Rutgers’ immediate future isn’t at bleak as it may seem — assuming the Scarlet Knights retain men’s basketball assistant coaches David Cox and Van Macon.
The program’s current core, featuring sophomores Myles Mack, Eli Carter, Kadeem Jack and junior Wally Judge, are in favor of the assistants either running the program, which is headed for the Big Ten, or assisting the next head coach, whoever he may be.
As the Rutgers Board of Governors held a meeting on Thursday, the players gathered on the steps of Winants Hall and voiced their support of Cox, who led Rutgers to a 3-0 record in December when recently fired head coach Mike Rice was serving a three-game suspension. Cox is currently serving as an interim head coach.
“Coach Cox is one of the guys who is still there they trust,” said Mack’s mother, Sandra. “They feel they can move forward with him.”
Sandra Mack said while Macon and Cox were present on the video during Rice’s harassment, neither coach did anything wrong, and she isn’t sure they didn’t speak up.
“If they get somebody new, that’s just going to create problems. They have to gain trust of that person, and that could cause kids to transfer,” she said.
Already, Jerome Seagears, Vincent Garrett and Malick Kone have left the program, and all three members of Rice’s recruiting class — Shane Rector of The Bronx and JUCO wings Craig Brown and Chris Griffin — have rescinded their commitments.
Rector, however, told The Post “it would increase my chances” of re-committing if Cox and Macon remain. Additionally, Christ the King shooting guard Jon Severe, New York City’s top senior, said he would only consider Rutgers if Macon was kept on staff.
“It would definitely increase my chances of staying there if they keep Van and Cox,” said Rector, a shifty and skilled 6-foot floor general whohas drawn interest from Pittsburgh, Georgetown, Missouri, Texas A&M, Providence and Minnesota since opening up his recruitment. “I would definitely have stronger thoughts about re-committing there. From what I heard, that’s how most of [the players] feel.”
A source told The Post if Lakers assistant coach and former Rutgers player Eddie Jordan (a leading candidate) gets the job, Cox likely would stay. The two have both coached in the DC Assault AAU program, Cox as recently as 2012, and have a relationship. The status of Macon, previously an assistant at Hofstra and Fordham and considered an elite city recruiter, is more uncertain.
* Queens product Marquise Moore of St. Thomas More (Conn.) de-committed from Hofstra on Wednesday when new coach Joe Mihalich was hired, but said he is still considering the Pride, along with new suitors Creighton, George Mason, Boston University, Monmouth, Fairfield and Quinnipiac. A 6-foot-2 point guard, Moore plans to take a few visits and then make a decision.
* Mihalich did land a on Wednesday, securing a commitment from Gill St. Bernard’s (N.J.) wing Chris Jenkins, a former Florida Atlantic recruit Mihalich recruited while at Niagara.
Christ the King’s Jon Severe, the top senior in the city, plans to visit Pittsburgh after this weekend’s Jordan Classic Regional Game. The 6-foot-2 guard has cut his list to Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Duquesne, Fordham, Wake Forest and Seton Hall.
Gill St. Bernard’s point guard Jaren Sina made an official visit to Alabama Thursday and is considering the Crimson Tide, Seton Hall, Northwestern and Indiana.