Geo Baker Signs with Rutgers Hoops
Nov 10 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (November 10, 2016) - Rutgers men's basketball coach Steve Pikiell announced today that Geo Baker has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete for the Scarlet Knights. A 6-4 guard, Baker averaged 18.0 points, 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds-per-game as a junior at Proctor Academy in Andover, N.H. and made numerous all-tournament teams this past summer competing with DC Blue Devils New Hampshire.
"I am so excited to have Geo Baker join our Scarlet Knight family," said Pikiell. "He was our number one priority in recruiting this summer. He is a great student and basketball player, but an even better young man. As a player, Geo has a terrific basketball IQ and an equally impressive work-ethic. I saw a ton of basketball this summer and I believe his passing and ability to shoot the ball are at elite levels."
The No. 11-ranked player overall in New England and the No. 3 player in New Hampshire for 2017 by The New England Recruiting Report, Baker earned Second Team New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) All-Class AA Honors in 2015-16 under head coach Gregor Makechnie. A three star rated prospect by ESPN, he is also a varsity soccer letterwinner at Proctor.
Baker was recognized as an all-tournament selection at several prominent summer events, including the Pitt Jam Fest, Providence Jam Fest and Zero Gravity Nationals. His coach on the AAU circuit is T.J. Thompson, who played collegiately at George Washington under Karl Hobbs and Pikiell.
A native of Derry, N.H., Baker becomes the sixth player to sign or enroll at Rutgers under Pikiell, joining Issa Thiam, Candido Sa, Matt Bullock, Eugune Omoruyi and C.J. Gettys. He chose the Scarlet Knights over reported offers from Kansas State, George Washington and George Mason, among others.
Biography:
Geo Baker
6-4, 175/Guard
Proctor Academy
Derry, N.H.
Scholastic: Will be a 2017 graduate of Proctor Academy in Andover, N.H., where he serves as a team captain under head coach Gregor Makechnie…Received High Honors academic recognition both semesters as a junior…Competes on the AAU circuit for the DC Blue Devils New Hampshire, where he is coached by T.J. Thompson, who played at George Washington under Karl Hobbs and Steve Pikiell….Was an all-tournament selection this past summer at the Pitt Jam Fest, Providence Jam Fest and the Zero Gravity Nationals…Averaged 18.0 points, 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds-per-game as a junior to earn Second Team New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) All-Class AA Honors…Ranked No. 11 overall in New England and the No. 3 player in New Hampshire for 2017 by The New England Recruiting Report…Rated a three-star recruit by ESPN…Also plays varsity soccer…Chose the Scarlet Knights over reported offers from Kansas State, George Washington and George Mason, among others.
Personal: Given names is Geordano…Started playing basketball with his next door neighbor at the age of seven…Mother, Irene Baker, captained the basketball team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
What They're Saying:
Geo Baker on why he chose Rutgers: "The campus really made an impression on me. I'm interested in business and Rutgers has a great business school. It just felt like the right fit."
Geo Baker on the Rutgers Coaching Staff: "Coach Pikiell is going to push me both athletically and academically and I respect that. I really like the energy of the whole coaching staff. They want guys who are in the gym and like to work. There are many accomplished guards on the staff, which will help my development and enhance my style of play."
Geo Baker on his style of play: "I'm a tall guard with a point guard mentality. I really like to pass and think of myself as a playmaker who can make his teammates better. My shooting ability enables me to stretch the floor."
D.C. Blue Devils New Hampshire Head Coach T.J. Thompson on Baker: "You simply couldn't ask for a better kid to work with. Geo loves people and is a great role model in our program. He comes back and coaches our younger kids. He's always telling them to work hard and focus on academics. On the court, his better days are ahead, which is very exciting. He can really shoot, both catch and shoot, as well as off the dribble. Geo can score off the dribble without the pick and roll. He has a knack for scoring that you don't see yet at this level."
Proctor Academy Head Coach Gregor Makechnie on Baker: "Geo is a gifted ball-handler with tremendous court vision. He has developed a reliable perimeter game and has the bounce and step-back moves to be a very efficient scorer. Geo has a high social IQ. He is respected by his teammates and is very well-liked by his classmates on campus. More than anything, he has worked exceptionally hard to develop his skills and earn this opportunity."
