Coach Says Wade is Perfect Rutgers Fit

The way Phil Colicchio sees it, Desmond Wade would be a perfect fit at Rutgers.

The 5-foot-8, 150-pound Wade  was a three-time All-State performer at Linden (N.J.) High School and owns career wins over point guards Jonny Flynn, Tyreke Evans and Corey Fisher.

Wade just received his release from the University of Houston and is looking to transfer “closer to home,” according to his father, Jeff Wade.

“I think it would be a no-brainer for Rutgers to come get him but I’m not the coach at Rutgers,” Colicchio said, referring to new Rutgers coach Mike  Rice. “These guys gotta decide what they want.”

Rice just took over officially at Rutgers and is still assembling a staff and getting recruits onto campus.

As reported here earlier, 6-8 Cleveland Melvin and 6-3 Antoine Myers of Notre Dame Prep will visit Tuesday-Thursday.

As a sophomore at Houston, Wade started 31 of 35 games last season. He averaged 5.7 points and 4.8 assists per game and helped lead the Cougars to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1992.

Although he is undersized, Wade helped senior guard Aubrey Coleman average 25.6 points per game.

“What more do you want this kid to do?” Colicchio asked. “Houston made the tournament for the first time in 19 years. He was the point guard. He must have gave him [Coleman] some assistance. He had an amazing year.”

Wade, who helped Linden win two Group 4 state titles in high school, is also known as a strong on-the-ball defender, something Rutgers could use, Colicchio said.

“Who’s a better on-the-ball defender than him?” Colicchio asked. “Find me one.”

Wade will have two years of eligibility remaining, so Rutgers, or any other school, would only be investing two years in Wade.

“You’re bringing home a Jersey All-State kid,” the coach said. “If it’s a mistake, it’s only a two-year mistake.”

(Photo courtesy Houston Athletics)

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