As Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell looks to continue to build his roster for the future, the Scarlet Knights host several key visitors this week.
Geo Baker, a 6-foot-4 Class of 2017 point guard from Proctor (N.H.) Academy, visited on Monday, while Jose Alvarado, a 2017 point guard from New York City powerhouse Christ the King, takes an unofficial on Thursday and Florida transfer Brandone Francis-Ramirez visits on Friday.
“[The visit] was great,” Baker told SNY.tv by phone. “The campus was huge. There’s like five campuses, so I got to see two of them. The gym was really big, the coaches were really positive.”
Baker was especially impressed by the renovation plans for the RAC and the basketball facilities.
“I actually got to see the blueprints of the new practice facilities,” he said. “There’s going to be two courts, one for the boys’ side, one for the girls’ side. They’re completely renovating the weight room. They’re making it a lot bigger. They’re going to have a whole new film room and it just looks great.”
Baker said he was told the renovation is an “18-month process.”
Baker holds offers from Rutgers, Kansas State, George Mason, Duquesne, Lehigh and several others, and hopes to add more this summer while playing with the DC Blue Devils New Hampshire AAU outfit.
“Definitely trying to get some more,” he said.
He’s planning on visiting George Mason and GW “very soon,” he said. “I’ll be in D.C. June 17th.”
Baker said at this stage, “I’d definitely say Rutgers is working the hardest right now. Lehigh’s in there, BU, George Mason’s been talking to me a lot.”
As for his skillset, Baker says he’s a scoring point guard.
“I’m really good at shooting off the dribble,” he said. “I’m known for getting myself open and making plays for my teammates.”
As for Alvarado, he visits on Thursday.
“Butler, Indiana, Seton Hall and Rutgers are all working hard though,”the CTK point guard recently told SNY.tv.
CTK coach Joe Arbitello echoed that list during a phone interview.
“Rutgers really wants him,” Arbitello said. “Seton Hall’s making a big push on him. Butler, Seton Hall and Rutgers are all over him.”
Meantime, Francis-Ramirez is coming off a visit to Texas Tech that he told SNY.tv was “great.”
Now comes Rutgers.
“I want to make my decision over the next few weeks because it’s a really important decision for me and I’m not going to be going to junior college at all,” he said. I have three more years to play.”
NAs Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell looks to continue to build his roster for the future, the Scarlet Knights host several key visitors this week.
