By ADAM ZAGORIA
Caleb McConnell, the 6-foot-5 combo guard from Spire Academy, committed to Rutgers Sunday during his official visit.
Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell made him a priority, visiting him last week.
Temple and Missouri State were also involved.
“I choose Rutgers because of the main man Coach Pikiell,” McConnell told ZAGSBLOG. “He’s very genuine and is a passionate and energetic guy. Coach is someone I can trust and someone who really believed in me. Playing for a coach that has a chip on his shoulder is just a no-brainer.
“He told me how much of an opportunity it was for me and how he wants to win and I really felt what he was saying. I’ll never forget what he told me. He said, ‘If Rutgers basketball was a share, buy a 1,000 of them now’ and that to me was just like wow. Like I really want to help him turn this program around, from the bottom to the top. And his amazing staff. I feel like they can get me to the next level.”
McConnell joins guards Montez Mathis and Ron Harper Jr. in Rutgers’ 2018 class. McConnell and rising sophomore Geo Baker figure to be in the mix at the point guard spot.
“As far as what I bring, I bring in a very versatile game at the guard spot,” McConnell said. “Coach Pikiell told me he needs a facilitator, someone to get other guys involved and someone that can create their own shot. And that is me, that is what I do. I’m a very unselfish player with an all-around game and I love to win.”
All glory to God!? @RutgersMBB pic.twitter.com/EwR9B58Fr5
— Caleb McConnell™? (@caleb_mcco) April 16, 2018
