Rutgers Signs Sofman to National Letter of Intent
Nov 10 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, NJ - Justin Sofman, a 6-4, 210 lb. guard from West Milford High School, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Rutgers University for head coach Gary Waters, it was announced today.
A First Team All-Passaic and All-Herald News choice as a junior, Sofman enters his senior season for the Higlanders with 1,154 career points. He averaged 19.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game last year, leading West Milford to the Passaic County semifinals for the second-consecutive season and a 17-9 record. He dropped in a career-high 36 points on Jan. 29 in a 72-60 triumph over Hackensack, just one week after netting 32 points as West Milford defeated Delbarton, 60-55. A deadly long-range shooter, he connected on 46 percent of his three-point attempts, solidifying himself as a do-everything guard who could score, pass and defend.
'Justin is just the type of player we need to help stretch the opposing defenses,' said head coach Gary Waters. 'He has the uncanny ability to shoot further then most defenses are prepared for. Add this with his work ethic, and we have the type of player who will help us in the future.'
A member of the varsity since his freshman year, Sofman helped to revitalize West Milford's program. In his first year, the Higlanders reached the Passaic County quarterfinals where they lost to a Paterson Catholic team that featured current Scarlet Knight Marquis Webb. As a sophomore, Sofman and the Highlanders finished 23-3 and advanced to the county semifinals for the first time in eight years. Sofman averaged 15.8 points per game, scoring in double figures in 23 of 26 games.
Sofman is the fifth New Jersey high school player to sign with the Rutgers in the past 12 months, as current freshmen J.R. Inman of St. Joseph's Regional, Anthony Farmer of St. Augustine Prep, Jaron Griffin of Manchester Township and transfer Courtney Nelson of Bloomfield Tech are all members of the 2005-06 Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers begins the 2005-06 season with an exhibition game on Wednesday, Nov. 16 against Caldwell College at the RAC. The regular season begins four days later when the Scarlet Knights host Austin Peay (2:00 p.m.) RU also enters its first year in the newly-expanded 16-team BIG EAST Conference, and its conference schedule is highlighted by home contests against Seton Hall (1/7), Villanova (1/11), Louisville (1/28) and Marquette (2/12).
