PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Ten days after his official visit to Rutgers on May 7, Gavin Griffiths went back to campus for a surprise visit. 

He had decided he wanted to verbally commit to Rutgers, but he knew that it was something that he couldn’t just do over the phone.

“The coaching staff was just such a big part of my decision,” Griffiths said, of his verbal commitment. “I think it says a lot about my decision to pick Rutgers that I really wanted to do that. Once I decided, I just knew I had to tell them in person.”

The six-foot-eight, 195-pound player from Simsbury, Conn. showed up to the RWJ Barnabas Health Athletic Performance Center with his family alongside him. Griffiths walked straight into the men’s basketball floor and headed towards head coach Steve Pikiell’s office.

He told Pikiell, his fellow Connecticut native that he wanted to start his college career as a Scarlet Knight in 2023-24.

“It was just one of those experiences that you remember forever,” Griffiths said. “The pressure was lifted off, and I could say I finally did it. I’m here at Rutgers. It was just a great experience for me and my family.”

Griffiths, from the Kingswood-Oxford High School in West Hartford, Conn., is ranked the No. 20 recruit in the country (247 Sports), marking the highest-ranked player landed in the Steve Pikiell-era and the second-highest recruit to attend RU in the modern era. Only former Rutgers guard Mike Rosario was ranked higher at the time of his recruitment (2008). Griffiths is also ranked No. 1 in the state of Connecticut by 247 Sports. Griffiths was upgraded from a four-star recruit to a five-star recruit in January of 2023.

Griffiths officially signed his National Letter of Intent at Kingswood-Oxford High School during a press conference in front of a large crowd on Wednesday afternoon.

“I’m super excited to join the Rutgers men’s basketball family and it really means a lot to me,” Griffiths said. “To be a part of a team that’s as good as Rutgers means everything and I just can’t wait to get started.”

Gavin is one of four siblings. He has an older brother (Riley), older sister (Nora) and a younger brother (Declan). Gavin’s three siblings all play competitive basketball as well. His father Larry was a two-time all-state high school center in Connecticut in the 1980s, played at the University of Hartford and played professionally overseas. His mom Karen joined him on many of his visits and trips to Rutgers games through the recruting process.

Griffiths is ranked No. 30 in the country by Rivals, No. 36 by ESPN, and No. 39 by ON3 in the country. Griffiths has been competing with the AAU program Expressions Elite in the Nike EYBL league against some of the top talent in the country over the past few seasons. 

Griffiths proved himself to be one of the best perimeter shooters in all the Nike EYBL. Griffiths missed the first two sessions of the league with a facial injury but finished off strong against the nation’s top talent.

During Session 3, Griffiths averaged 13.2 points and shot 37.8% from deep on an impressive 11.1 attempts per 40 minutes. Griffiths shot 40.6 percent from three-point range on 11.3 attempts per 40 minutes at the 2022 Nike EYBL Peach Jam.

Griffiths was asked if it meant anything to him that he has such a high ranking and standing in Rutgers men’s basketball history.

“It’s really cool to have that title, but at the end of the day it doesn’t mean anything,” Griffiths said. “Until I perform at Jersey Mike’s Arena, it doesn’t mean anything. It is very cool to have that title though and I do appreciate everyone that says that."

Following his celebration with Pikiell, athletic director Pat Hobbs and the men’s basketball staff, Griffiths publicly announced his plans to join the Scarlet Knights with a post that said “Committed” on his social media platforms on June 2.

“It was actually a pretty easy decision for me once I took my tour and once, I went to Jersey Mike’s Arena to watch a game,” Griffiths said. “I have been to a lot of games and just to see the atmosphere at Jersey Mike’s Arena, it was the best I’ve seen.

“I saw how nice the campus was, I toured that brand new practice facility,” Griffiths said. “Just to see how much the coaches liked my game, that made it an easy decision.”

Griffiths attended a few RU basketball games at Jersey Mike’s Arena with his family during the 2021-22 season. 

The last game at home for Rutgers last year was the one that stood out. On March 6, in a must-win game against Penn State, the Scarlet Knights put on a defensive masterpiece and defeated the Nittany Lions 59-58 in front of a sold-out crowd to lock in a consecutive appearance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1976. 

Griffiths saw the support of the five RU seniors Geo Baker, Ron Harper Jr., Caleb McConnell, Luke Nathan, and Ralph Gonzales-Agee and was hooked. What stood out to him most was his first impressions of the arena on that day. All he had to do was look up to the very top. 

Griffiths reiterated that the environment at Jersey Mike’s Arena played one of the biggest roles in his decision to be a Scarlet Knight. 

“When I visited you could definitely hear the floor and the whole arena shaking,” Griffiths said. “I can’t even imagine what it’s going to be like to play there,” Griffiths said. “I’ve never played in front of close to that many people before and I can’t wait.”

Griffiths got along with the Rutgers men’s basketball staff right away throughout his recruitment. He shouted out all the coaches on the RU staff and said he knew he belonged at Rutgers before even meeting the staff in person.

“I didn’t even need my visits for that,” Griffiths laughed. “I knew from talking to Coach Pikiell over the phone and talking to coach T.J. (Thompson), coach (Brandin) Knight, and coach (Karl) Hobbs), I knew I was going to like them right away. Then when I got to campus it was the same way. It was all good and exactly how I pictured it would be.”

Griffiths has received tremendous accolades for his performances for his high school as well. The New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) named Griffiths the ’23 Player of the Year in Class B Basketball on April 20. Griffiths averaged 24.0 points, eight rebounds, and four assists during his junior season. 

So, what can Rutgers Nation expect from Gavin Griffiths the basketball player?

“I can do a lot of things on the court,” Griffiths said. “I can shoot, dunk and pass, but I mostly pride myself on playing hard. I’m going to be one of the guys always in the practice facility. Winning games for Rutgers is what I really want to do.”

When asked what his favorite spot on the floor is to score, Griffiths was quick to respond.

“The corners are my favorite,” Griffiths smiled. “They are my sweet spot.”

Griffiths has an extraordinary frame for an elite shooter and has been watching the game of Kevin Durant closely since he was a child. He’s looked up to Durant’s game and his ability to create open shots at that size.

“Growing up my favorite player was definitely KD,” Griffiths said. “Watching him when I was younger and him just being a taller guy that could really shoot. He could really shoot over people and make tough shots.”

With one more season left as in high school, Griffiths is looking forward to the day he officially steps on RU’s campus as a student in 2023. Griffiths knows the opportunity at hand in the years to come and spoke about what motivates him to achieving his dream of becoming a successful player in the Big Ten and working his way to one day becoming an NBA player. 

“I feel like I have been blessed with all of these abilities and I feel like I have to make the most out of it,” Griffiths said. “My more recent why is one of my best friends growing up got really hurt on the football field and it puts a lot into perspective that your opportunity could be taken from you whenever.”