PISCATAWAY, N.J. – After a standout debut season in the Big Ten, Tariq Francis will return to Rutgers men’s basketball for the 2026-27 campaign, bringing back one of the conference’s most dynamic scorers and efficient offensive weapons.
Francis, who joined Rutgers from NJIT with two years of eligibility, made an immediate impact in 2025-26. The junior guard earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (media) honors after leading the Scarlet Knights with 17.0 points per game while adding 2.9 assists and shooting 41.9 percent from the field. He scored in double figures 24 times during the season.
“I love being a part of Rutgers, and I am fully committed to RU,” Francis said. “I love the coaching staff, I love the fans, and I love the players. I appreciate all the love the fans showed us all season. I hope next year we can get the job done and support you guys the way you support us.”
“Tariq had an outstanding first season in our program,” said head coach Steve Pikiell. “He’s a tough competitor who proved to the country that he is an elite scorer at the Big Ten level. We’re excited to have his leadership and experience back for his senior season.”
One of the most impressive aspects of Francis’ season came at the free throw line, where he put together one of the best performances in program history. Francis knocked down 164 free throws, surpassing Bob Lloyd’s 1965-66 total for fourth-most makes in a single season at Rutgers. He shot an outstanding 91.1 percent from the line, becoming just the fourth player in program history to finish a season above 90 percent.
Francis also etched his name into the Rutgers record book in overall scoring production. He totaled 578 points on the season, the 17th-most in program history, surpassing Dylan Harper’s output from the previous year and marking the highest single-season total by a Scarlet Knight since Quincy Douby’s program-record 839 points in 2005-06. In addition to his scoring, Francis contributed 99 assists, showcasing his ability to create for others.
A consistent and explosive offensive force, Francis delivered multiple signature performances throughout the year. He recorded a career-high 34 points, capped by a buzzer-beater in a win over Penn, earning Big Ten Player of the Week honors. He also posted three 30-point games, including a 30-point effort off the bench against Northwestern and another to lead Rutgers past Oregon, becoming the only Big Ten player since 1996-97 to record multiple 30-point games off the bench in the same season.
Among his many standout efforts, Francis scored 29 points to set Rutgers’ Big Ten Tournament single-game scoring record in a win over Minnesota. He added 28 points against Indiana, 26 off the bench versus USC, and 25 points with five assists, three steals, and zero turnovers at Michigan State, along with multiple 20-point performances in conference play.
Prior to Rutgers, Francis starred at NJIT, where he led the America East Conference with 19.2 points per game in 2024-25 while starting 26 of 27 games.
With a full year of Big Ten experience and a proven track record of production, Francis’ return provides Rutgers with a veteran leader and go-to option heading into 2026-27.
As Rutgers prepares for the upcoming season, Francis’ return solidifies the backcourt and gives the Scarlet Knights a proven scorer capable of leading the program in the Big Ten.