originally from Long Island. Gevonte can shoot the three, put the ball on the deck, and bring unmatched energy.”
Ware verbally committed to Rutgers in front of a crowd of close family and friends on Sept. 23.
“It felt good, it felt like the right thing to do,” Ware said. “I did what my heart told me to do, and I know I’m going to like whatever my family likes as well. I’m glad I made the decision I made and I’m sticking with that and I’m happy to be a Scarlet Knight.”
A top 10 player in North Carolina, Ware is ranked 104th nationally as a four-star recruit by On3.com while 247sports.com has him listed 176th overall and the 39th best center in the nation. ESPN, Rivals.com, and 247sports consider him a consensus three-star. Ware earned MVP of the Larry Hughes Elite Camp in late August.
“I feel like I can do anything asked of me on the basketball court,” Ware said. “I can rebound, block shots, bring the ball up the court, and make a play. I can finish at the basket. I can shoot for my height. I feel like I’m a very all-around versatile player.”
Ware was born and raised in Roosevelt, New York, before leaving in pursuit of better opportunities. He found that opportunity in Charlotte, North Carolina, playing for head coach and former NBA player Jermaine Jackson at LaMelo Ball 1-of-1 Elite AAU program.
Ware is thankful that Jackson “has been there since day one,” sticking with him through injuries and surgeries and motivating him to work hard every day.
“Gevonte is a winner and he’s going to sacrifice everything for the team,” Jackson said. “He’s a first one there, last one to leave type of guy. He’s a coach’s player. He’s always locked in, always asking questions, someone who will study film, watch film, just to keep getting better. He’s a gym rat.”
Rutgers assistant Marlon Williamson recruited Ware, and coached Jermaine Jackson Jr., the son of Jermaine, as an assistant coach at Long Island University from 2019-2021.
“Gevonte is a multi-dimensional forward, who is about winning and will do whatever it takes to win,” Rutgers assistant coach Marlon Williamson said. “Gevonte is powerful enough to play down low and skilled enough to pop out on the floor. He reminds us of guys like Lathan Sommerville who play on the floor and can play down low and be effective. He is an essential part of our program and front court moving forward.”
Ware’s brother and sister, Greg and Shatia, have high praise for their younger brother’s journey.
“I’m extremely proud of him. Gevonte has been playing basketball since he was two years old and he’s been through a lot growing up,” Greg said. “His life wasn’t easy, so to see him go this far is a beautiful thing because he works so hard and won’t let anything distract him from the goals he has.”
Shatia’s earliest recollection of Gevonte’s basketball beginnings was taking him to a park at four years old and watching him dribble, drawing a crowd with crossovers between his legs and “doing amazing things that he didn’t even realize he was doing.”
“I’m so proud of him because I could see him grow in his confidence, could see him grow in his wisdom and character as a young man, and I could see how much he loves his mom and loves his family,” Shatia said. “The kid has so much greatness and he’s extremely gifted and I’m proud of him.”
Ware’s entire family enjoyed their visit to Rutgers and were blown away by how genuine they were in their support of the team on the court, but also how much emphasis they put on their education off it.
“I’m going to come in there and be ready to work,” Ware said. “I’m going to come in there and we’re going to turn it up like it is this year. Our class will be the same way, just a different recruiting class. We’re going to go in there and turn it up.”
(Release and photo via Rutgers)
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