Rutgers basketball lands Bryce Dortch, Class of 2024 forward
The third piece of what is shaping up as a blockbuster 2024 recruiting class for Rutgers basketball fell into place Tuesday with the commitment of forward Bryce Dortch, a 6-foot-8 senior at Brimmer and May School in Massachusetts.
Here as three things to know about Dortch, starting with the interesting connection that opened the door.
1. His father went to Geo Baker’s high school.
Now, Tyrell Dortch played forward at Proctor Academy in New Hampshire long before recent Rutgers standout Baker walked those halls, but New England hoops is a small world. T.J. Thompson, who coached and mentored Baker in AAU before joining Rutgers’ coaching staff (Thompson played college ball under Steve Pikiell, who was then an assistant at George Washington), knows the New England prep scene like the back of his hand. He made an early connection with the Dortch family and developed a rapport with them that bore fruit.
Tyrell Dortch was a 6-5 forward who contributed off the bench on two NCAA Tournament squads at Division 2 St. Anselm in 2005 and 2006 (he shot 65 percent from the field as a senior in 2006). So there’s college basketball in the bloodlines.
That’s two connections Thompson has parlayed into commitments this spring. The first was 2024 center Lathan Sommerville, whose father played pro ball with Thompson overseas. Entering his fifth season on the staff and third as a full assistant, Thompson as proven to be a valuable asset on the recruiting trail and in the film room.
2. He’s a combo forward.
At 6-8 and 190 pounds, Bryce Dortch is listed as a power forward by 247 Sports (which ranks him as the 139th prospect in 2024), a small forward by On3 (which ranks him 151st) and a small forward by Rivals (which ranks him 125th and rates him four stars). He chose Rutgers over Virginia Tech and Temple and also took an official visit to Marquette.
Rutgers’ staff sees him as a versatile stopper who can provide a defensive range similar to that of current Scarlet Knights lockdown forward Mawot Mag, who can defend three positions at a high level.
In December, the authoritative New England Recruiting Report wrote: “Bryce Dortch’s blend of 6’8 size, fluidity covering the court, and glimpses handling in transition give him an immense ceiling.” And this from January: “Dortch is a hybrid forward with ball skills, bounce, and an ability to cover the court like few others his size.”
3. The 2024 class is coming together.
Dortch and Sommerville join five-star wing Ace Bailey in Rutgers’ 2024 haul, with all eyes on top-ranked guard Dylan Harper of Don Bosco Prep, who likely will announce next month -- with Rutgers as a strong candidate. This could end up being the No. 1 class in the country next year.
Although Bailey and Harper earn the lion’s share of attention, Dortch can provide underrated value to a program in the long view because the NBA probably won’t be banging down his door after one season on the banks. Plus his position versatility gives Pikiell flexibility when approaching the welcome problem of finding the most effective combinations on a talented roster.
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. He is an Associated Press Top 25 voter. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Rutgers basketball lands Bryce Dortch, Class of 2024 forward
