Four From Men's Basketball Earn All-Big Ten Awards
Mar 09 | Men's Basketball
Harper Jr. on Third Team, Baker, Johnson and Young Earn Honorable Mention, Johnson on All-Defensive Team
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men's basketball was well rewarded on Tuesday following a successful season with the release of the Big Ten awards. Ron Harper Jr. was named Third Team All-Big Ten by both the Coaches and Media. Geo Baker was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection in the Coaches voting, while Myles Johnson and Jacob Young were named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by the media voting. Johnson was also named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Paul Mulcahy earned the Sportsmanship Award from the conference.
This marked the first time that Rutgers ever had four different players earn all-conference accolades. This was the second consecutive season with a Third Team All-Big Ten selection, after last season Geo Baker was named RU's first ever Third Team All-Big Ten selection. Rutgers was one of just two schools to have four different players earn all-conference accolades.
Harper Jr. earned Third Team honors from both the coaches and the media after leading the Scarlet Knights in scoring and tying for 10th in the conference at 15.3 points per game. Harper Jr. posted double figures in 18 games, including six games of 20 or more points. The Franklin Lakes, N.J. native shot 45.6 percent from the field, 10th in the Big Ten. The junior was named as a Finalist for the Julius Erving Award and was on the Watch List for the Wooden Award.
Baker became the first Rutgers' player since James Bailey in 1976-79 to earn all-conference honors in three straight years. The Derry, N.H. product finished ninth in assist-turnover ratio (1.94) and ninth in steals (1.29). The team captain had 64 assists and 27 steals in 21 games. With a reputation for clutch shot making, Baker excelled on his Senior Night with his first double-double since 2017, posting 20 points and 10 assists against Indiana to secure Rutgers' first ever Big Ten Player of the Week award.
Johnson finished second in league in blocks (2.5) and fifth in rebounds (8.6 rpg). He had 60 blocks and 25 steals, the only player in the Big Ten to reach those marks. He was as one of just two Power 5 players in the nation to have 200 rebounds, 60 blocks and 25 steals, joining Evan Mobley of USC. The Long Beach, Calif. native shot 63.8 percent from the field. His seven blocks versus Indiana were the most blocks in a game by any Big Ten player this year
Young led the Big Ten with 1.83 steals per game. He shot 47.3 percent from the field (ninth in the Big Ten) and finished 14th in the league in scoring at 14.5 points per game. The Houston, Texas native scored in double-figures a team-leading 20 times, including seven straight games to end the season. Young posted 23 points in the season finale against Minnesota, his most ever in a Big Ten game.
Mulcahy was a valuable member of the Scarlet Knights program on and off the court. The sophomore guard started 17 games and averaged 5.7 points and had 70 assists, second on the team. The Bayonne, N.J. native persevered through multiple injuries and did not miss a game. He was a valued teammate who continually gave back to the community, starting the Grateful4 Foundation to inspire others to focus on gratitude.
The Scarlet Knights finished the regular season 14-10, with a 10-10 mark in Big Ten games. That marked the first time with back-to-back winning seasons for Rutgers since the 1990-91 and 1991-92 campaigns. Rutgers won 21 Big Ten games over the past two seasons after winning 16 combined over its first five years as a league member. The Scarlet Knights finished tied for sixth in the league standings, the second straight season finishing among the top half of the league. The team spent 11 weeks nationally ranked or receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
This marked the first time that Rutgers ever had four different players earn all-conference accolades. This was the second consecutive season with a Third Team All-Big Ten selection, after last season Geo Baker was named RU's first ever Third Team All-Big Ten selection. Rutgers was one of just two schools to have four different players earn all-conference accolades.
Harper Jr. earned Third Team honors from both the coaches and the media after leading the Scarlet Knights in scoring and tying for 10th in the conference at 15.3 points per game. Harper Jr. posted double figures in 18 games, including six games of 20 or more points. The Franklin Lakes, N.J. native shot 45.6 percent from the field, 10th in the Big Ten. The junior was named as a Finalist for the Julius Erving Award and was on the Watch List for the Wooden Award.
Baker became the first Rutgers' player since James Bailey in 1976-79 to earn all-conference honors in three straight years. The Derry, N.H. product finished ninth in assist-turnover ratio (1.94) and ninth in steals (1.29). The team captain had 64 assists and 27 steals in 21 games. With a reputation for clutch shot making, Baker excelled on his Senior Night with his first double-double since 2017, posting 20 points and 10 assists against Indiana to secure Rutgers' first ever Big Ten Player of the Week award.
Johnson finished second in league in blocks (2.5) and fifth in rebounds (8.6 rpg). He had 60 blocks and 25 steals, the only player in the Big Ten to reach those marks. He was as one of just two Power 5 players in the nation to have 200 rebounds, 60 blocks and 25 steals, joining Evan Mobley of USC. The Long Beach, Calif. native shot 63.8 percent from the field. His seven blocks versus Indiana were the most blocks in a game by any Big Ten player this year
Young led the Big Ten with 1.83 steals per game. He shot 47.3 percent from the field (ninth in the Big Ten) and finished 14th in the league in scoring at 14.5 points per game. The Houston, Texas native scored in double-figures a team-leading 20 times, including seven straight games to end the season. Young posted 23 points in the season finale against Minnesota, his most ever in a Big Ten game.
Mulcahy was a valuable member of the Scarlet Knights program on and off the court. The sophomore guard started 17 games and averaged 5.7 points and had 70 assists, second on the team. The Bayonne, N.J. native persevered through multiple injuries and did not miss a game. He was a valued teammate who continually gave back to the community, starting the Grateful4 Foundation to inspire others to focus on gratitude.
The Scarlet Knights finished the regular season 14-10, with a 10-10 mark in Big Ten games. That marked the first time with back-to-back winning seasons for Rutgers since the 1990-91 and 1991-92 campaigns. Rutgers won 21 Big Ten games over the past two seasons after winning 16 combined over its first five years as a league member. The Scarlet Knights finished tied for sixth in the league standings, the second straight season finishing among the top half of the league. The team spent 11 weeks nationally ranked or receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Players Mentioned
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