PISCATAWAY, N.J.  - The Rutgers University Men's Basketball Program, under the leadership of second-year head coach Fred Hill, today announced that Mike Rosario (Jersey City, N.J./St. Anthony's), Christian Morris (Bronx, N.Y./South Kent School) and Patrick Jackson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Boys & Girls) have signed National Letters of Intent to compete for the Scarlet Knights. All three signees are rated among the top 25 prospects at their respective positions nationally, including Rosario, who was cited as the country's 18^th overall player by ESPN..

"We are very excited about this year's recruiting class," said Hill. "To sign three young men of this caliber out of strong, national programs in the region, goes directly to our philosophy of bringing in the best student-athletes in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia to build the Rutgers program. We are extremely pleased to welcome them into the Rutgers basketball family.

"Our three signees definitely bring a lot to the table. They all bring something different, but are all high-energy players that have an opportunity to have an impact in our program right away."

The three recruits all hail from the Metro area and will arrive "On The Banks" after competing at some of the nation's most successful and storied programs. St. Anthony's has captured two national championships (1989, 1996), 24 state championships, and nine Tournament of Champions titles under head coach Bob Hurley, Sr. South Kent (Conn.), under the leadership of Raphael Chillious, is ranked No. 6 nationally in the Scout.com 2007-08 preseason prep poll and has produced current NBA players Andray Blatche and Dorell Wright. Boys and Girls, under the direction of Ruth Lovelace, advanced to the PSAL Class AA Championship last year and produced legendary players Lenny Wilkens, Connie Hawkins and Pearl Washington.

"It is significant to bring in players that are extremely well-coached and that have competed against top competition in big games," said Hill. "Young men that play at an elevated level in high school or prep school gain valuable experience that enables them to be more prepared for the BIG EAST."

The signings complement Hill's first recruiting class at Rutgers in 2007, which also had a regional flavor and an abundance of national accolades. Newark native Corey Chandler was rated nation's 10th-best guard prospect by Rivals, Mount Vernon (N.Y.) High School alum Mike Coburn was cited as the country's No. 12 point guard recruit by Scout.com, Philadelphia native Earl Pettis was the 37th-ranked small forward nationally by Scout.com and West Milford product Justin Sofman was rated as the nation's 21st-best fifth-year player by Hoop Scoop. Chandler scored 16 points in the season opener versus Tennessee Tech, the most by a Rutgers freshman in a season opener since 1993, and enters Saturday's game at Florida as the first Scarlet Knight rookie since 1996-97 to score in double-figures in his first three career games.

The Scarlet Knight are a perfect 3-0 after defeating Tennessee Tech (70-64), North Dakota State (79-67) and North Carolina Central (73-48) at the RAC as part of the Blue Ribbon Challenge. Rutgers final game of the tournament will take place Saturday evening (7:00 p.m.) against the two-time defending national champion Gators in Gainesville.

Mike Rosario
6-2, 170 / Guard
Jersey City, N.J. / St. Anthony's High School

ROSARIO

Scholastic: The 18th rated overall prospect in the nation by ESPN/Scouts, Inc and 19th by Hoop Scoop…Also ranked by ESPN/Scouts, Inc. as the country's fifth-best shooting guard recruit…A Sporting News High Honorable Mention High School All-American who was the only non-senior on the 2007 Associated Press New Jersey First Team All-State squad…Averaged 15.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.5 assists as a junior for the Friars, who finished 28-1 and reached the North Non-Public B title game under head coach Bob Hurley, Sr…A Newark Star-Ledger Second Team All-State, First Team All-Non Public and First Team All-Junior selection in 2007…Plays for the Playaz AAU team and earned IS8 First Team All-Tournament honors in October 2007, while also receiving the event's sportsmanship award…Competed at the 2007 NBPA Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, Va. with fellow Rutgers signee Christian Morris…Started multiple seasons at Saint Anthony's, which is regarded as one of the nation's premier basketball programs and was recently the subject of the book, The Miracle Of Saint Anthony's…Hurley, who enters the 2007-08 season having led the Friars to a 901-101 record, two national championships (1989, 1996), 24 state championships, and nine TOC titles, is the Garden State's winningest high school coach…All but one of his players has gone on to college, including 100+ players receiving college scholarships and five becoming NBA first-round draft picks…Current Rutgers assistant coach Darren Savino was a member of the Friars' 1989 USA Today national championship team under Hurley…Six 2007-08 SAHS seniors signed national letters of intent with Division I programs.

Personal: Born November 2, 1990…Son of Joanne Rosario.

Hill on Rosario: "Mike is one of the better shooters I have seen in the last 27 years of coaching. He is going to remind some people at Rutgers of Quincy Douby. He can really shoot the basketball, but he is more than just a shooter.  He is very athletic and is a 'heady' player that defends. Mike also has great instincts and feel for the game. This is a young man that can step in right away and have a major impact."

Christian Morris
6-9, 270 / Center
Bronx, N.Y. / South Kent (Conn.) School

MORRIS

Scholastic: A 2007 Sporting News Honorable Mention High School All-American rated as the nation's No. 24 center prospect by Scout.com…Is entering his third season at South Kent under head coach Raphael Chillious after previously playing at Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn…A Hoop Scoop Class of 2008 First Team All-New England choice…Competed at the 2007 NBPA Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, Va. with fellow Rutgers signee Mike Rosario…Was named MVP of the prestigious Eastern Invitational Camp in the summer of 2007, an event featuring 800 players…Nicknamed "The Beast," he gained notoriety on the national scene in the summer of 2006 after shattering a pair of backboards, including one at the Nike Peach Jam that made several highlight films…Plays AAU basketball for Team Takeover…Previously competed for the Metro Hawks, and was a teammate of current Scarlet Knight Mike Coburn…South Kent, one of the nation's premier prep programs, is ranked No. 6 nationally in the Scout.com 2007-08 preseason poll and has produced current NBA players Andray Blatche and Dorell Wright.

Personal: Born June 30, 1988…Son of Rhonda Morris.         

Hill on Morris: "Christian has a phenomenal upside. The sky is the limit. He is an athletic wide body with great hands and feet. I think Christian's best basketball is ahead of him. He can rebound, he can score and he is a physical presence down low on the blocks and in the post. Christian has the chance to be as good as he wants to be."

Patrick Jackson
6-6, 200 / Forward
Brooklyn. N.Y. / Boys & Girls

JACKSON

Scholastic: One of the top players in the New York PSAL…The nation's 25th-rated small forward prospect according to ESPN/Scouts, Inc…Plays for head coach Ruth Lovelace at Boys & Girls HS, one of the city's most storied programs…Previously competed at Xaverian HS, earning CHSAA All-Class AA accolades…Averaged 15.2 points, eight rebounds and three assists as a junior…Was selected as MVP of the 2007 Eastern Invitational All-Star Game…Plays AAU basketball for United Brooklyn…Boys and Girls has produced legendary players Lenny Wilkens, Connie Hawkins and Pearl Washington…Lovelace led Boys & Girls to the 2007 Class AA New York City Public School title game, becoming the first woman to reach the league's championship.

Personal: Born June 5, 1990…Son of Kevin Jackson and Nicola Kelly.

Hill on Jackson: "Pat is very versatile and has the opportunity to do some really great things in our system, because he can score the basketball. He is one of those guys that plays with a chip on his shoulder, in a good way. He wants to be a great player. He can put it on the floor and he can knock it down from the three. Pat is a 'slasher' who rebounds for his size and runs the floor terrific in transition. With his well-rounded game, he will be able to do a lot of things."