Rutgers men’s basketball’s 2025 season is almost upon us, meaning that it is time for a roster breakdown. This series will be divided into two segments: one breaking down all of the newcomers and what
they are expected to bring to the team, and the other covering all of the returning players.
The Incoming Transfers
Rutgers basketball has three incoming transfers that are meant to address several shortcomings on the team. Center Baye Fall transferred to Rutgers from Kansas State, where he spent one season after transferring there from Arkansas. Fall stands at 6-foot-11, 205 pounds, making him a very light big man. When he came out of high school, he was rated as a high four-star. After seeing a limited amount of playing time for both of his previous schools, he is rated as a three-star transfer for Rutgers. The main issue with Fall seems to be his strength/weight. His lighter frame could be an issue when battling inside the paint. For example, Rutgers’ other center, Emmanuel Ogbole, weighs 260 pounds. He is also extremely raw offensively and will need to develop that part of his game. Despite this, due to Rutgers’ weakness at center, Fall will likely see a lot of playing time for the Knights. Fall comes to Rutgers with two years of eligibility remaining.
The next transfer, who will likely have the highest immediate impact out of all three of them, is Darren Buchanan Jr from George Washington. During his first two seasons with the Revolutionaries, the 6-foot-7, 235-pound guard averaged 13 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and .4 blocks per game. It should be noted that Buchanan saw a dip in his playing time in year two due to a lingering ankle injury that affected him for most of the season. If Buchanan returns to the court completely healthy this season, he has a very high potential. He does need to show improvement on defense, which will fall on head coach Steve Pikiell to develop that area. In addition, according to sources from around the team, he has stepped up as a locker room leader as well. He comes to Rutgers with two years of eligibility remaining.
The final transfer is Tariq Francis. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound guard spent the last two years playing at NJIT, where he was a high-volume, high-points scorer. Last season, Francis averaged 19.2 points per game but also put up 18.4 shots per game. He averaged 36.9% shooting on field goals last season and 32.4% from the three-point line. Not to mention those numbers came at a much lower level than the Big Ten. While he will still be a significant contributor on this team, it is hard to see him instantly becoming a starter at the higher level because of his size and inefficient numbers at the lower levels. He comes to Rutgers with two years of eligibility remaining.
The Incoming Freshmen
The first player that comes to mind when it comes to immediate impact from this group is Harun Zrno, the 6-foot-7, 220-pound, 21-year-old freshman guard from Bosnia. His best skills are his sharp shooting ability, as he hit 56% from the field, 46% from three, and 77% from the free throw line during his last season with Division 1 KK Salvija. He averaged 17.5 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists over 14 games. He will likely be the Knights’ biggest threat from beyond the arc next season.
Denis Badalau is another incoming freshman from overseas. The 6-foot-8, 200-pound 19-year-old freshman forward hails from Romania. Still, his most recent basketball experience came from playing for Aquila, Trento in the Italian Serie A League, which is regarded as the best league in Italy. There, he appeared in 7 games and averaged 7.6 minutes per game. In that limited time, he averaged 1.9 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. He was also a gold medalist for the Romanian national team. He has a good ability to drive to the basket, but it is his defensive play that makes him intriguing in Pikiell’s system.
Lino Mark is one of the freshmen that Rutgers will lean heavily on this season. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound freshman guard can shoot from all levels, has shown a great cut to the basket, and has demonstrated a high passing IQ at the high school level. On top of that, he also has a good three-point shot. Since he needs to put on some more strength before he can become a true, all-level threat at the college level, he will likely be one of the first guys off the bench on Rutgers’ rotation rather than a starter. He needs some work on his defense, like most players coming out of high school, which no doubt will be addressed by Pikiell.
Kaden Powers is a high upside talent. He has good height for a guard, standing at 6-foot-5, 195 pounds. He has a great ability to find the basket from all angles on the floor. “Kaden Powers is a multi-dimensional scorer that hangs his hat on being able to put the ball in the basket,” said Rutgers assistant coach Marlon Williamson. He does need to make some improvements on his physicality, attacking the rim, and on defense, but with Pikiell’s development, he could be a pivotal piece in Rutgers’ future.
Chris Nwuli is another freshman who has garnered some excitement. The 6-foot-8, 205-pound forward was a four-star coming out of high school. He played alongside other Rutgers freshman Lino Mark at the EYBL Peach Jam Classic and averaged 12.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists during the tournament. He has shown on his high school tape that he can play inside and out, and that he brings an intensity and toughness to both ends of the floor. Due to his advanced defensive skillset, Nwuli is another non-European Rutgers freshman who could see significant playing time. He is arguably the most college basketball-ready out of the non-European Rutgers freshmen.
Gevonte Ware is a 6-foot-9, 255-pound freshman center who received several power offers coming out of high school, including offers from Alabama, Wake Forest, and Arizona State. His height mimics that of Lathan Sommerville last season, who was a bit undersized for the position. He was rated as the 39th-best center coming out of high school by 247. In 18 games at the 1 of 1 Academy center, Ware averaged 10.9 points per game, 1.6 assists per game, and 9.7 rebounds per game. Due to his size, he will likely play more of a forward role rather than a center role, but how they use him remains to be seen. His skill set allows him to play defense at any position, something that Pikiell looks for the most out of his players. As with most Big men at the college level, he will likely need some time to develop.
Dorian Jones was a late addition to the team, as he committed in August of 2025. The 6-foot-4, 160-pound guard was originally committed to play for Ohio State before flipping to Rutgers. When he committed, he said that Rutgers really liked him because of his defensive capabilities, but that they wanted to put some weight on him before he saw significant playing time.
“On the defensive end, he uses his plus wingspan to get in the passing lanes, and he has quick feet, which he uses to guard on the open floor. Offensively, Jones is still developing. He is a streaky shooter as his shooting base can get knocked off center when he shoots off movement or steps into a shot. His release can also flatten out of the catch. He fills the lanes quickly in transition and attacks the rim with purpose in the open floor.”- Jamie Shaw, Senior National Basketball Recruiting Analyst for On3
Keep an eye out over the next couple of days for part two of this article and all our other previews as we get ready for Rutgers’ first tip-off of the season, which will be at home on Wednesday, November 5th, at 6 pm against Rider.
