As a Scarlet Knight, Baker was a standout. One of only two players in Rutgers history to reach 1,550 points, 450 assists, 350 rebounds and 150 steals, he helped the Knights to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 30 years as a senior during the 2020-21 season before returning to the March Madness tournament the following year.
Even then, though, the hoops star found time for service, co-founding the Knight Society, which helps Rutgers student-athletes navigate the NIL law allowing them to profit from their “name, image and likeness.”
After graduation, Baker, now 25, passed on the pros, preferring to focus full time on training and mentoring young athletes. With that aim, he founded GB Go Beyond, with a foundation that provides training to underserved New Jersey communities. He still helps run the Knight Society.
What inspired you to start the Geo Baker Go Beyond Foundation?
About a year ago, I started a basketball training business in Woodbridge called GB Go Beyond. I noticed…there were kids who couldn’t afford the training. My next thought was, If they can’t pay here, imagine what’s going on in other areas around New Jersey. How can we create something that provides for the underserved?
What are your goals?
It’s a lot more than just basketball training. Our four pillars are responsibility, mentorship, education and athletic development. We want to help kids in life, too, and create mentorship for kids who don’t have it in their lives. Financial literacy is another big one we’re trying to home in on.
You made a name for yourself at Rutgers, but you’re from New Hampshire. Why did you base your foundation in New Jersey?
I fell in love with Rutgers and New Jersey very fast. It really feels like home. A lot of people have showed love to me, to my family, and I want to continue to build off that. One day, I do want to do something back home as well.
Any favorite on-court memories at Rutgers?
When we beat Purdue on the road my junior year. The NCAA Tournament got canceled that year due to Covid, but that got us to 20 wins. Purdue was the hardest place I’ve ever played.
You retired from basketball after college even though you could have kept playing professionally. Why?
My body was very messed up. I got some ankle injuries that just wouldn’t go away. To this day, I can crack my ankle on demand. On top of that, I realized that I enjoy coaching, teaching and giving back. The thought process was, I could play overseas for a couple years or, if I’m blessed, make it in the NBA and maybe stick it out for a couple of years. But how is my body going to hold up? I wasn’t sure.
What else have you been up to since leaving school?
I also run the Knight Society [with former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand], an NIL [name, image and likeness] collective for student-athletes. We help them learn they’re a brand, a business, and they can market themselves and make some dollars. We’ve done deals with pretty much every team.
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