Rutgers men's basketball lands 4-star guard Lino Mark out of California
The ball got rolling approximately a week ago on Rutgers men's basketball's 2025 recruiting class, and now that ball is gaining more momentum with four-star point guard Lino Mark announcing his commitment to the Scarlet Knights.
Mark's recruitment ramped up in September as he announced his final eight schools before quickly cutting the list to four and setting his decision date. His final four consisted of USC, West Virginia, Rutgers and Seton Hall. Each of these schools offered Mark a scholarship within a day of each other in early September, with the Mountaineers being the first of the four to do so. Mark then took official visits to all four, visiting the Knights two weeks ago and West Virginia just a few days later.
With the Mountaineers being the first of these schools to offer Mark and the last to host him on a visit before he announced his decision date, things could have been leaning in West Virginia's direction, but ultimately Rutgers' late push reeled him in.
Just a few days ago, Mark spoke on his final four schools.
"I liked the coaching staff and the players," Mark said of the Knights. "That was the one visit where I spent a lot of time with the players. I saw the fit and the experience to see front hand how they operate. They told me how I am wanted and needed."
The 6-foot-2 guard comes to the Banks all the way from California, where he plays at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks. While Mark sat behind former five-star Caleb Foster in his sophomore year, he blossomed after Foster went off to Duke, and that is when Mark's recruitment took off.
Aside from five-star phenom freshman guard Dylan Harper and his do-it-all abilities, Mark fits the mold of most of Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell's guards in recent years — speedy, athletic and effectively gets downhill to the rim. Most importantly for Pikiell, Mark is a willing defender who always displays toughness when guarding opposing guards. With Harper more than likely being a one-and-done player on the Banks, Mark should be an essential piece to the Knights' future backcourt.
Mark is now the second commit of Rutgers' 2025 class, joining three-star big man Gevonte Ware as the Knights look to follow up a historic 2024 class.
Pikiell and his staff have become a force on the recruiting trail, and Mark now becomes yet another example of that.
"I loved the staff and opportunity given to me," Mark said of Rutgers. "The team environment and hospitality was like no other on my official visit. I can see myself striving there and accomplishing my goals."
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