2025 Four-Star guard Dorian Jones commits to Rutgers Basketball
Rutgers Basketball will welcome a familiar face to its 2025-26 roster.
2025 Four-Star Dorian Jones committed to the program this week, giving the Scarlet Knights 14 players on the roster in the midst of the team’s summer practices. Seven of those players are incoming freshmen.
Jones had originally committed to Ohio State a year ago, but he requested to be released from his National Letter of Intent in June.
The 6-foot-4, 160-pound shooting guard currently sits as the 93rd-ranked recruit in the 2025 class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He becomes the highest-rated commit of the Scarlet Knights’ class.
Rutgers first offered Jones in 2023, and he later took an official visit in April of 2024. At the time of his original commitment to the Buckeyes, Jones had narrowed down his finalists to Ohio State, Rutgers, Michigan, and Missouri.
“[Rutgers] wants me to be the foundation for the 2025 class,” said Jones after his official visit last year. “They want me to bring my defensive energy. I can pretty much guard all five spots on the floor. They emphasize getting stronger and packing some weight on for me. I speak with Coach Pike and Coach Smoke (assistant coach Marlon Williamson) often.”
He was initially considered a Scarlet Knights lean for much of his initial recruitment, even heading into the final days before he opted to commit to Ohio State.
Jones played his high school basketball at Richmond Heights, and was also a standout guard for All-Ohio Red on the EYBL Circuit.
Rutgers Basketball’s Upcoming Roster & Lineup
Jones becomes the seventh freshman addition for Rutgers, with the class nearly doubling in size since the end of the 2024-25 season. He joins Harun Zrno and Denis Badalau as spring commits, as well as Kaden Powers, Chris Nwuli, Gevonte Ware, and Lino Mark as the incoming freshmen.
Adding Jones late in the cycle changes plenty for the upcoming season. He adds some size and defensive chops in the backcourt, an element missing from the roster without him. That looms particularly large considering head coach Steve Pikiell’s shift back towards his traditional philosophy of winning through defense, relying on length at the guard and wing spots.
Jones’ wingspan and defensive instincts will help the Scarlet Knights immediately in the short term, and can also add a scoring boost. While Rutgers’ current roster still lacks a proven top scorer for Big Ten play, Jones gives the team another option with his skillset.
Adding seven freshmen in one cycle is a risky endeavor, especially in the modern age of the transfer portal, but Jones has arguably the highest ceiling of any incoming first-year for the Scarlet Knights, and will have a chance to play early on.
Rutgers Basketball’s current roster (with years of eligibility remaining):
Guards: Jamichael Davis (two years), Tariq Francis (two years), Lino Mark (four years), Kaden Powers (four years), Harun Zrno (four years), Dorian Jones (four years)
Forwards: Darren Buchanan Jr. (two years), Dylan Grant (three years), Bryce Dortch (three years), Chris Nwuli (four years), Denis Badalau (four years)
Centers: Emmanuel Ogbole (one year), Baye Fall (two years), Gevonte Ware (four years)
What They’re Saying
“Dorian Jones’ reputation is as a shot maker and a defensive stopper. On the defensive end, he uses his plus wingspan to get in the passing lanes and he has quick feet which he uses to guard in the open floor.
Offensively, Jones is still developing. He is a streaky shooter as his shooting base can get knocked off center when he shoots off movement or steps into a shot. His release can also flatten out off the catch. He fills the lanes quickly in transition and attacks the rim with purpose in the open floor.
Would like to see him continue to develop his handle in the half-court, as well as his decision making with the ball in his hands. Jones has played on a big stage for some time now, and he has continued to answer the call. There is some twitchy athleticism in there and some of his flashes are intriguing. Now it’s about finding consistency and developing his skill set.” – Jamie Shaw, On3 Senior National Recruiting Analyst
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