Shane Rector was looking to play on college basketball’s biggest stage and Rutgers was searching for a playmaking guard to supplement its current sophomore core.
The two were a natural fit — The Bronx point guard out of prep powerhouse South Kent (Conn.) and the soon-to-be Big Ten program.
“I thought about it for a couple of weeks and I just decided that’s what I wanted. It was the best place for me,” said the 6-foot-1 Rector, who verbally committed to head coach Mike Rice’s program yesterday and became his first 2013 recruit after a few misses. “My goal was to play at the highest level and right now the Big Ten is arguably the best conference in basketball.”
Rector, who left local Bronx Catholic league dynamo St. Raymond in the fall for South Kent to improve his college options, recently visited Rutgers. He took in the Scarlet Knights’ upset of then-nationally ranked Pittsburgh, a victory he said opened his eyes, not only for what the program is capable of becoming, but where he fit.
“After seeing the game, I saw for myself how I could contribute,” said Rector, a gifted athlete and pure scorer who is averaging 15 points and six assists per game for South Kent this winter. “I liked the whole package that they have to offer.’’ They’re going to the Big Ten, it’s close to home — that was a plus — and [I like] what Coach Rice is trying to do there.”
Providence, Xavier, Texas, Arkansas and Arizona State were also involved, but Rector didn’t need to visit any of those schools to know where he belonged. Rutgers was aggressive and Rice was active in Rector’s recruitment, South Kent coach Kelvin Jefferson said.
Though Rutgers has three sophomore guards — Myles Mack, Eli Carter and Jerome Seagears — who share the bulk of the minutes, Rice was adamant his program needed someone like Rector, according to Jefferson.
“They see him differently than the guards they currently have,” Jefferson said. “Those guards are very talented, but they see he brings a little different dimension with his ability to break down players and get in the lane, create offense and get his shot off. He brings something they’re missing right now.”
Rector’s decision to leave St. Raymond, another top city player bolting the area, raised eyebrows. He was coming off a city title and was considered by many to be the top senior in the five boroughs.
The move, however, paid off. He has access to a gym 24 hours a day, a trainer who has helped him gain needed muscle and a handful of Division I-caliber teammates to test him daily.
“South Kent helped me get better,” he said. “I can be more of a point guard here, they have other weapons to score. South Kent has helped me get more ready for the college level.”