Rutgers Basketball Transfers Shine in Season Openers, Score Big Wins

UPDATE: Former Rutgers basketball players made an impressive impact in their new teams’ season openers on Monday, setting the stage for an exciting 2025-26 season. Center Lathan Sommerville and guards Jordan Derkack and Jeremiah Williams each contributed to their teams’ victories, showcasing their talents right out of the gate.

In a dominating performance, Jordan Derkack helped Dayton secure an 88-48 victory over Canisius. Despite only scoring 3 points with a shooting line of 0-of-1 from the field, he tallied four assists, three steals, and one rebound in just 17 minutes off the bench.

Meanwhile, Jeremiah Williams made his mark with 7 points for Georgetown in their 87-70 win against Morgan State. Williams shot 2-of-4 from the field, including 1-of-3 from beyond the arc, contributing three assists and two turnovers in 19 minutes.

Not to be outdone, Lathan Sommerville impressed in his debut for Washington, scoring 9 points in a commanding 94-50 win over Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Despite struggling with his shooting at 1-of-5, Sommerville excelled at the free-throw line, sinking 7-of-8, while also grabbing five rebounds in 20 minutes.

In addition, Antwone Woolfolk, formerly of Rutgers, had a standout game for Miami of Ohio, scoring 12 points on an impressive 6-of-8 shooting performance in their 87-72 victory against Old Dominion. Woolfolk dominated the paint, notching five rebounds along with one assist and one steal in 25 minutes as a starter.

Another notable performance came from Derek Simpson with Saint Joseph’s. He scored 11 points in an 85-76 win over Lafayette, contributing five rebounds and five assists while playing 32 minutes as a starter.

As the excitement builds, the remaining former Scarlet Knights, Gavin Griffiths and Antonio Chol, are set to make their season debuts on Wednesday as Temple faces Delaware State and New Mexico takes on East Texas A&M. Fans are eagerly anticipating how these players will perform after their transitions.

With the 2025-26 season now underway, all eyes are on the former Rutgers players as they strive to make their mark on their new teams. Will they continue to shine? Stay tuned for more updates on their journey!