One Year Players

[RUChoppin]

A lot has been made over the "one and done" nature of certain superstars, especially with Rutgers securing our first two in Bailey and Harper. But now that the transfer rules allow unlimited transfers with no redshirt year, the rise of "one year" players is no longer limited to superstars.

Here are the scholarship players who suited up only one year on the Banks in recent years:

2025 - Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, Zach Martini, Tyson Acuff, PJ Hayes, TBD
2024 - Noah Fernandes, Gavin Griffiths, Austin Williams
2023 - Cam Spencer
2022 - Ralph Agee
2021 -
2020 - Akwasi Yeboah
2019 -
2018 - Souf Mensah
2017 - CJ Gettys, Nigel Johnson
2016 - Omari Grier, Justin Goode
2015 -
2014 - JJ Moore, Craig Brown
2013 - Vincent Garrett
2012 -
2011 - Robert Lumpkins
2010 - Brian Okam
2009 -
2008 - Justin Sofman
2007 -
2006 - Zach Gibson
2005 - Manny Quezada
2004 -
2003 - Cortez Davis

We've had more in the last 2 years than we had in the previous 8 years, and it remains to be seen if we can hold onto Sommerville/Grant/Dortch/Derkack after this season Getting harder to recognize the team year-to-year.

 

[bethlehemfan]

A lot has been made over the "one and done" nature of certain superstars, especially with Rutgers securing our first two in Bailey and Harper. But now that the transfer rules allow unlimited transfers with no redshirt year, the rise of "one year" players is no longer limited to superstars.

Here are the scholarship players who suited up only one year on the Banks in recent years:

2025 - Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, Zach Martini, Tyson Acuff, PJ Hayes, TBD
2024 - Noah Fernandes, Gavin Griffiths, Austin Williams
2023 - Cam Spencer
2022 - Ralph Agee
2021 -
2020 - Akwasi Yeboah
2019 -
2018 - Souf Mensah
2017 - CJ Gettys, Nigel Johnson
2016 - Omari Grier, Justin Goode
2015 -
2014 - JJ Moore, Craig Brown
2013 - Vincent Garrett
2012 -
2011 - Robert Lumpkins
2010 - Brian Okam
2009 -
2008 - Justin Sofman
2007 -
2006 - Zach Gibson
2005 - Manny Quezada
2004 -
2003 - Cortez Davis

We've had more in the last 2 years than we had in the previous 8 years, and it remains to be seen if we can hold onto Sommerville/Grant/Dortch/Derkack after this season Getting harder to recognize the team year-to-year.

Yep.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Going to be real hard paying $3100 per seat (I am assuming $1000 raise for NIL in the 100s) with another year of potentially 80-90% of last year's minutes not returning.

 

[Erial_Lion_rivals140457]

I posted this elsewhere last week, but it sums up the current environment…

My newest "welcome to College Basketball in 2024-2025" observation...I was looking at the Memphis Roster (props to Penny Hardaway for a really nice season thusfar). They go 8 deep most nights, and here is the path each player took between high school and Memphis...

PJ Haggerty - TCU (2023), Tulsa (2024), Memphis (2025)
Dain Dainja - Baylor (2022), Illinois (2023-2024), Memphis (2025)
Tyrese Hunter - Iowa St (2022), Texas (2023-2024), Memphis (2025)
Colby Rogers - Cal Poly (2020-2021), Siena (2022), Wichita St (2023-2024), Memphis (2025)
Moussa Cisse - Memphis (2021), Oklahoma St (2022-2023), Mississippi (2024), Memphis (2025)
Nicholas Jourdain - Temple (2021-2023), Memphis (2024-2025)
PJ Carter - Campbell (2021-2022), Georgia Highlands JuCo (2023), UTSA (2024), Memphis (2025)
Baraka Okojie - George Mason (2024), Memphis (2025)

 

[bethlehemfan]

I posted this elsewhere last week, but it sums up the current environment…

My newest "welcome to College Basketball in 2024-2025" observation...I was looking at the Memphis Roster (props to Penny Hardaway for a really nice season thusfar). They go 8 deep most nights, and here is the path each player took between high school and Memphis...

PJ Haggerty - TCU (2023), Tulsa (2024), Memphis (2025)
Dain Dainja - Baylor (2022), Illinois (2023-2024), Memphis (2025)
Tyrese Hunter - Iowa St (2022), Texas (2023-2024), Memphis (2025)
Colby Rogers - Cal Poly (2020-2021), Siena (2022), Wichita St (2023-2024), Memphis (2025)
Moussa Cisse - Memphis (2021), Oklahoma St (2022-2023), Mississippi (2024), Memphis (2025)
Nicholas Jourdain - Temple (2021-2023), Memphis (2024-2025)
PJ Carter - Campbell (2021-2022), Georgia Highlands JuCo (2023), UTSA (2024), Memphis (2025)
Baraka Okojie - George Mason (2024), Memphis (2025)

I’m sure they’re getting a good education

 

[RUChoppin]

I posted this elsewhere last week, but it sums up the current environment…

My newest "welcome to College Basketball in 2024-2025" observation...I was looking at the Memphis Roster (props to Penny Hardaway for a really nice season thusfar). They go 8 deep most nights, and here is the path each player took between high school and Memphis...

PJ Haggerty - TCU (2023), Tulsa (2024), Memphis (2025)
Dain Dainja - Baylor (2022), Illinois (2023-2024), Memphis (2025)
Tyrese Hunter - Iowa St (2022), Texas (2023-2024), Memphis (2025)
Colby Rogers - Cal Poly (2020-2021), Siena (2022), Wichita St (2023-2024), Memphis (2025)
Moussa Cisse - Memphis (2021), Oklahoma St (2022-2023), Mississippi (2024), Memphis (2025)
Nicholas Jourdain - Temple (2021-2023), Memphis (2024-2025)
PJ Carter - Campbell (2021-2022), Georgia Highlands JuCo (2023), UTSA (2024), Memphis (2025)
Baraka Okojie - George Mason (2024), Memphis (2025)

So, 7 of 8 are playing their first year at Memphis. Hardaway clearly has figured out the "special sauce" in getting a group of brand new guys to buy in and succeed right away. Though it looks like he's going to have to do it all again next year, as most of these guys will be out of eligibility.

 

[bethlehemfan]

So, 7 of 8 are playing their first year at Memphis. Hardaway clearly has figured out the "special sauce" in getting a group of brand new guys to buy in and succeed right away. Though it looks like he's going to have to do it all again next year, as most of these guys will be out of eligibility.

Helps to have good players who also have tons of experience . I imagine Memphis nil is very large.

 

[bac2therac]

Michigan had 6 transfers in and 3 freshmen for 9 new players

 

[NickRU714]

If we were 15-7 instead of 11-11 not a single person would care about "9 new players" on the roster.

As I always say, tell me how more excited you would be about 11-11 record if Jalen Miller, Antonio Chol and Dean Reiber were here.
I'm sure the vibes among the fans would be so much better.....

 

[RUChoppin]

Michigan had 6 transfers in and 3 freshmen for 9 new players

They did.... these are their top 8 players:
Goldin - 5th yr from a 2024 NCAA at-large team
Donaldson - from an SEC 2024 NCAA at-large team
Wolf - from an NCAA team
Gayle - from a B1G NIT quarterfinalist
Burnett - returnee
Tschetter - returnee
Walters - from an SEC 2024 final four team
Cason - freshman

Their freshmen aren't seeing much time, and their portal players all came from either competitive major conference teams or NCAA teams.

That's a better approach than having freshmen take the lion's share of minutes, and your portal players being mid-major guys.

 

[fluoxetine]

If we were 15-7 instead of 11-11 not a single person would care about "9 new players" on the roster.

As I always say, tell me how more excited you would be about 11-11 record if Jalen Miller, Antonio Chol and Dean Reiber were here.
I'm sure the vibes among the fans would be so much better.....

I would rather be 15-7 with new players than 11-11 with players I recognize, but for a given record I would rather recognize the players.

Thus, I would overall prefer more continuity of players even if that doesn’t mean I want 100% of players to stick around 100% of the time.

 

[RUChoppin]

I would rather be 15-7 with new players than 11-11 with players I recognize, but for a given record I would rather recognize the players.

Thus, I would overall prefer more continuity of players even if that doesn’t mean I want 100% of players to stick around 100% of the time.

Pikiell also seems to be a coach who benefits from continuity - so I'd expect a greater chance of a better record with more familiar faces year to year.

 

[bac2therac]

I would rather be 15-7 with new players than 11-11 with players I recognize, but for a given record I would rather recognize the players.

Thus, I would overall prefer more continuity of players even if that doesn’t mean I want 100% of players to stick around 100% of the time.

I think the wisconsin model with a mix of old, new and portal is the one to emulate...Gard lost their top center to graduation and 2 or 3 other guys because they werent going to be able to pay them enough to stay. I assume Wisconsins nil bank is a good amount higher than ours but their fans were really worried after they lost those guys to the portal

the tonje guy who played at 2 different schools previously turned into a star after only playing 8 games last years and this is his 6th season

Pike should be able to bring back 5 players as the bridge...our frosh class is solid...but we need a point guard and a legit scorer on the level of a cam spencer

 

[PhillyRU]

The really remarkable one to me is Saint Mary’s. They’re a KenPom Top 25 team for the fourth-straight year, with just one of their top 8 players having ever played for another school, and Bennett made them better on offense without Mahaney and Joshua Jefferson.

There are a few more good teams with really remarkable continuity: Marquette, Purdue, Michigan State, but they’re rare and the common denominator seems to be really elite coaches.

 

[NickRU714]

I would rather be 15-7 with new players than 11-11 with players I recognize, but for a given record I would rather recognize the players.

Thus, I would overall prefer more continuity of players even if that doesn’t mean I want 100% of players to stick around 100% of the time.

It's a scale of priorities - like everything else.
Despite the bluster from others, a better record is at the top for everyone.

Players getting paid, HC salaries, NIL, roster turnover.
All take a backseat to wins.

Just like when people bemoan the lack of defense or 3pt shots taken.
If we were 15-7 shooting 40 3s per game and winning 100-90 every night nobody would complain (except @Greene Rice FIG ).

Or when people bemoan the lack of "tough" football and running it 60 times a game.

There could be a question about sustainability. But thats a different conversation.
If the "how" is sustainable, nearly nobody would complain about "how" we are winning.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

shooting 40 3s per game

OUT!

In all seriousness after being relatively flat for many years there is a slight uptake in 3 pointers shot 9relative to total attempts

2025 39.2% taken 33.6% made
2024 37.3% and 33.8%
2023 37.3% and 34.0%
2022 37.7% and 33.6%
2021 37.4% and 33.8%
2020 37.5% and 33.3%

2019 38.7% and 34.4% OLD 3 point line

 

[RUBubba]

I don't mind filling in a spot or two, but really prefer continuity with the roster. For the most part, we have seen improvement with the defense as the season goes on, so it would be nice to not start totally new next year.

 

[Mr. Magoo1]

Basically, every player is “one and done” now anyway. The difference being that the true “one and dones” are often significantly more talented and they are definitively gone after the first year. The others will need to be retained through NIL in almost direct proportion to their talent.

Bottom line, this year was a fail but you still have to get the best talent you can in the new world of college basketball regardless of class.

 

[NickRU714]

Seton Hall is 6-16 (1-10)
I really hope they bring everyone back and double down on "continuity".

 

[fluoxetine]

It's a scale of priorities - like everything else.
Despite the bluster from others, a better record is at the top for everyone.

Players getting paid, HC salaries, NIL, roster turnover.
All take a backseat to wins.

You make this argument a lot but I don’t really get it. The fact that I want the team to win is independent of the way I feel about the other things.

Yes, I would rather be a winning program in the NIL one year rental world than a losing program in the old style world. But I’m not sure what that has to do with the fact that I do not like the NIL one year rental world.

 

[PhillyRU]

You make this argument a lot but I don’t really get it. The fact that I want the team to win is independent of the way I feel about the other things.

Yes, I would rather be a winning program in the NIL one year rental world than a losing program in the old style world. But I’m not sure what that has to do with the fact that I do not like the NIL one year rental world.

I’d take maybe 2 fewer wins a season for a Geo/RHJ/Caleb style veteran core than a team of mercenaries.

 

[RUChoppin]

I’d take maybe 2 fewer wins a season for a Geo/RHJ/Caleb style veteran core than a team of mercenaries.

We have a team of mercenaries right now. Did we get an extra two wins?

 

[PhillyRU]

We have a team of mercenaries right now. Did we get an extra two wins?

My statement wasn’t like a defense of Pike or anything lol, just a hypothetical in the broader landscape of CBB. I’d rather be Purdue than Auburn, St. Mary’s than Illinois, Northwestern than Pittsburgh, etc.

 

[RUChoppin]

I think some coaches are better than others at dealing with a whole crop of new faces and getting them all rowing in the same direction.

Pike is more of a culture coach, who builds layer upon layer and benefits from having guys in the program who are already aligned to what he is trying to do.

The guys who made it to the tournament were not fresh face stars, but undervalued guys that grew while here.

 

[RUforester72]

Think this new era requires a different approach to coaching. Must be able to QUICKLY ascertain strengths of your players and QUICKLY come up with a way to get them to work together as a team. Gotta say I'm becoming less and less of a fan of college BB.

 

[NickRU714]

My statement wasn’t like a defense of Pike or anything lol, just a hypothetical in the broader landscape of CBB. I’d rather be Purdue than Auburn, St. Mary’s than Illinois, Northwestern than Pittsburgh, etc.

What if those two wins meant missing the NCAA Tournament?

 

[Degaz-RU]

I would rather be 15-7 with new players than 11-11 with players I recognize, but for a given record I would rather recognize the players.

Thus, I would overall prefer more continuity of players even if that doesn’t mean I want 100% of players to stick around 100% of the time.

Well said here.

 

[PhillyRU]

What if those two wins meant missing the NCAA Tournament?

One year? Honestly yes. Every year? Then no, that wouldn’t be acceptable. But I’d rather be a perennial tournament contender with strong retention that makes the Dance most years versus a regular 9-10 seed with extreme turnover.

 

[RUJMM78]

I’d take maybe 2 fewer wins a season for a Geo/RHJ/Caleb style veteran core than a team of mercenaries.

Those two losses would mean Rutgers at best would be a bubble NCAA team and more likely not selected.Rutgers didn't have great won/loss records with the players mentioned.

 

[PhillyRU]

Those two losses would mean Rutgers at best would be a bubble NCAA team and more likely not selected.Rutgers didn't have great won/loss records with the players mentioned.

For sure. Between ‘19-‘20-‘22-‘23 Rutgers went 20-11, 15-11, 18-13 and 19-14. I would absolutely take that over 22-9, 17-9, 20-11 and 21-12 with a bunch of one-year guys.

The NCAA Tournament is the ultimate goal, but its also just one game. Watching the other 30 with a team I've grown attached to, hearing the RAC hum (I think there is a difference when the crowd resonates with the guys) and enjoying the development of four-year players is way more valuable to me.

 

[MLBash93]

Going to be real hard paying $3100 per seat (I am assuming $1000 raise for NIL in the 100s) with another year of potentially 80-90% of last year's minutes not returning.

No way that'll be the increase

 

[QD43]

For sure. Between ‘19-‘20-‘22-‘23 Rutgers went 20-11, 15-11, 18-13 and 19-14. I would absolutely take that over 22-9, 17-9, 20-11 and 21-12 with a bunch of one-year guys.

The NCAA Tournament is the ultimate goal, but its also just one game. Watching the other 30 with a team I've grown attached to, hearing the RAC hum (I think there is a difference when the crowd resonates with the guys) and enjoying the development of four-year players is way more valuable to me.

Same. A lot of the joy has been taken out of it for me. :/

 

[NickRU714]

For sure. Between ‘19-‘20-‘22-‘23 Rutgers went 20-11, 15-11, 18-13 and 19-14. I would absolutely take that over 22-9, 17-9, 20-11 and 21-12 with a bunch of one-year guys.

The NCAA Tournament is the ultimate goal, but its also just one game. Watching the other 30 with a team I've grown attached to, hearing the RAC hum (I think there is a difference when the crowd resonates with the guys) and enjoying the development of four-year players is way more valuable to me.

RAC seems to be humming pretty fine tonight with 9 new players.

 

[Colbert17!]

I don't know it use to be kind of fun watching a team grow through the years. This use to be the old model:

Year 1 - struggle with the new group but start to build chemistry as the year goes on.
Year 2 - Improvement in W/L. Maybe go through a round or two in the NIT
Year 3 - Legitimate tournament team
Year 4 - Win a game or more in the tournament.

Now it's let try something new every year.
Back in the early 70s Charlie Finley thought that all MLB players should only get a one year contract every year and everyone laughed at him. But that's exactly what the NCAA has become.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Seton Hall is 6-16 (1-10)
I really hope they bring everyone back and double down on "continuity".

They have been close in a lot of games. So have we. But it could be SHU is much improved next year. We shall see. And If we can keep Grant and Somerville and Dortch and all improve and we add a few key players.. we could be improved with a core that knows Pike's D. I'm still hoping our team becomes a monster down the stretch this year. It could be a fun ride even if it ends too soon.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

I don't know it use to be kind of fun watching a team grow through the years. This use to be the old model:

Year 1 - struggle with the new group but start to build chemistry as the year goes on.
Year 2 - Improvement in W/L. Maybe go through a round or two in the NIT
Year 3 - Legitimate tournament team
Year 4 - Win a game or more in the tournament.

Now it's let try something new every year.
Back in the early 70s Charlie Finley thought that all MLB players should only get a one year contract every year and everyone laughed at him. But that's exactly what the NCAA has become.

I used to think that was what West Virginia football did way back when. They'd have two heavy recruiting years in a row.. 20+ recruits.. and then light years.. and every 4-5 years have a monster team that seemed to make up for the rebuilding years and kept their reputation solid.

And Gonzaga basketball became "GONZAGA" by mostly starting 5th-year seniors for awhile. IIRC. some having done Mormon missions too (though I could be off on that as Gonzaga is a catholic school, still I remember something about that). So they had these guys who played in the same system for a long time. Of course, they don't need to do that now that they are a brand name and can get top recruits... but I wonder if they think they might have been better off the old way.

 

[NickRU714]

What a terrible game last night.
Watching those 1 year players is just depressing.
RAC was like a funeral when Martini and Hayes hit those 3s.

 

[RUChoppin]

What a terrible game last night.
Watching those 1 year players is just depressing.
RAC was like a funeral when Martini and Hayes hit those 3s.

While I loved Hayes' big three and rebound, he still feels like a random guy who got out on the floor for a few minutes. He's a "you have one job here" guy to me, still... make threes or sit down. Not the same as a big three pointer from a multi-year player, or a freshman that makes you think about the future.

It's like appreciating work done by a hired contractor, rather than appreciating work done by a family member. One gets a check and a handshake, the other gets hung on the fridge for years.

 

[NickRU714]

While I loved Hayes' big three and rebound, he still feels like a random guy who got out on the floor for a few minutes. He's a "you have one job here" guy to me, still... make threes or sit down. Not the same as a big three pointer from a multi-year player, or a freshman that makes you think about the future.

It's like appreciating work done by a hired contractor, rather than appreciating work done by a family member. One gets a check and a handshake, the other gets hung on the fridge for years.

Eh. For me personally, whether it was Hayes or Oskar - just make the shot.
But I can see others feeling different.

But what about a big 3 pointer from a mutli-year player or a freshman that misses badly?

I'd much rather Hayes take that 3 than Antonio Chol taking it.

I have nothing against "continuity" but winning is my personal #1 priority above all else. Doesn't matter who is on the court as long as Rutgers wins.
The rest is just extra.

 

[RUChoppin]

Eh. For me personally, whether it was Hayes or Oskar - just make the shot.
But I can see others feeling different.

But what about a big 3 pointer from a mutli-year player or a freshman that misses badly?

I'd much rather Hayes take that 3 than Antonio Chol taking it.

I have nothing against "continuity" but winning is my personal #1 priority above all else. Doesn't matter who is on the court as long as Rutgers wins.
The rest is just extra.

To each their own.

If you were to spin a wheel to pick 12 random D-I guys and slapped Rutgers uniforms on them for next year only, I'm not going to have the same level of emotional connection with the program. Unless they went undefeated and made a deep tournament run, that season and those players would be mostly forgotten in just a few years time.

I have much fonder memories (and closer identification with Rutgers basketball) from the multi-year roleplayers of years past (e.g. Ollie Bailey, Adrian Hill, Joel Salvi, Sean Axani, etc) than I do for single-season mercenaries (e.g., Spencer, Yeboah, Gettys, JJ Moore, etc).