Could Nikkei Rutty hold key for Monmouth basketball this season? Plus, scrimmage update

WEST LONG BRANCH – As J.R. Reid made his way towards the locker room with a group of players and coaches after Monday’s practice, the Monmouth assistant coach’s baritone voice suddenly cut through the quietness inside OceanFirst Bank Center.

“Did you see Nikkei’s jump hook looked like a young Marvin Webster today,” said Reid, conjuring up the memories of the former NBA standout who spent seven seasons with the New York Knicks (1978-84).

“I like to pull out old big guys, and he’ll never know who they are.”

Dated as the reference may have been, the point was well taken because senior forward Nikkei Rutty had clearly shown up on the practice floor. The hook Reid spoke of was an 8-footer spinning towards the baseline, while a drive down the lane and a twisting move inside also proved memorable.

It was in sharp contrast to the past few seasons, when Monmouth, without a true big man, was using the 6-8 Rutty as a center. Now, with the arrival of 6-11 graduate transfer Walker Miller from North Carolina, Rutty’s shift back to his more normal position at forward has helped his game blossom.

“He is getting more touches where he can be successful scoring the ball,” Monmouth head coach King Rice said. “Before his back was to the basket, we’re trying to get it to him, he’s turning into big old guys, and it’s hard for him.

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“Well, now he’s not playing with his back to the basket. He’s on the move, he’s catching, he’s dunking it, offensive rebounding, and then when he gets it he has a guy on him who’s his size. Well now his confidence is through the roof scoring the ball.”

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Rutty averaged 4.3 points and a team-best 5.1 rebounds last season, as the Hawks went 12-8, earning a share of the MAAC regular-season title.

“In high school I always went between the four and five, but I’m a natural four,” Rutty said. “I don’t mind going out and guarding bigger guys, but I feel like it this will be better for me offensive and defensively.”

Within a starting lineup expected to include Rutty and Miller in the frontcourt, along with Seton Hall transfer Shavar Reynolds at point guard along with George Papas and Marcus McClary in the backcourt, Rutty’s ability to score and defend will be critical.

“He was playing the five spot, when he was the size and skillset of a four man,” Rice said. “You throw him in against 6-11, 6-10, 6-10, he’s 6-8, 6-7, then you lose your confidence. You lose some of the stuff that he can naturally do. Well now he is at the four, so what we ask him to do is be great on the switches, rebound like crazy, run the floor and make some room down there to do some stuff. He’s much more comfortable in that.

“Nikkei is a great defender and now you run him out there with Marcus and Shavar and now you have three all-league defenders. You can do a lot of stuff with that.”

Scrimmage update

Monmouth hosted St. Francis Brooklyn for a scrimmage Saturday, and Rice seemed pleased with what he saw from the top of his rotation.

“I told my staff after about 14 minutes, ‘I wish it was over now because I’ve seen enough of what I needed to see. It can only go downhill from here,’ ” Rice said.

“I thought we looked good for about 17 minutes out of the 40. I saw a lot of good stuff with the main guys. I left the young guys in for a little while just to see, and it got a little close and it ended up being a really, really tight game. But it was so good for our team and our staff. Now we have tape and now the kids can see the games are different that practice.”

Last week, Rice noted that he was particularly interested in seeing how the team’s collection of freshmen and sophomores fared during the scrimmage.

“They need some more time. I think they can do it for a short period of time,” Rice said.

“Because of the makeup of our team, with five guys 22, 23-years-old, you’re not going to use the freshman like in other years, but we will get them some minutes.”

Injury updates

Point guard Samuel Chaput and forward Jarvis Vaughan have been sidelined with leg injuries and did not participate in the scrimmage.

“I think (Chaput) has a better chance that Jarvis to be ready for the start of the season,” Rice said. “He is  starting to run. Jarvis, we need him to be ready. He adds energy, rebounding, shooting, toughness, defense. And I felt like he was starting to get it, how he carries himself, how to be a big time MAAC basketball player, and then he got injured again. So we’re counting on him. We can’t wait for him to get healthy, but I also will wait until the trainer tells me they are ready.”

Father vs. son

When Monmouth hosts Bucknell in a closed scrimmage Saturday, Rice will go against his son, Alexander, a junior guard with the Bisons.   

“I think it’s going to be a real cool day,” Rice said. “Those kids stay at my house all the time when they come home with Xander, so I know them well and Xander knows all our players. It should be a lot of fun. Hopefully me and Xander won’t get into it.”

Rice has made it clear he has no interest in scheduling Bucknell for a regular season game while his son is playing there.

“It’s hard enough with a scrimmage,” Rice said. “Guys are talking trash. I’m competitive, he’s competitive.  I’m going after him as hard as any guard we go after this year, and I told him that. Because I want him to be ready to see anything that comes at him this season.”