'We expect to be really good this year': Biggest standouts from Rutgers men's basketball's media day practice
The Rutgers men's basketball team had its annual local media day on Tuesday, and it was a bigger spectacle than ever. The hype that the Scarlet Knights have garnered heading into this season warranted a massive turnout from media personnel.
With Rutgers' roster having just three returning players, all eyeballs were locked in on the team's open practice to see how these returnees and all of the newcomers looked.
Here are some of my biggest takeaways after watching the team's practice, starting with one that struck me the most.
PJ Hayes IV stood out in more ways than one
Graduate student guard and forward PJ Hayes IV has quite the reputation as a sharpshooter. The San Diego transfer is expected to come in and instantly be the Knights' best three-point threat.
But the shooting was not what blew me away during the practice. The team consistently had to do full-court sprints, and to my surprise, Hayes was the first player down and back — every single time.
"I realize I'm not the most athletic guy, I'm not the fastest guy, I'm not the strongest guy, so for me to be a special player on this team, I kind of have to go above and beyond. I gotta show that I'm 100% in, I take everything seriously," Hayes said.
Hayes mentioned that he's lost around 20 pounds this offseason in an effort to fit his role more effectively.
"For me to be a key piece on this team, I have to run, I have to sprint corners, I have to rebound, I have to do a lot," Hayes said. “I've got a lot to prove, I've got a lot to show, and part of that is being really well conditioned — me running in practice helps with that.”
Winning the wind sprints sends a strong message to coaches and teammates, but Hayes was also extremely vocal on the court. He was constantly uplifting his teammates and was a major communicator in drills.
While graduate student forward and center Zach Martini and redshirt senior guard Jeremiah Williams were named team captains, it certainly looks like Hayes will also play a major leadership role.
With head coach Steve Pikiell mentioning the possibility of adding another player as a captain down the line, Hayes could be that guy.
Dylan Harper's playmaking
Obviously, the hype surrounding freshman guard Dylan Harper is immense. He is an NBA-level talent who excels in almost every facet of the game. Above all, though, his playmaking looked miles ahead of anyone I've seen on a college basketball court in quite some time.
Yes, it was just one practice, but expect Harper to drop some impeccable dimes this season.
"Dylan sees the floor like no one I've had at that point guard position," Pikiell said. "And he's 6'7, too, throwing passes."
Ace Bailey is out of this world
As if we didn't already know, freshman forward Ace Bailey is truly something else, and seeing him in action with my own two eyes took that to another level.
Whether it was an effortless windmill dunk or his silky smooth offensive game, the sky is the limit for Bailey.
Lathan Sommerville's clean offensive game
Every practice, freshman center Lathan Sommerville is tasked with battling one of college basketball's biggest bodies, junior center Emmanuel Ogbole. While Sommerville has a massive frame himself, bodying Ogbole just isn't going to happen.
Ogbole's rim protection was another thing that stood out in the practice. So, how did Sommerville make an impact offensively? With a polished finishing ability that looked beyond his years. Sommerville showed patience and creativity and had a feather-soft touch in the post.
Jordan Derkack made things happen
Junior guard Jordan Derkack joins the team as a high-profile transfer from Merrimack. Despite his successes in his time there, it still feels like he's been flying under the radar on the Banks leading up to this season. He certainly woke me up with his play.
In the team's five-on-five session, Derkack's squad looked dead in the water on the offensive end a few times, not finding open shots. This is where Derkack displayed impressive self-creation and worked his way to the cup, finishing the bucket or drawing a foul.
This type of self-creation, paired with some of the leadership he displayed in the practice, showed me that he should be a major piece in potentially leading the second unit this season.
Free throw woes
Throughout the practice, individual players would be called up to shoot a free throw — if they missed, the team would sprint down and back the length of the court. If they made it, the team moved on to the next drill.
To put it simply, it often took a little too long before they could move on to the next drill.
In the team's defense, Pikiell mentioned it being the first time they had practiced in the actual arena rather than their practice facility, which can take some getting used to.
Defensive intensity
While free throws were a struggle last season that Rutgers hopes to fix moving forward, defensive intensity is something that the program has always prided itself on under Pikiell and hopes to keep it that way. After seeing just one practice, this identity seems to remain alive and well for the Knights.
While just a select few people like myself have even seen this year's Rutgers team play any sort of basketball, hype and expectations are through the roof.
But even with the lofty expectations, Pikiell's priorities remain the same.
"From day one, the first year I got here, I have been trying to win a national championship. So as far as expectations, bring them on. I love that," he said. "Our expectations haven't changed. We've always had high expectations. Just because we get Ace and Dylan, doesn't mean they go any higher. We expect to be really good this year."
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