There seems to be a dark rain cloud hovering over the Rutgers athletic program. Yet underneath the darkness is a patch of clear sky.
Despite all that has gone on, new men’s basketball coach Eddie Jordan has managed to draw talented prospects to New Brunswick, N.J.
Jordan has acted quickly since replacing Mike Rice on April 23, and has landed six players in the past five weeks, with the help of top assistants Van Macon and David Cox, holdovers from Rice’s tenure.
He has secured two local transfers — Bronx wing Nkereuwem Okoro of Iowa State and Long Island forward JJ Moore of Pittsburgh. Each will seek hardship waivers and could be eligible to play next season.
Jordan also has dug into the junior college ranks to get wing Craig Brown of Broward Community College in Florida and point guard D’Von Campbell of Kansas powerhouse Hutchinson Community College for this year’s recruiting class, and former Miami guard Bishop Daniels of ASA College for 2014.
Jordan’s best work was landing three-star power forward Junior Etou, a standout out of Bishop O’Connell High School in Virginia, who passed on offers from Washington, Miami, Temple and Xavier.
Furthermore, Jordan also convinced starters Myles Mack, Kadeem Jack and Wally Judge, and key reserve Malick Kone to stay put — keeping a major part of the Scarlet Knights’ nucleus — though guards Eli Carter and Jerome Seagears left.
Okoro, the former St. Raymond star, said he liked the way Jordan operated. His recruitment wasn’t any different than when he picked Iowa State; Jordan laid out what he expected of Okoro, and what the team needed to do to have a productive season. Jordan’s resume — including head coaching jobs with the 76ers, Wizards and Kings — didn’t hurt.
“He’s coached on the highest level of basketball,” Okoro said. “That says a lot in itself.”
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* Former Lincoln standout Ethan Telfair, the younger brother of Raptors point guard Sebastian Telfair, visited UCLA on Monday.
Cardinal Hayes and New Heights shooting guard Chris Robinson has added scholarship offers from Wagner, Quinnipiac, Robert Morris and UMBC, along with an existing one from St. Peter’s.
New Heights and Iona Prep sophomore swingman Matt Ryan added offers from Boston College and Rhode Island on Friday.
Former Wings Academy star DaShaun Wiggins, a JUCO combo guard from Howard Junior College in Texas, signed with Portland State. Wiggins committed to Seton Hall out of Bridgton Academy in Maine, but ended up in junior college.
Stony Brook landed a commitment from JUCO wing Rayshaun McGrew, a 6-foot-6 standout out of Crowley County Community College.
Wagner offered shooting guard Conrad Chambers of local AAU dynamo Team Scan.
Archbishop Molloy guard Chaz Walter signed with Division II St. Thomas Aquinas.
Bronx wing Terry Larrier of Team Scan and The Phelps School in Philadelphia visited Minnesota on Monday. The highly recruited Larrier holds a series of high-major scholarship offers from Minnesota, St. John’s, USC and Memphis, among others.