A Strategic Addition to the Frontcourt
Rutgers University has officially added Mervedi Miteo to its men’s basketball roster, locking in the 6‑foot‑10 forward for the 2026‑27 campaign. The announcement comes as the Scarlet Knights continue to bolster their depth ahead of Big Ten competition.
Miteo, who turned 17 in December 2025, honed his game with Dreamland Gran Canaria in Spain’s Liga Endesa and earned caps for the Democratic Republic of the Congo national team. In the most recent U22 season he posted 11.9 points and 7.6 rebounds in 22 minutes per game, shooting 54.2 % from two‑point range.
Coach Steve Pikiell highlighted the player’s blend of size and professional experience, noting that Miteo’s exposure to older competition in Europe should accelerate his development. “He gives us a frontcourt presence that can compete night in and night out,” Pikiell said.
The signing also marks the end of the Lewis Duarte eligibility saga, freeing a scholarship slot that had remained unresolved. With Miteo now the youngest member of the current roster, the Scarlet Knights expect him to vie for minutes early in his collegiate career.
Rutgers’ recent forays into the international market have already yielded commitments from Italian forward Diego Garavaglia and other transfers, but Miteo’s arrival is being framed as the final piece to round out the class. His youth, combined with a proven track record in FIBA qualifiers, positions him as a promising building block for the program’s future.