Rutgers Picks Up 2022 Point Guard Derek Simpson’s Verbal Commit

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights picked up a key 2022 recruit yesterday. Derek Simpson announced his official verbal commitment to Rutgers over social media Sunday afternoon.

A native of Medford, New Jersey, Simpson comes from Lenape High School. He is unranked by both 247Sports and Rivals, but is a two-star composite per ESPN’s composite ranking. He is also ranked the No. 13 player in the state in the Class of 2022 by PrepHoops. He may very well end up in the rankings nationally by the next update after an impressive junior seasons and summer play.

Simpson is listed at 6-foot-2 and his weight is unavailable. During his junior season, he averaged a team-high 20.6 points, 4.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.1 steals. In the season finale, Simpson scored a career-high 30 points and hit his school’s 1,000 point career club as well.

Simpson hosts an offer sheet that includes 12 total schools. No other Big Ten programs had extended an offer, but Iowa is reported to have shown some interest at one time. Other power-six programs included Arizona State and St. Joeseph’s. He also received offers from Bowling Green, Northeastern, Old Dominion, and St. Bonaventure.