2026-27 Men's Basketball Roster
Roster
Kaden Powers
- Position:
- Guard
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 195
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Seattle, Wash.
- High School:
- Rainier Beach
Kaden Powers returns to Rutgers for the 2026-27 season as a rising sophomore who flashed his potential throughout his freshman year. A versatile guard with size, athleticism, and a high basketball IQ, Powers averaged 6.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game in 29 appearances and 15 starts, shooting 35 percent from the field, 32.6 percent from three, and 73.7 percent from the free-throw line. Prior to Rutgers, Powers starred at Rainier Beach High School in Washington — an NBA pipeline that has produced Nate Robinson, Dejounte Murray, and Jamal Crawford — leading the program to its 10th 3A State Championship with a 28-3 record. He was mentored by Crawford, a three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year, and entered Rutgers as a three-star recruit ranked No. 2 in Washington and No. 179 overall nationally.
2025-26 Freshman Season at Rutgers
- Made an immediate impact during his first collegiate season with Rutgers
- Earned his first career start against Oregon
- Scored nine points, all in the second half, vs. Ohio State
- Added 12 points at Illinois, followed by nine points in a win over Northwestern, continuing to grow offensively
- Scored a season-high 13 points vs. Michigan
- Scored his first collegiate basket vs. Purdue
- Scored four points with two steals in seven minutes in his collegiate debut vs. Rider
2024-25 Season at Rainier Beach
- Led Rainier Beach to its 10th 3A State Championship, posting a 28-3 overall record and a perfect 14-0 division record
- Helped guide Rainier Beach to the No. 1 ranking in the state of Washington
AAU & EYBL Basketball
- Averaged 13.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.8 steals per game over 15 contests with his AAU program, the Rotary Rebels
- Shot 31.6 percent from three-point range and 85.0 percent from the free-throw line during his Rebels tenure
- Developed under head coach Daryll Hennings, who helped guide Powers' growth with the Rebels and believes Rutgers is the right fit for the next level of his career
- Shined at Nike EYBL's Peach Jam, averaging 16.8 points per game across eight games while slashing 43.2/47.2/76.5 shooting splits
- Turned heads with standout performances in Augusta, including a 28-point, six-three-pointer outing against Kiyan Anthony and Team Melo, and a 17-point effort on five made threes against Jerry Easter and Team Final
- Played against future Rutgers teammates Lino Mark and Chris Nwuli on the EYBL circuit
Accolades & Achievements
- Three-star recruit, ranked No. 2 in Washington, No. 37 among shooting guards and No. 179 nationally per 247Sports
- Visited Rutgers on Oct. 2, verbally committed the following week on Oct. 11, and signed with the Scarlet Knights on Nov. 13
- Chose Rutgers over 15 other offers, including UNLV, Washington, Montana and James Madison
Personal
- Attended Rainier Beach High School under head coach Mike Bethea, alma mater of former and current NBA players Nate Robinson, Kevin Porter Jr., Dejounte Murray, C.J. Jiles, Doug Christie and Terrence Williams
- A key mentor in Powers' basketball journey is three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year and Rainier Beach alum Jamal Crawford; Powers has credited the former Knick for helping shape key aspects of his game
- Crawford has described Powers as fundamentally sound, highly skilled and a tough shot-maker who enjoys making his teammates better, and said he chose to mentor him because of his work ethic and character
- Powers' mother, Taryn, called her son's relationship with Crawford a blessing, noting that Crawford took him under his wing following an injury entering his freshman year that sidelined him for a year and a half — a stretch that ultimately led Powers to commit fully 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 to fruition."
- Wears a "206" tattoo in honor of his hometown of Seattle
- Cited the family atmosphere, camaraderie among teammates and shared work ethic as key factors in choosing Rutgers
Coach Pikiell Remarks "Kaden is a true three-level scorer who just keeps getting better," said head coach Steve Pikiell. "He's got great size for a guard, he's athletic, and he really understands the game. As the season went on, you saw his confidence grow and his ability to make plays on both ends improve. We're excited about the jump he can make heading into his sophomore year."
Player Remarks "It felt like home when I was there. It felt like a family. 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. For me, I am a guy that is a competitor who can put the ball in the hoop consistently. I cannot wait to get back to Jersey Mike's Arena and showcase in front of Rutgers Nation."
