PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Head men’s basketball coach Fred Hill announced today that junior college point guard James Beatty (Wilmington, N.C.) has signed a scholarship agreement to attend Rutgers University and compete for the Scarlet Knights. A two-time All-Southern Conference selection at Miami-Dade (Fla.) College and former North Carolina Class 4A State High School Player of the Year, Beatty (6-2, 195) joins a recruiting class that includes freshmen forwards Dane Miller (Henrietta, N.Y.), Austin Johnson (Elkins Park, Pa.) and freshman center Brian Okam (Enugu, Nigeria).
“I am very comfortable with Rutgers, it’s the right place for me,” said Beatty. “They have always focused on my best interests, not just as a basketball player, but as a person. I’m really looking forward to competing in the BIG EAST Conference. I’m confident that I can make a strong impact at Rutgers.”
“We are very excited to welcome James into the Rutgers basketball family,” said Hill. “He brings a tremendous amount of skill and intangibles into the program. James is a talkative leader with great understanding and passion for the game. He’s a winner with experience. I think our fans are really going to enjoy watching him play.”
Beatty, Miller, Johnson and Okam are all slated to arrive “On the Banks” as nationally-rated prospects. Miller (6-7, 210), a two-time All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year, is a Rivals four-star, Top 100 recruit. Johnson (6-8, 230) and Okam (6-11, 245) are both nationally-rated prospect by ESPN, with Okam cited as the country’s 15th-best center. The incoming foursome will be joined by junior forward Jonathan Mitchell (Mount Vernon, N.Y.), a former New York State “Mr. Basketball” honoree who was a member of the University of Florida’s 2007 National Championship squad. Mitchell (6-7, 225) practiced with the Scarlet Knights in 2008-09, but was unable to compete in games under NCAA transfer guidelines.
James Beatty Biography:
Guard / 6-2, 195
Junior / Wilmington, N.C.
Elite prospect who entered the spring signing period listed as the top available point guard nationally by College Hoops Update…Among the top 40 junior college players nationally according to Rivals’ JUCO Junction. JUNIOR COLLEGE: A two-time first team All-Southern Conference selection at Miami-Dade College, which was ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation in 2008-09…Was named team MVP in both of his seasons…Set a school record with 16 assists in a game and finished the 2008-2009 season averaging 13.4 points, 7.9 assists, and 2.7 steals per game…Sharks completed their season with a perfect 12-0 league mark and were 26-3 overall…As a freshman in 2007-08, was named the MDC Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Year and ranked 25th nationally in assists (6.1), while also averaging 11.5 points-per-contest. HIGH SCHOOL: A 2007 graduate of New Hanover HS in Wilmington, N.C…Was the Rivals North Carolina Class 4A State Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-America finalist as a senior team captain under head coach Linc Lyles…Helped the Wildcats to their first state title in 39 years in 2006-07, hitting the go-ahead shot with a minute to play in the championship final…A three-year varsity starter at point guard, averaging 15.7 points, 5.1 assists and 3.1 steals per game as a senior…Named MVP of the Chick-fil-A Classic in January 2007 and was selected to play in the 2007 North Carolina East-West All-Star Game…Was a second team All-State (all classes) honoree as a junior…NHHS has produced multiple professional athletes, including the NBA’s Kenny Gattison, NFL’s Algae Crumpler, Roman Gabriel, Sonny Jurgensen and Clyde Simmons, as well as MLB’s Trot Nixon. PERSONAL: Born January 9, 1989…Mother is Nadine Bell and father is James Beatty Sr…Father started in the backcourt at Laney HS in Wilmington when Michael Jordan was a freshman at the school.
