In the world of college basketball, recruiting can make or break a coach’s career, and Rutgers basketball coach Steve Pikiell knows this all too well. Recently, Pikiell opened up about one of his biggest regrets from his early days at Rutgers—missing out on signing a player who could have been a game-changer for the program.
In Pikiell’s first year at Rutgers, he was tasked with rebuilding a team that had long been struggling in the competitive Big Ten Conference. Recruiting was a critical part of that process, and the coach was relentless in trying to bring in the best talent. However, in the midst of the whirlwind that is a first-year coaching campaign, Pikiell let one promising recruit slip through his fingers.
That player was local New Jersey standout, **Isaiah Briscoe**, a dynamic guard who eventually committed to Kentucky. Briscoe, known for his toughness, playmaking, and ability to control the tempo of the game, could have been the cornerstone of Pikiell’s rebuilding efforts. “We were so close,” Pikiell admitted in a recent interview. “He was a player I really believed in, and losing him to Kentucky still stings a little bit.”
Though Briscoe went on to have a solid college career at Kentucky before making a professional leap, Pikiell has often wondered what could have been if he had landed the talented guard. “He would have fit in perfectly with the culture we were trying to build,” Pikiell reflected. “But recruiting is tough—sometimes, you win some, and sometimes, you lose some.”
Despite the regret, Pikiell has since established himself as one of the top coaches in the Big Ten, leading Rutgers to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. Still, it’s clear that missing out on Isaiah Briscoe remains a “what if” in his coaching journey.
