PISCATAWAY, N.J. – A pair of future Scarlet Knights showed out at Jersey Mike's Arena on Friday.
Center Lathan Sommerville (Richwoods High School) and forward Ace Bailey (MacEachern High School) combined for 68 points, 29 rebounds and two victories in Piscataway in their respective games in The Battle for New Jersey Showcase.
Sommerville, the six-foot-nine center kicked off the day for Richwoods High School with 28 points, eight rebounds, four blocks, and three assists in the 81-71 victory over College Achieve (Asbury Park, N.J.). Sommerville had both of his parents, some future teammates from the 2023-24 Rutgers men's basketball squad, and more in attendance.
"It meant a lot," Sommerville said. "It felt amazing to play in front of my family and some future teammates. Just to get out there and play with my team meant a lot."
Sommerville shot 10-15 from the field, made three of five three-point attempts, and flashed some elite ball-handling for a 225-pound player in transition. The Peoria, Ill. native broke down a defender on a crossover and finished at the basket for a highlight reel play.
"I shot the ball well, especially in the first half and then I slowed down a little bit," Sommerville said. "I got a little frustrated with the calls, but then once I started moving on, it got better. The shots started falling again, and we ended up winning the game."
Bailey followed up that elite performance with one of his own. The Chattanooga, Tenn. native scored a game-high 40 points and collected 21 rebounds in MacEachern's blowout victory over Camden.
Bailey's performance led to the crowd of over 4,000 chanting "R-U" and he received a standing ovation as he stood at midcourt.
"It felt great to have them watching me," Bailey said. "Just me coming out here and doing what I'm doing and feeling their energy. Playing with Lathan Sommerville and the rest of that crew will be dope. It's going to be crazy, we're going to try to bring us a national championship."
Bailey didn't waste any time getting acquainted with his future home. The 6-foot-10 forward rushed to the hoop and his first basketball was an emphatic slam dunk.
"I thought my first basketball was going to be a three," Bailey laughed. "But when I got there, I knew it would be a good night. I made that going to the hole and then I knew it was going to be a good night."
It was a good night indeed and Bailey flashed phenomenal rebounding-ability, long-range shooting from the Jersey Mike's Arena logo, and energy that ignited all of the crowd in attendance.
Bailey said it meant the world to him to put on a show for Rutgers Nation and was especially excited to play in front of his childhood friend and high school teammate,
Jamichael Davis, current point guard for RU. Bailey had his entire family at the game, his AAU coaches, and even former Rutgers great
Ron Harper Jr. in attendance.
"Since I saw I was playing in Jersey, I just knew I had to put on a show for the people man," Bailey said. "I had to. It's a blessing just to come out here and play in front of a crowd like this. J-Mike coming to watch me play and me coming to watch him tomorrow just feels great man it's a family thing."
Both Bailey and Sommerville signed their National Letters of Intent during the early signing period and join forward Dylan Grant and forward Bryce Dortch as official members of the 2024-25 class.
