Nov 13 | Men's Basketball
Men's Basketball Signs Four-Star Forward Brandon Woodard to 2027 Class
Signed. Sealed. Scarlet. ??Four-star forward Brandon Woodard is officially a Scarlet Knight ????? Glenarden, Md.?? 6-10 | Forward?? No. 52 nationally (ESPN)?? Bishop McNamara | Team Durant??https://t.co/oUEo8FOUt5?#RutgersTough https://t.co/0GihJ1KOb7
— Rutgers Men’s Basketball ?? (@RutgersMBB) November 13, 2026
High-flying 6-foot-10 forward from Maryland powerhouse Bishop McNamara signs with RU
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Rutgers men's basketball has officially added four-star forward Brandon Woodard to its 2027 recruiting class, the program announced Friday.
A 6-foot-10, 210-pound senior from Glenarden, Md., who plays at Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md., Woodard verbally committed to the Scarlet Knights in late September following an official visit to Piscataway, choosing Rutgers over Georgetown, Mississippi State and Providence.
"It fits my play style well, and the coaches really believe in me," Woodard said. "It just felt like the best fit. It felt like home as soon as I stepped into the gym, even on my unofficial visit last year."
A top-100 prospect, Woodard is ranked No. 52 nationally by ESPN and No. 97 nationally, No. 19 among power forwards and No. 3 in Maryland by 247Sports. He is also ranked in the Rivals150.
Woodard spent the summer with Team Durant on the Nike EYBL circuit, averaging 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists over 15 games. Scouts have singled out his athleticism as his calling card — an explosive leaper who thrives in transition, finishes above the rim and projects as a disruptive defender in passing lanes.
I'm a high-energy, passionate player. I do the dirty work and get everything done. I'm a very exciting player to watch.Brandon Woodard
Woodard said it was the people who sealed his decision.
"The players were really down to earth," he said. "We went out to Topgolf and we were all interacting. That's when I knew this might be the best school for me."
He also credited his relationship with assistant coach TJ Thompson, who has been on the Rutgers staff since 2019 and served as lead recruiter for all three members of the 2027 class.
"Coach TJ, that's my dog," Woodard said. "I feel like he wants the best for me. He's going to push me to my limit and get me to the next level where I want to go."
Woodard has already crossed paths with his future classmates on the court.
"I've played against both of them. Both great competitors," Woodard said. "We're trying to get to March Madness and bring home a national championship."
"He may be the best athlete in the entire class," Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell said. "Just tremendous upside. He shoots the ball, runs and jumps. He's still growing into his body. He knows how to play. A really versatile wing. He's the best athlete we've signed here in a while."
Woodard's elite skill is dunking the basketball, and he spoke confidently about his ability.
“If it’s a 6-footer, 7-footer, 8-footer or anyone under the rim, they are going to get put in the rim with the ball,” Woodard said.
Off the court, Woodard draws and plays the piano. He began his high school career at Lanham Christian before transferring to Bishop McNamara, where he is expected to be a focal point for the Mustangs in the WCAC this winter.
Asked for his message to Rutgers Nation ahead of his arrival next fall, Woodard kept it simple: "They've got a dog coming. I'm ready to compete and willing to do whatever they need."
BRANDON WOODARD – RECRUITING RANKINGS
- ESPN: No. 52 nationally
- 247Sports: No. 97 nationally, No. 19 among power forwards and No. 3 in Maryland
- Rivals: ranked in the 2027 Rivals150
- Program history: No. 8 on Rutgers’ all-time list of 247Sports Composite commits
Gallery: Brandon Woodard Signs with RU
Four-Star Guard R.J. Moore Signs with Rutgers Men's Basketball
Signed. Sealed. Scarlet. ??Four-star guard RJ Moore is officially a Scarlet Knight ????? Charlotte, N.C.?? 6-7 | Guard?? No. 42 nationally (ESPN)?? State champion??https://t.co/oUEo8FPsiD#RutgersTough https://t.co/KetRkPXJUM
— Rutgers Men’s Basketball ?? (@RutgersMBB) November 12, 2026
Charlotte-area sharpshooter and state champion is among the highest-rated high school signees in program history
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men's basketball has signed four-star guard R.J. Moore to a National Letter of Intent, head coach Steve Pikiell announced. Moore, a 6-foot-7, 190-pound senior at Ambassador Christian School in Charlotte, North Carolina, will join the Scarlet Knights for the 2027-28 season.
Moore is ranked No. 42 nationally by ESPN, making him the fourth-highest-ranked Rutgers recruit since ESPN's database began in 2007, and No. 44 in the Rivals150. He chose Rutgers over finalists Alabama, Texas Tech, Utah, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest after an official visit to Piscataway in September.
"R.J. is a versatile, multi-positional scorer, and he's really good," Pikiell said. "He shoots the ball and he knows how to play. He has good size, deep range, a post-up game and toughness. He's a true three-level scorer. He also comes from a great basketball family. His dad was a great player, so RJ has basketball in his genes. I think he's a top-25 player in the country. He just had a 40-point game, and by the end of the year I think he could be a McDonald's All-American, or close to it. We love him, and we're thrilled to have him at Rutgers."
Moore has been a standout since his sophomore season, when he hit a buzzer-beating game-winner in overtime of the North Carolina state championship game to cap a 27-3 season. That title came one year after his team lost the state championship game on a foul call with two seconds left.
"We knew we had something to prove," Moore said. "We were down like 10 at halftime, came out, started scoring and made it a game. We went into overtime, got the ball with 10 seconds, held it for a second and got the game-winner. I definitely can't forget that experience."
Moore is the son of Ricky Moore, a former point guard at UConn, where Pikiell also played. Moore first heard from Rutgers in 10th grade and said the program's steady contact through his recruitment and his official visit sealed his decision.
Right when I got to Rutgers, I just knew it could be home. This is where I needed to be and this is where I wanted to be. The situation is great and it fits my game, so I definitely think Rutgers is the perfect choice for me.R.J. Moore
Moore credits his father, who was a standout player at the University of Connecticut, with shaping his approach to the game. His father, Ricky, was a co-captain of UConn’s first national championship men’s team in 1999 and has obvious connections with Pikiell, who was UConn head coach Jim Calhoun's first recruit at the university.
"My dad has always been by my side, always coaching me and always making me go hard," Moore said. "Good or bad games, he's going to tell me what I did good and what I did bad. I think that's a big piece of who I am today. I've always been around the game, and I took everything I've seen and put it into my game as much as possible."
Moore joins a program that has recently produced two top-five NBA Draft picks in Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, and he says he plans to make his own mark.
"It means a lot," Moore said. "It's all the hard work and dedication I've put in. I definitely want to make a mark when I get to Rutgers. I want people to remember who I am, and it's definitely a blessing."
Moore said he brings shooting, scoring and a will to win to the Scarlet Knights.
"I'm a three-level scorer," Moore said. "My biggest strength is my shooting, being able to get to my spot and catch-and-shoot. I'm going to give my all and play as hard as possible every single game. Rutgers is getting a player that wants to win, wants to help turn the program around and get to March Madness."
He also had a message for Scarlet Knights fans.
"Coming to Rutgers is a dream come true," Moore said. "I get to play for a great fan base at a great school. I want to tell Rutgers Nation that I'm going to do everything in my power to get to March Madness and help us get these wins."
RJ MOORE – RECRUITING RANKINGS
- ESPN: No. 42 nationally; fourth-highest-ranked Rutgers recruit since ESPN's database began in 2007
- Rivals: No. 44 nationally (Rivals150)
- Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 47 nationally
- 247Sports: No. 61 nationally, No. 14 among shooting guards and No. 2 in North Carolina
- Program history: No. 5 on Rutgers’ all-time list of 247Sports Composite commits
Gallery: R.J. Moore Signs with RU
