PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The Scarlet Knights have officially welcomed a special addition to the squad for 2026-27 in national letter of intent signee Imahri Wooten.
Wooten, the No. 9 recruit in the state of New York, signed his national letter of intent this week, becoming the first member of Rutgers men's basketball class of 2026. Wooten made his verbal commitment in September and made it official on Nov. 14, marking the final step in becoming a Scarlet Knight.
"I'm very excited to be a member of Rutgers officially," Wooten said. "I'm just very happy that the recruiting process is over, and I'm ready to lock in."
Hailing from Redemption Christian Academy, the 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard received many Division I offers from schools across the country, including Auburn, Arizona State, Syracuse, and Miami. But it was Rutgers' coaching staff that made Wooten feel most at home at Piscataway.
"We are excited to welcome a special player and person to the Rutgers men's basketball family," head coach
Steve Pikiell said. "Imahri is a knockdown shooter, has great size, and brings everything we want to our program. He comes from an elite AAU program that has produced hundreds of Division 1 college basketball players."
Wooten competed on the EYBL Circuit for Albany City Rocks and was a multi-year starter for head coach James Hart.
"I am more excited for Imari's college career than anybody because I think he's going to have such a great career at Rutgers," Hart said. "We have been doing this a long time, and not many players have been multi-year starters. Rutgers is getting a great kid on and off the court. The fan base is going to love him. He shoots it at a high clip as a big-body guard with great athleticism. The Scarlet Knights got a winner."
"I feel like I have elite shooting ability," Wooten said. "I play really good defense, I'm a great teammate, and I always try to make the right play. If there's a better shot, I'm always going to make the extra pass. I'm just a good teammate and a hard worker."
From the start, Rutgers made the Power 5 AAA First Team guard feel like a priority.
"What stood out was really just how consistent they were recruiting me," Wooten said. "No matter if I was injured or not, they would still be supportive, showing up to my games, and really just the family environment from the coaches and the team."
Wooten is set to compete for his fourth season at Redemption Christian Academy in the New England Prep School Athletic Council and the founder of the school is his grandfather. Basketball runs in Wooten's family. Both of Wooten's parents Jimmy and Michele played hoops at RCA and his father was an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan. It was an instant connection for the Wootens when they set foot on campus in New Jersey.
"Immediately when I got there, it was just how I was welcomed," he said. "Everybody that I met was welcoming. It just felt like a family and somewhere I could fit in."
Wooten described Rutgers as having a "family environment," crediting the coaching staff for making him feel at home. He took in a Rutgers football game tailgate for his official visit. Imahri's parents played a huge part in his decision to come to Rutgers.
"Coach
Marlon Williamson was recruiting me heavily and was always talking to my parents," he said. "The staff wasn't just worried about me — they were talking to my parents too. That was a big part."
Wooten made another trip to campus just a few days ago to catch the Scarlet Knights' season opener against Rider. He said that experience only made him feel more confident in his decision.
"Some of the fans, even when I was sitting down, they knew I was a commit," Wooten said. "Everybody was supportive, everybody was saying they're excited to have me, and it just felt like home."
He also said he believes his game will fit right into Pikiell's system.
Gallery: (11-13-2025) Men's Basketball Signs Imahri Wooten
"Defense is what keeps you on the floor, and I feel like I can do that well," Wooten said. "So, I feel like it will be a great fit."
"A rookie that I kind of watch is Kon Knueppel," Wooten added. "I feel like we play similar — similar size, similar shooting ability. And another player I've always looked up to is LeBron James."
Wooten's senior season has brought nothing but success for the nation's No. 57-ranked shooting guard. He scored 42 points in an EYBL circuit game the same week he signed with Rutgers.
"It was a pretty good performance," he said. "Most of my shots were going in, and I just felt good that night."
Wooten earned All-Circuit Underclass Team honors at EYBL Session IV, where he averaged double-figure scoring and three rebounds per game.
With his senior season off to a dominant start and his commitment official, Wooten is set to bring his scoring touch, defensive motor, and team-first mindset to Jersey Mike's Arena next fall.
