PISCATAWAY, NJ - Rutgers men's basketball program has bolstered its impressive 2025 recruiting class with the commitment of Kaden Powers, a standout guard known for his defensive prowess and versatility on both ends of the court. 
 
Powers, who brings size, athleticism, and a high basketball IQ, joins a talent-rich group that includes three-star recruits Gevonte Ware and Lino Mark, setting the Scarlet Knights up for another promising season under head coach Steve Pikiell's leadership.
 
"Kaden Powers is an awesome combo, scoring guard out of Seattle, Washington," Pikiell said. "He comes from a great family and is a worker with great athleticism. Rutgers Nation will be thrilled with his ability to run up and down the court and score buckets. We are thrilled to welcome Kaden to our Rutgers basketball family."
 
Powers is a 6-foot-5, 185-pound consensus three-star who can stretch the floor and consistently shoot from the outside. A Seattle native, Powers is the No. 2 prospect in all of Washington. He is ranked as the 37th-best shooting guard in the nation and 179th overall by 247sports.
 
"Kaden Powers is a multi-dimensional scorer that hangs his hat on being able to put the ball in the basket," Rutgers assistant coach Marlon Williamson said. "We know that Kaden's best basketball is in front of him. Kaden is going to get here and show Rutgers Nation everything he has in his package. He reminds us of a Brandon Roy type of player."
 
Powers visited Rutgers on Oct. 2 before committing on Oct. 11. He chose the Scarlet Knights over 12 other schools including Washington, Seattle, James Madison, Idaho, Illinois-Chicago, and Montana.
 
"It felt like home when I was there. It felt like a family," Powers said about his visit to campus. "I think it's going to be a little bit different, the West Coast is way different, especially in Seattle, but I'm excited to meet new people and I'm excited to get to work."
 
Over 15 games for his AAU program, the Rotary Rebels, Powers averaged 13.7 points-per-game, 3.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, and 0.8 SPG. Head coach Daryll Hennings helped Powers develop through his time with the Rebels and believes that Rutgers is the right place for Powers to play at the next level.
 
"There is a good, positive, energy going on with Rutgers Basketball right now with having Ace [Bailey] and Dylan [Harper], and [Kaden] knowing a couple of the other guys that were thinking about going there as well, so I think this energy was born," Hennings said.
 
Powers shined at Peach Jam in the EYBL circuit where he averaged 16.8 PPG on 43.2 percent shooting, including above 47 percent from three-point range across eight games. He played against future Rutgers teammate and fellow 2025 commit, Lino Mark.
 
Powers attended Rainier Beach High School and played for head coach Mike Bethea. Former and current NBA players Nate Robinson, Kevin Porter Jr, Dejounte Murray, CJ Jiles, Doug Christie, and Terrence Williams are Rainier Beach alumni. 
 
"It's one of those things where it was a matter of confidence growing with everything else and that's one of the things that helped him get over that hump," Bethea said. "He's confident now because he knows he can play with anybody in the country. He's just as talented, it's that confidence factor that separates a lot of these young men and he's got it."
 
Powers has come a long way since his freshman year of high school and has grown close with Bethea, who takes pride in shaping his players' lives both on and off the court.
 
A huge mentor in Powers' journey to Rutgers is three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year and Rainier Beach alum, Jamal Crawford. Powers said he is so thankful to have Crawford in his life and credits the former New York Knick for certain aspects of his game.
 
"He's unbelievably respectful, he's always trying to learn, always trying to get better, always a 'thank you' and 'please' type of kid, that's what's really cool about him," Crawford said. "Then on the court, he's just special. He plays at his own pace, his game is so mature and so polished, and I know Rutgers is going to bring the best out of him."
 
Crawford described Powers as "fundamentally sound," "so skilled," "a tough shot-maker," and someone who "enjoys making people better," but he chose to become his mentor because "he has an unbelievable work ethic and he's a joy to be around."
 
Powers' mother, Taryn, characterized her son's relationship to Crawford as "a blessing," adding that he has been lucky enough to have the guidance of many NBA players, but Crawford "took him under his wing" following an injury he sustained entering his freshman year that sidelined him for a year and a half. That's when Powers decided to commit to basketball over football.
 
"He really didn't start playing varsity basketball until mid-sophomore year and I think he learned a lot about himself and how much he loved the game through that," Taryn Powers said. "I think that junior summer coming into senior year he had that chip on his shoulder and all of his hard work started coming into fruition."
 
Another large part of Powers' life journey was his late grandmother, Bev "Nana" Powers, who his mother has described as his best friend. The Powers family was impressed during Kaden's visit to campus and can't wait for Rutgers fans to experience his impact at the university.
 
"I'm very excited," Powers said. "We're going to have some fun at Rutgers."