Eddie Jordan was hired as head coach of Rutgers this offseason, an opportunity he prefers rather than returning to the NBA in a top job.

“After my last few experiences, I did not want to be a head coach in the NBA,” Jordan said.

Jordan led the Washington Wizards to the playoffs in every season between 2005 and 2008. Jordan even coached the Eastern Conference All-Stars in 2007 when the Wizards had the best record in the conference. 

Jordan was fired by the Wizards at the beginning of the 08-09 season after a 1-10 start, and was hired the next season by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Jordan most recently was an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers after being hired by Mike Brown.

Eddie Jordan has reached an agreement to coach at Rutgers, sources with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed.

Jordan agreed in principle to a deal in the ballpark of five years and $6.25 million.

Among the many stops in Jordan’s coaching career was a 6-year stint with the Washington Wizards that included four straight appearances in the playoffs.

Rutgers fired coach Mike Rice on Wednesday after a videotape aired showing him shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players and using gay slurs during practice.

The videotape, broadcast Tuesday on ESPN's "Outside the Lines," prompted criticism from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and the head of the New Jersey Assembly called for Rice to be fired.

With growing criticism, the college relieved Rice of his duties after three largely unsuccessful seasons. There will be a national search to replace him.

Georgetown's Otto Porter has been named the 2013 Big East Player of the Year. Porter is the first player from the Hoyas to win the Big East's top honor since Jeff Green in 2007.

Joining Porter on the All-Big East First Team are Notre Dame's Jack Cooley, Bryce Cotton of Providence, Louisville's Gorgui Dieng and Russ Smith, and UConn's Shabazz Napier.

Dieng was also named Defensive Player of the Year, while St. John's Jakarr Sampson was named Rookie of the Year.

Rutgers received a commitment from Shane Rector, a 6-foot-1 point guard who attends South Kent (Conn.) High School.

“He has the ability to create for himself and others off the dribble,” South Kent coach Kelvin Jefferson said. “I think that’s what attracted Rutgers to him.”

Providence and Xavier were among the other suitors for Rector.

“I want to play basketball at the highest level,” Rector said, “and with Rutgers going to the Big Ten, that’s a great league right there.”

Roddy Peters has seemingly become Maryland’s top priority for the 2013 class.

The 6-foot-4 point guard from District Heights (Md.) took an official visit to College Park earlier this week.

“It went really good. I liked it,” said Peters, whose rapid summer ascent landed him as a consensus top-50 recruit. "They took me around to see everything, I got to see the dorms, talked to a couple of the players (Nick Faust and Pe’Shon Howard), met the trainers … They just said that they really want me at Maryland. That’s what (my mom) liked. Coach (Mark) Turgeon told me he really wanted me. She likes them.

“He told me how I can come in and be a point guard, how he thinks I fit the style,” he continued. “Of course, they were all saying that I should commit, but I still want to weigh my options.”

Peters is also considering Georgetown, Xavier, UCLA, Memphis and Rutgers.

“At first everyone thought I would commit [when Maryland offered], but I have all types of schools now. It’s really all about where I’m most comfortable,” he said. “I’ve got some thinking to do. I think I’ll commit during basketball season.”

Connecticut received a verbal commitment from Kentan Facey, a highly-touted 6-foot-9 forward out of New York Long Island Lutheran.

Facey, a native of Jamaica, chose the Huskies over USC, UCLA, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Memphis, St. John’s, Providence and Rutgers.

“That was the only school I knew anything about when I came to the states,” Facey said. “I was always a UConn fan, I always liked UConn.”