Knight Society hosted its first-ever Scarlet Open this past Sunday at Topgolf in Edison. Nearly 200 attendees enjoyed a friendly competition that included full participation from current Rutgers Men’s Basketball players and staff, as well as alumni in Luke Nathan and current Toronto Raptors two-way player Ron Harper, Jr.
“The Scarlet Open was a huge success. Not only did we meet our goals financially for the event, but we also gave everyone who attended a tangible experience they will always remember,” said Geo Baker, co-founder of Knight Society. “The players were able to connect with fans, business owners and people who are successful in their respective industries, and that is something that can help carry them long beyond their playing careers. We look forward to hosting similar style events in the future.”
After opening remarks from former team captain and radio analyst Austin Johnson, Geo Baker and Rutgers Men’s Basketball head coach Steve Pikiell addressed the audience during a catered breakfast. The Scarlet Open then officially got underway with teams competing against one another in an elimination-style tournament. Points leaders advanced out of each round until a champion was eventually crowned in the finals, with Newroads Financial Group taking those inaugural honors. The event concluded with an awards ceremony following the completion of the tournament.
In addition to the tremendous support from the Rutgers community at large, the Scarlet Open also featured key contributions from various sponsors including Atlantic Physical Therapy Center, Gift of Basketball, Law Offices of Hutt and Shimanowitz, Mental Edge Sports Psychology, Newroads Financial Group, Tavern on George and UBS.
Knight Society is a community organized by former Rutgers Basketball player Geo Baker and former Rutgers Football player Eric LeGrand that supports Rutgers student-athletes through NIL (Name Image Likeness). Knight Society also hosts events to initiate networking and promotional opportunities within the Rutgers ecosystem.