Rutgers-Newark Athletics

By Jim Hague

A lot of men’s college basketball players enter life on the collegiate level a little shell shocked and out of place at first, not knowing which way to turn.

That wasn’t the case when Jeremiah Rivers entered Rutgers-Newark for the first time. That’s because Rivers was a product of perhaps the nation’s premier high school program, St. Anthony of Jersey City, headed by recent Naismith National Hall of Fame inductee Bob Hurley.

“Just by going to St. Anthony, I learned a lot that a lot of other kids don’t get a chance to learn,” Rivers said. “I was used to everything. Coach Hurley obviously knows his stuff, especially on the defensive end. I like to play defense, so that helped me. It was a tremendous help by the time I came to Rutgers.”

But when Rivers first arrived, there wasn’t a lot of playing time to be had. Rivers had to bide his time, playing behind established forwards like DeShawn Singleton, Phil Barnes and Ryan Gillens.

“I learned a lot watching them,” Rivers said. “I learned what to do and what not to do.”

So when the trio of Scarlet Raider big men all graduated together last May, Rivers looked at it as a golden opportunity to step in and fill their shoes.

“Coach (Joe Loughran) talked to me and told me that I was going to get the chance to play,” Rivers said. “It was up to me to capitalize on the chance.”

Last summer, Rivers spent a lot of time fine tuning his game, playing on the same summer team with R-N teammate Al'Don Muhammad.

“I did all my summer workouts,” Rivers said. “Playing with Al'Don over the summer definitely got me ready and gave me a lot of confidence. I was really prepared for the season.”

That was good, because his services were direly needed.

“Last year, it was hard for him to find playing time,” Loughran said. “He just had to figure out our system. I knew he was going to be a big key for us this year. He was progressing well. We knew that at the end of the day, Jeremiah was going to work hard and compete. He knows how to practice and how to prepare. Also, the team always comes first. He has discipline and accountability. He showed flashes of being a good regular player for us.”

As it has turned out, Rivers has been even better than that. The 6-foot-3 is averaging 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game as a member of the Scarlet Raider starting lineup.

“He’s been a pleasant surprise,” Loughran said. “I’m not in shock with what he’s done, but it is a surprise. He keeps getting better and better. He makes open shots and goes to the rim well. He’s also rebounding the ball well. I think it helps that he’s a very good athlete.”

Loughran also likes the intangibles that Rivers offers.

“He’s an energetic player who gets everyone else energized,” Loughran said. “He’s a very coachable and mature young man.”

Rivers comes from a well known and established basketball family who got their starts at St. Anthony.

His uncle, David Rivers, was a two-time All-American at Notre Dame and a first round draft pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s, who played for nearly 20 years professionally in Europe. Another of Rivers’ uncles, the late Jermaine, was a fine player for the Friars.

“I talk to my uncle from time to time,” Jeremiah Rivers said. “He really has helped me stay focused.”

Rivers is majority in accounting at Rutgers-Newark and would love to eventually become an accountant when his schooling is through.

For now, he’s enjoying his role and his starting position with the Scarlet Raiders.

“I really like the role a lot,” Rivers said. “I think watching the others helped me a lot to handle this role. I know my teammates are behind me and supporting me. I know what I have to do. I think this is just the start of some bigger and better things.”

Loughran loves the idea that Rivers has become a true product of the program.

“It’s what our program is all about,” Loughran said. “Guys graduate and move on and we get others to step in. We hope he’s the next guy in line. We need him to be, because we need him to win. We need to keep having guys who didn’t play a lot step up and improve. He will be a big reason if we have a big year.”

Rivers embraces that idea.

“I’m ready to go,” Rivers said.

Looks like Rivers is already going – and going strong.