The refrain is the same from coaches across nearly every Rutgers sport: Recruiting starts at home in New Jersey, with the 482 high schools located in the state.
Some live it more than others, like football did by inking 18 in-staters on 2017 National Signing Day. Or baseball, with 31 New Jersey natives on the roster. Garden State ties are much harder to find on the Rutgers hardwood.
North Jersey non-public schools like Bergen Catholic, St. Peter's Prep, Don Bosco Prep and St. Joseph-Montvale are known for their football prowess, but produce other college athletes, too.