Rutgers basketball class of 2025 just got bigger as it added four-star forward Chris Nwuli out of Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth, Calif. The 6-foot-7 senior is the No.129-ranked prospect in the class of 2025 and No.13 in California. It gives Rutgers four commitments, making the recruiting class No.1 in the Big Ten.
The top 10 billing is not likely to last as Rutgers is just one of six schools with four commitments in the top 30. As more schools gain commitments, the ranking will naturally decrease, although there has been a recent wave of momentum for head coach Steve Pikiell on the recruiting front.
Nwuli’s commitment continues a barrage of pledges that have a new theme this recruiting cycle. Rutgers has been active in getting prospects from the West Coast.
Nwuli joins fellow Californian and composite four-star point guard Lino Mark out of Notre Dame in Sherman Oaks, Calif. Nwuli’s commitment also comes on the heels of point guard Kaden Powers, who hails from Seattle, Wash. This new territory was not an immediate starting point for Rutgers but after failing to land some early targets in more traditional recruiting areas, Pikiell expanded his reach.
The first commitment in the class, Gevonte Ware, is somewhat closer to Rutgers as he is coming out of Charlotte, N.C.
This new class is a return to similar Rutgers recruiting classes of the past. In the class of 2024, Pikiell brought in an unprecedented haul when he landed the No.2 (Ace Bailey) and No.3 (Dylan Harper) prospects in the nation. That group finished with a No.4 national ranking while this current bunch does not have any bona fide NBA Draft picks.
Pikiell talked about his recruiting philosophy at Rutgers Basketball Media Day.
“You are always trying to get the best players that want to be here. There’s a lot of new factors in recruiting. On July 1 of 2021, they put that new rule in that quietly kept the NIL rule. That’s a big factor in recruiting nowadays. There’s a lot of factors. You go after the best but there are a lot of things that go into recruiting, especially recruiting in this modern time.”
Pikiell may not be done yet as recruiting classes are now growing, p[particularly with the expansion to a 15-player scholarship limit next year. Moreover, Rutgers will have three players out of eligibility after this season (PJ Hayes, Zach Martini, Tyson Acuff) while Bailey and Harper are likely headed to the NBA once this season concludes.
