Gary Redus II was driving to Virginia earlier this month, breaking up a ride that began in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Traveling is nothing out of the ordinary for the new head coach of the Rutgers women’s basketball program. Since he was hired in early March, Redus has signed seven transfers.
In two months, he has essentially filled half his roster.
Players who will start summer school later this month have arrived from Pittsburgh; Washington, D.C.; Mississippi; Louisiana; and Tennessee.
Among the newcomers are two former state high school players of the year and a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year. The transfers also include players who previously competed at Georgia, Kentucky, St. John’s, DePaul and Tennessee.
After four years as an assistant at LSU, along with stints at SMU and Vanderbilt, Redus didn’t waste time beginning to rebuild what was once a legendary program under Theresa Grentz and C. Vivian Stringer.
When Coquese Washington was fired after four years (1-17 in the Big Ten last season), Redus was pulled away from LSU coach Kim Mulkey.
A terrific recruiter by any measure, this is his first job leading a program.
He has traveled many miles to pull this off. But that is only half the roster, as a half-dozen players chose to return for another season on the Banks.
His quick overhaul of the roster was previewed at his introductory news conference two months ago, when he said: “Get your tickets right now, because soon, I’m telling you, there won’t be a lot of them available. We’re going to turn it around, and we’re going to do it quickly.”
“I think ‘quick’ is relative,” he said from his car, somewhere on Route 95. “There are different parts of turning a program around. Part one is building a competitive roster. I think it’s going to be tough getting tickets because we’re going to have success very soon. What does success look like? I’m not sure. But I do think we’ll be successful this year.”
“It’s a process. It’s the same process every year. With a background as a recruiter, the portal becomes an all-season process. I won’t say it’s easier, but you get used to the rigmarole. You go down your board and try to get the players you want right away. There were others we tried to land but weren’t successful with, but the beauty is in the pivot.
“I can get stubborn recruiting, and I know that about myself,” he added with a laugh. “There were a couple of players I really wanted, but when it wasn’t happening, you have to go in a different direction.”
The goal was to build a roster that can compete in the Big Ten. With that in mind, he brought in several guards and frontcourt players (6-1, 6-2, 6-5). There is clearly an upgrade in athleticism and experience.
But not to be forgotten are the six players who decided to return.
“I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the newcomers, and that’s important,” Redus said. “But for me, I’m making sure everyone knows this team isn’t built on transfers. We’re excited about the players who stayed. The fact that they would give me a chance. It isn’t about who scored the most points or had the most rebounds. I’m big on energy, and I’m ecstatic they stayed because I feel like they fit who I am as a person, who I am as a coach, and what we want Rutgers to look like as a program.”
Summer school begins later this month under the NCAA’s eight-week summer program. Time will be split between the gym, strength and conditioning, and opportunities for players to get comfortable with one another.
That doesn’t mean Redus will have time to relax. His house is for sale, and he is still packing while making frequent flights between Louisiana and New Jersey. With the signing period over, at least he won’t have to spend hours on the phone.
He will also continue adjusting to his new state.
“It’s a completely different region,” he said. “I think when you come from the South, people have preconceived notions about other places. People told me that people from Jersey wouldn’t receive you well. I don’t agree. Everyone has been welcoming — warm and friendly.”
“The area has a very homey feeling,” he added. “The people, and the food, are winning me over. I’m good.”
He expects his team will be as well.
Rutgers women’s basketball newcomers
Jaylah Lamplay, a sophomore transfer from Mississippi State. The 2024 Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year, she was ranked No. 37 in the Class of 2025 by ESPNW. A 6-1 wing, she scored in double figures in 12 games last season and earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors after posting 24 points and 10 rebounds against Samford.
Zennia Thomas, a graduate student. A 6-2 forward from Cleveland, she began her career at Kentucky before playing two seasons at Howard, where she was Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year while averaging 15.2 points and 7.9 rebounds.
Fatima Diakhate, a 6-5 redshirt senior who most recently played at Pitt after two seasons at Georgia. She averaged 9.4 points per game while shooting 56% from the field and 71% on free throws. The Senegal native grabbed 16 rebounds in games against Notre Dame and Florida State.
Tara Daye, a 5-10 guard from Newark who has played for St. John’s, DePaul and Purdue. Now a redshirt senior, she averaged 12.4 points and 6.5 rebounds at Purdue while shooting 47%. She also had 73 assists and 37 steals.
Chikac Desdunes, a 5-9 freshman from New Orleans. A combo guard, she was ranked No. 51 nationally by ESPNW.
Mia and Mya Pauldo, twins who transferred after one season at Tennessee. Graduates of Morris Catholic, they combined to score more than 3,700 career points in high school while leading their teams to a 109-6 record. Mia was the New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year, a McDonald’s All American and ranked No. 7 by ESPNW. Mya was ranked No. 57 nationally. Mia averaged 10.5 points in the SEC, with 67 assists, shot 85% from the free-throw line and earned All-SEC Freshman Team honors.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Rutgers women’s basketball roster sees Gary Redus add 7 transfers