Rutgers basketball lands transfer at biggest position of need

Gurdak averaged 5.6 points on 63.2% shooting on twos and 69.6% on free throws, 4.4 rebounds, 0.4 blocks, 0.3 assists and 0.3 steals in 17 minutes per game across 31 appearances (10 starts) for the Hokies last season.

Against ACC competition, Gurdak averaged 5.7 points on 68.3% shooting (74.1% on free throws) at 3.3 field goal attempts per game, 4.6 rebounds, 0.4 steals, 0.3 assists and 0.2 blocks in 19.2 minutes per game across 18 appearances (eight starts).

Gurdak’s best performance came in a triple-overtime win over Virginia, where he scored 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting (3-of-7 on free throws) and grabbed 19 rebounds.

“He’s a dude who is all in and is going to be a guy that brings a toughness to the table that I don’t know that Rutgers has had over the last couple years,” Steve Turner, who coached Gurdak at Gonzaga High School, told NJ.com. “He is going to be a physical presence in the paint. He rebounds the heck of it, guards the heck out of it.”

Gurdak is a pure center who operates almost exclusively inside the arc and thrives offensively. He shot 65-of-91 at the rim (71.4%), including 56-of-81 (69.1%) on layups, and did not attempt a three-pointer last season. He also ranked 31st nationally in offensive rebounding rate (14.8% of his team’s missed shots when he’s on the floor).

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“He has an ability to score around a basket and has unbelievable touch,” Turner said. “In terms of his ability to share the ball, he has a great skill set. I think his underrated thing in his game is his passing. He does a really good job of making players around him better.”

Gurdak was not as impactful defensively. He had nearly as many steals (10) as blocks (12) in 529 minutes and recorded below-average defensive rebounding (15.4%) and block (2.5%) rates.

For comparison, Ogbole had an offensive rebounding rate of 15.3% (20th nationally), a defensive rebounding rate of 22.1% (87th nationally) and a block rate of 7.3% (67th nationally), logging 41 blocks in 645 minutes last season.

Rutgers now has 10 scholarships allotted for the 2026-27 season, meaning there are five open slots remaining. The priorities will be further reinforcing the forward and center positions — it currently has two at each spot — while ideally adding another high-level guard.

The Scarlet Knights have reportedly shown interest in Manhattan transfer Will Sydnor, who was not eligible last season due to academic reasons, and Quinnipiac center Amarri Monroe, who is awaiting an answer from the NCAA on his waiver for an extra year of eligibility.

Here is Rutgers’ current projected roster makeup entering the 2026-27 season (labeled by years of eligibility remaining; bolded are signed with program):

1 year - Tariq Francis (G), Darren Buchanan (F), Jamichael Davis (G).

2 years - Darin Smith (F).

3 years - Lino Mark (G), Kaden Powers (G), Christian Gurdak (C), Gevonte Ware (G).

4 years - Imahri Wooten (G)

Unknown - Lewis Duarte (G)

Guards (6): Tariq Francis, Jamichael Davis; Lino Mark, Kaden Powers; Lewis Duarte; Imahri Wooten.

Wings/Forwards (2): Darren Buchanan; Darin Smith.

Centers (2): Christian Gurdak, Gevonte Ware.

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