Fred Hill Jr. didn't waste any time backing up his recruiting reputation.
Prior to the Rutgers men's basketball team's win in an exhibition game against Caldwell College last night, the Rutgers Athletic Department announced that four local recruits signed letters of intent to attend the University.
Hill's first class as head coach is highlighted by New Jersey stand-out guard Corey Chandler out of Newark's East High School. The other members of the recruiting class include Michael Coburn out of Mt. Vernon High School in New York; Earl Pettis, who is attending the Patterson School in North Carolina; and Justin Sofman who is attending St. Thomas Moore Prep in Connecticut.
Chandler was the Knights' earliest verbal commitment and is ranked the 86th best recruit in the nation by rivals.com, 77th by Sporting News, and 55th by HoopScoop. The 6-foot-1 point guard averaged 21 points as a junior at Eastside.
"He's one of the top guards in the country. Just a great young man and talent," Hill said.
"He can play either guard spot. I don't want to use too many comparisons, but certainly because of my familiarity, he's very similar to [former Villanova guard] Randy Foye. He's got a very bright future and is a guy that believed in us."
Coburn is a four-year starter at Mt. Vernon, which is ranked No. 18 in the nation. The 6-foot point guard will add depth to the Scarlet backcourt. Last season Coburn averaged 16.7 points, 6.5 assists and three rebounds per game.
"[Coburn's] a great signing we got today from one of the best programs in New York," Hill said. "He's a winner and a leader. He's going to leave Mount Vernon as the all-time winningest player in their history. He brings all the intangibles to the table."
Pettis is a consensus Top 100 recruit while at Neumann Goretti High School (Pa.), and is ranked the 21st best fifth-year player by HoopScoop.
The 6-foot-5 wing man averaged 14.2 ppg, seven boards and three assists in his senior year of high school.
"Earl is a very exciting player. He's a 6'5 guard and is like Marquis Webb," Hill said. "He's multidimensional. He can play the 1, 2, or the 3, and he can really see the floor."
Sofman committed to Rutgers before his senior season at West Milford High, then decided to spend a year at prep school.
Last year, the 6'4 shooting guard averaged 22.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and four assists per contest. Sofman is ranked as one of the top-five shooters in the state by NJHoops.com.
"He reminds me of a young Mike Gansey [former wingman of West Virginia]," Hill said. "He's a 6-foot-4 kid who can really shoot the basketball, he's tough, hard nosed and can really stretch defenses. He has NBA range and can really bury it."
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