Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Maryland has been searching for a coach, while Rutgers has an associate head coach with deep ties to the DC Assault AAU program.
In the end, both factors likely contributed to this verdict: Judge has ruled for Rutgers.
Wally Judge, a 6-foot-9, 245-pound power forward from Washington, D.C., will transfer to the New Jersey school from Kansas State.
While Maryland on Monday announced the hiring of former Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon to replace the retired Gary Williams, Judge has known Rutgers associate head coach David Cox since he was in “ninth or 10th grade” when he played with DC Assault.
“It’s a major thing,” Judge said last week. “It’s always nice to have somebody at a place where you can trust him, who understands how you are on and off the court.”
Judge knew Rutgers guard Austin Carroll going in to his visit and said he felt a bond with the Rutgers players.
“I feel like a lot of the guys on the team was city guys,” he said. “That’s a breath of fresh air. Basically they were off the East Coast just like me. A lot of things like team chemistry we can relate. They have guys from all over. At the same time, it’s on the East Coast. The whole city has a comfortable surrounding.”
A former McDonald’s All-American at Arlington (Fla.) Country Day, Judge averaged 5.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 15.2 minutes at Kansas State. He played in 17 games (11 starts) last season after averaging 3.3 points and three rebounds in 36 games as a freshman.
He will have to sit out next season per NCAA transfer regulations and will suit up for the 2012-13 season.
With Rutgers already at the limit of 13 scholarships, point guard Tyree Graham will be placed on medical hardship, sources with knowledge said.
The North Carolina native ruptured his Achilles’ tendon in early April and will miss next season after already sitting out last year with a torn ACL.
In 2012, Judge will join a frontcourt that includes current freshman Gilvydas Biruta and incoming bigs Greg Lewis and Kadeem Jack.Jordan Goodman, a 6-9 forward and another DC assault product, has also committed for 2012.
“Life never goes on a straight road,” Judge said of his time at Kansas State. “You gotta take some turns to get where you’re going
“I love Manhattan, Kansas, I love Kansas State. Me making this move is just another turn in my life on the road to my destination.”
(Photo courtesy Kansas City Star)
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
Maryland has been searching for a coach, while Rutgers has an associate head coach with deep ties to the DC Assault AAU program.
In the end, both factors likely contributed to this verdict: Judge has ruled for Rutgers.
Wally Judge, a 6-foot-9, 245-pound power forward from Washington, D.C., will transfer to the New Jersey school from Kansas State.
While Maryland on Monday announced the hiring of former Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon to replace the retired Gary Williams, Judge has known Rutgers associate head coach David Cox since he was in “ninth or 10th grade” when he played with DC Assault.
“It’s a major thing,” Judge said last week. “It’s always nice to have somebody at a place where you can trust him, who understands how you are on and off the court.”
Judge knew Rutgers guard Austin Carroll going in to his visit and said he felt a bond with the Rutgers players.
“I feel like a lot of the guys on the team was city guys,” he said. “That’s a breath of fresh air. Basically they were off the East Coast just like me. A lot of things like team chemistry we can relate. They have guys from all over. At the same time, it’s on the East Coast. The whole city has a comfortable surrounding.”
A former McDonald’s All-American at Arlington (Fla.) Country Day, Judge averaged 5.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 15.2 minutes at Kansas State. He played in 17 games (11 starts) last season after averaging 3.3 points and three rebounds in 36 games as a freshman.
He will have to sit out next season per NCAA transfer regulations and will suit up for the 2012-13 season.
With Rutgers already at the limit of 13 scholarships, point guard Tyree Graham will be placed on medical hardship, sources with knowledge said.
The North Carolina native ruptured his Achilles’ tendon in early April and will miss next season after already sitting out last year with a torn ACL.
In 2012, Judge will join a frontcourt that includes current freshman Gilvydas Biruta and incoming bigs Greg Lewis and Kadeem Jack.
Jordan Goodman, a 6-9 forward and another DC assault product, has also committed for 2012.
“Life never goes on a straight road,” Judge said of his time at Kansas State. “You gotta take some turns to get where you’re going
“I love Manhattan, Kansas, I love Kansas State. Me making this move is just another turn in my life on the road to my destination.”
(Photo courtesy Kansas City Star)
