2026-27 Men's Basketball Roster
Roster
Lino Mark
- Position:
- Guard
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 185
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Los Angeles, Calif.
- High School:
- Notre Dame
Lino Mark returns to Rutgers for his sophomore season, bringing speed, playmaking ability, and late-season momentum back to the backcourt. A 6-foot-2, 185-pound point guard known for his explosiveness, pace, and high basketball IQ, Mark made significant strides throughout his 2025-26 freshman campaign and emerged as a key contributor down the stretch, closing the year with eight double-figure scoring performances over the final 11 games. On the year, Mark averaged 5.9 points per game while shooting nearly 40 percent from the field.
2025-26 Season at Rutgers
- Opened his collegiate career as part of Rutgers' highly regarded freshman class
- Scored 13 points in a win over Oregon
- Reached double digits for the first time with a 10-point performance vs. Seton Hall (Dec. 13)
- Capped the season with 14 points against Creighton
- Had 17 points in the loss to UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament
- Posted double figures in six of seven games during one late-season stretch, averaging 12.2 points per game over his final eight outings.
2024-25 High School Season at Notre Dame
- Started and played in all 21 games, averaging 15.1 points and 3.2 assists per game, leading Sherman Oaks to an 18-3 record
- Recorded 78 rebounds (62 defensive), 39 steals and 10 blocks on the year
- Shot 48.0 percent from the field, 77.0 percent from the free-throw line and just under 40.0 percent from three-point range
- Scored a season-high 27 points vs. Saugus High School (Nov. 23)
- Surpassed 1,000 career points vs. Bishop Alemany (Jan. 22), finishing his Sherman Oaks career with 1,104 points and 272 assists
- Recorded a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) vs. Village Christian (Dec. 6)
- Signed his National Letter of Intent to Rutgers on Nov. 13, 2024
Accolades & Achievements
- Fielded 14 offers, including West Virginia, USC, Arizona State and Seton Hall
- Four-star recruit, ranked No. 15 among point guards in California, No. 15 overall in California and No. 129 nationally per 247Sports
- Scored more than 1,000 career points at Sherman Oaks High School
AAU / EYBL Basketball
- Starred for the Oakland Soldiers AAU program, averaging 15.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game over 33 games as a junior
- Played alongside future Rutgers teammate Chris Nwuli
- Helped the Soldiers finish second in their conference with a 14-1 record, playing for a program with alumni including LeBron James, Kendrick Perkins and Chauncey Billups
- Traveled to the Philippines to compete in the NBTC National Finals for the Fil-Am Nation Select-USA team, averaging 26 points and 9 rebounds in the tournament, including 32 points in the championship game
- Earned MVP honors at the NBTC Tournament, playing under head coach Byron Scott
Personal
- Committed to Rutgers following strong conversations with Coach Pikiell, which helped him feel a strong fit both on and off the court
- His brother, Christopher, and uncle, Jhonny, both played professional basketball internationally
- Embraces his Filipino heritage and shares cultural ties with former Scarlet Knight Dylan Harper, whom he idolizes
- As a child, Mark reportedly carried a basketball with him everywhere, as if it were a third limb, according to his mother
- Shares a close relationship with his mother, Jocelle Maliwanag, who was drawn to the diversity of Rutgers' campus during the family's visit and enjoyed watching her son connect with Harper — she and Dylan's mother, Maria Harper, coincidentally share the same birthday
- The Mark family has deep ties to the area, with relatives in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Newark, N.J.
- His uncle is actor and comedian Bill Bellamy, a Rutgers alumnus; Mark grew up around the game with his father, Anthony Mark
Coach Pikiell Remarks
"Lino really grew as his freshman season went on," said head coach Steve Pikiell. "His speed, playmaking, and confidence gave us a big spark, and we're excited to have one of the most exciting Scarlet Knights returning next season."
Player Remarks
"I can't wait to get back to playing in front of the best fans in the Nation at Jersey Mike's Arena," Mark said. "We traveled a lot of places last season, and there is nowhere like playing at Rutgers. I feel like I improved a lot in my freshman year and just felt like I have unfinished business right here."
