'I got a lot to prove': Sharpshooter PJ Hayes could be X factor for Rutgers men's basketball
After a standout season for San Diego, senior guard and forward PJ Hayes hopes to bring his impressive three-point scoring ability to the Banks.
Nicknamed “3J” for his shooting, Hayes is 6-foot-6 from Waconia, Minnesota. The 5th-year wing brings experience and a winning mentality to Rutgers men’s basketball this season.
“I got a lot to prove,” Hayes said.
At Waconia High School, Hayes finished with the most points in the school's history, scoring 1,990 points. Despite the record, Hayes received little buzz on the recruiting trail.
He committed to Black Hills State in Spearhead, South Dakota. During his three-year stint at the university, Hayes averaged 8 points per game while shooting 42.8 percent from three-point range. While with the Yellow Jackets, Hayes made many physical changes to his game. Losing 30 pounds, Hayes turned into a different player.
Hayes decided to enter the transfer portal in 2023 and committed to the Toreros. Hayes was a full-time starter for San Diego, being one of the first five to take the court for all 32 games that year. Hayes averaged 10.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, leading the team in three-point shooting with 73 makes on 39.7 percent from deep.
Entering the transfer portal for the second and final time, Hayes chose to improve his game with the Scarlet Knights, forgoing many other schools.
“I wanted a coaching staff and a team that believed in what I could do and kind of show how good I could possibly be,” Hayes said.
Hayes’ shooting expertise and experience will help a team ripe with lofty expectations. No. 25 Rutgers is ranked in the preseason for only the third time in school history, mainly due to freshman forward Ace Bailey and freshman guard Dylan Harper. The former five-star recruits are one of the reasons Hayes joined the Knights.
“I think my skillset really helps them and honestly, all I want to do is make them the best players they can be, and all I got to do is knock down shots,” Hayes said.
Never having been to a game at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Livingston campus in his life, Hayes is excited to see the crowd of Scarlet faithful on gamedays.
“I have heard wonders. I'm honestly more excited to just see the crowd than to play,” Hayes said. “Once I play, I kind of just drown everything out. It just becomes numb, and I just lock in. Just walking out on the court, I can't tell you how excited I am.”
While not modeling his game after any particular pro, Hayes can't help but get inspiration from Kyle Korver, the former NBA sharpshooter known for being a deadly 3-point shooter throughout his career.
“Spotting up, shooting my shoot, and getting hot. It's kind of what I do.”
Hayes hopes his shot continues to fall at the Big Ten level for Rutgers this season.
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