Rutgers spent the offseason trying to change the shape of its roster, and Steve Pikiell sounds encouraged by what he’s seeing so far.
At Rutgers Basketball Summer Media Day, the Scarlet Knights coach said the program has taken clear steps toward getting older, stronger and more experienced after two seasons with a heavily youth-driven lineup. A few weeks into individual summer work, Pikiell pointed to the mix of returning letterwinners, incoming transfers and key holdovers already on campus as evidence that the team is moving in the right direction.
“They’re good workers. You’ve got a lot more experience.
I like older guys taking care of their bodies. They pick things up fast.”
That veteran presence is part of the plan, and Rutgers is still looking to add two more players to complete the bench. Pikiell said the current group has already shown better size and strength, though several athletic players were unavailable during the media viewing because of minor injuries.
Forward Will Sydnor is dealing with a sprained ankle, while international prospect Martin Tonejc had blisters. Rutgers expects both back as summer workouts continue.
The transfer haul includes Darin Smith Jr., Dorin Buca, Christian Gurdak, Rasheed Jones and Sydnor, but Pikiell said the most important addition this offseason wasn’t a player.
"First of all, the best person in the transfer portal we got, her name is Keli Zinn," Pikiell said. "Because she is the number one transfer portal person that we have, and because of her, we're able to retain our best scorer, our best leader, our best defender ... our best young talent"
Pikiell also credited Rutgers’ growing NIL opportunities for helping the program keep returning players and stay in the mix for transfers. He said the older newcomers have settled in quickly because they understand what it takes and are willing to embrace the culture.
Frontcourt depth was another obvious priority, and Rutgers addressed it with size and versatility. Pikiell spoke highly of Christian Gurdak and Dorin Buca, praising Buca’s scoring touch and saying both centers give the roster needed depth.
"He's got really good hands and catches. He's impressively skilled.
They can pull, shoot the ball. So we finally have a five spot that both guys can shoot and pass it,"
Rutgers still has two scholarships to fill, though Pikiell wasn’t offering any hints about possible targets while the recruiting process is ongoing.
Before the season starts, he wants to see improvement in two specific areas.
"First, we haven’t rebounded the ball, and we brought in some big, strong rebounders. Secondly, we haven’t defended very well, and I thought we brought in some pretty good defenders."
He also said the Scarlet Knights will need more from Tariq Francis, Jamichael Davis, Kaden Powers and Lino Mark. And while the veteran transfers are now in the Big Ten, Pikiell noted that it will take time for them to get their bodies ready for the league’s physical style.
The offseason goal was simple: get older, more experienced, deeper and more physical. Early on, Rutgers appears to be checking those boxes.
Two scholarship spots remain open, and the staff is still working to build chemistry between the returning core and the experienced newcomers before summer ends. For the first time in a few years, Pikiell has a nucleus he can build around.
In Other News...
Rutgers Just Added The Kind Of Running Back Fans Have Wanted
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Gibson arrives with the chance to deepen a room that already has returning pieces, which only adds to the intrigue around how Rutgers will deploy him once he gets on campus. The timing matters as much as the talent here, because this is not a future stash for the roster, but a player who is stepping in right away and changing the conversation around the Scarlet Knights ground game. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Has One Transfer Fans Need To Watch Closely In 2026-27
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Among the names drawing the most attention, Darin Smith Jr. stands out because of the scoring rsum he built at CCSU, even if the first Rutgers practice did not immediately look like a seamless transition. Jones has to prove he can absorb the physicality of the league after stops at Coastal Carolina and beyond, while Buca is already working from behind Christian Gurdak and Gevonte Ware and could see his path narrowed if Rutgers adds more frontcourt help. Sydnor, meanwhile, is dealing with a sprained ankle and missed practice last week, another reminder that this group still has a lot to sort out before the rotation takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Tariq Francis Sends Rutgers A Much Needed Signal About This Team
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Francis also sounds ready to take on more of a guiding role for the next wave of Scarlet Knights, especially as new faces settle in and learn the system. He spoke about helping newcomers adjust and praised the way his teammates have attacked the offseason, with early-morning and post-practice work showing a group that is not waiting around for progress to arrive on its own. [Read more 🡒]