BY ZACH SMART
As soon as June 15th arrived, there was nary a dull moment for PSA Cardinals and Class of 2028 Williston Northhampton (MA) guard/wing Kingsley Rogers.
On the first official day when college coaches can directly contact rising juniors, the Long Island native heard from a vast array of Division-I coaches throughout the country.
A long, 6-foot-7 multi-layered scoring threat in the midst of a breakout spring, Rodgers heard from Rutgers, Marquette, Baylor, Hofstra, Auburn, Utah, Air Force, Syracuse, Buffalo, Marist, Fairfield, Siena, and several others.
“The first school that texted me was Rutgers,” said Kingsley.
“Rutgers and Buffalo, they were the first schools to reach out. Then, they rest of them came in. It’s just a great feeling. It’s definitely a blessing.”
Auburn and Baylor were two of the high major programs which Rogers said he was stoked to hear from.
Baylor has special resonance with the emergent stock riser.
His mother, Danielle Wilson, is the all time leader in blocked shots at Baylor (210 for her career).
She is the first ever McDonald’s All American to play at Baylor, following an illustrious career as a 2,000+ point scorer at St. John The Baptist (NY).
Kingsley’s father, Kevin Rogers, was an All Big 12 Selection and is the fifth player in Baylor’s history to score 1,000+ points and grab 800+ boards.
“My father was a different player than I am because he was more in the post,” said Kingsley Rogers.
The PSA Cardinals boasts a torrent of college-ready talent, with significant performances from national stock risers such as Long Island Lutheran’s Moussa Kamissoko and electrifying 2027 point guard Micah Gordon.
Now, Kingsley is garnering national visibility across the recruiting market.
Growing up on Bay Shore in Long Island, Rogers said he was happy to hear from Hofstra following a historic year in which they made the NCAA tournament.
In Williston Northhampton, Rogers plays at the alma mater of Preston Edmead.
Edmead, of course, had a breakout season at Hofstra, becoming a national headliner as a big shot maker. He has since transferred to NC State.
“It was great to see what Preston did this past year, especially being from Long Island,” Rogers said.
“He grew up 10 minutes from where I live. I’m super excited to see him continue his career at NC State.”
While Rogers’ uniqueness as a reliable outside shooter and crafty finisher has been noteworthy, his defensive versatility is what makes him an attractive recruit.
“I feel I can guard the 1-5,” Rogers said.
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