St. Joseph’s commit Dominic Rutledge is awaiting some academic results before he will know his immediate future.
“We’re just coming down the backstretch on some academic issues and then we’ll go from there,” said Kevin Strong, Rutledge’s coach at Edison Jobs Corp.
Strong said that if Rutledge failed to qualify next year, he would attend a junior college, not a prep school, but that they would know more in early May.
The 6-7, 230-pound Rutledge averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds last season as the team finished 17-13. He also competed this weekend with Jersey Elite at the Providence Jam Fest, getting to the Silver Division championship game.
Rutledge in November chose St. Joe’s over Seton Hall, St. John’s, Providence and Auburn.
“I think he’s going to be one of the best players in the Atlantic 10,” Strong said in November. “In his freshman year, I think he can be an All-Conference player. At the four, I don’t think he’s going to find many fours that can match up with him. If he brings you out 12 feet, he can get to the basket and finish with authority.”
Added Rutledge’s AAU coach, Galen Smith: “He’s very, very athletic. He’s a four and he has a lot of three skills. He’s a mismatch as a power forward because there aren’t too many big guys who can defend him off the dribble. He can (also) shoot with both hands. He’s ambidextrous.”
How good can he be?
“The sky’s the limit,” Smith said. “I’ve coached a lot of kids in the last 20 years. He has a full body right now. He’s strong. He’s athletic. His wingspan is 7 feet and he has a 40-plus vertical. He can get up over the rim.”
