Jalen Rucker ’19, a guard for the Army West Point Black Knights men’s basketball team, and Rayuan Lane III ’21, a safety on the Naval Academy Midshipmen football team, have been high-fliers this winter in their respective sports. Moreover, both are seniors and will be commissioned as officers in May — Jalen in the Army and Rayuan in the Marine Corps.

Jalen, a four-year starter, leads the Black Knights and the entire Patriot League in scoring with 18.2 points per game. He was instrumental in three consecutive wins in February, particularly during a hard-fought, 64-60 victory over Loyola here in Baltimore — a 19-point effort that included his team’s final six points. The Black Knights are in second place in the Patriot League, with five regular season games remaining (as of February 13).

Rayuan had a standout 2024 season on the gridiron for the Midshipmen. He was named First-Team All-American Athletic Conference after racking up 70 total tackles, five pass breakups, and three forced fumbles. His success earned him a spot in February’s Senior Bowl; he became only the fifth Midshipman to make the premier college football all-star game. Next up for Rayuan is the NFL Combine (Feb. 27–March 2), an invite-only, weeklong skills showcase for the top NFL draft-eligible players in college football. 

Learn more about the athletic careers of Jalen and Rayuan.