PLAYER PROFILE: ACE BAILEY

By Evan Washington

Rutgers Scarlet Knight’s Ace Bailey is one of the top athletes in this season of Men’s Collegiate Basketball, and is a sure-fire lottery pick for the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft in the summer. 

  The young Tennessee-native averaged 17.6 points on nearly 46 percent shooting on the year while also getting 7.2 rebounds per game during the regular season for the Knights. 

Arguably most impressive about Baileys game is his scoring. 

   As we’ve already mentioned of his 17.6 points-per-game average, these averages place Bailey currently the 6th best scoring freshmen in Division-One basketball this season. Bailey is also the second youngest on this list at just 18 years old, surpassing only Duke’s star forward Cooper Flagg. 

Before becoming a potential lottery pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft, Bailey made waves early on his career as a 5-star basketball recruit during his youth career.  

Bailey started his high school career at Boyd-Buchanan School in Chattanooga Tennessee in 2020. 

  He then, in early 2022, transferred during his sophomore season to McEachern High School in Powder Spring, Georgia. It’s believed he made this move for the exposure that playing for the Indians could potentially bring as a rising prospect in the High School circuit. 

  In Bailey’s junior season with the Indians he averaged 22 points and 14 rebounds per game. After the season he was awarded Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year honors in the Spring of 2023. 

  Following his first game with the Indians in his senior year, Bailey signed his official letter of intent with Rutgers on November of 2023. He went on to put up averages of 32.5 points and 15.5 rebounds per game during his senior year. 

  Bailey concluded his Senior year with accolades including MaxPreps Georgia’s Player of the Year, McDonald’s All-American, Jordan Brand Classic, and Nike Hoop Summit Honors. 

Despite his and other freshmen teammate Dylan Harpers individual success, Rutgers struggled significantly this season. 

  The Knights finished ranked 11th in the Big-Ten conference with a 15-17 record on the season, ultimately missing the NCAA March Madness Tournament. It was also clarified last week that the team declined participation in the National Invitation Tournament. 

   Despite having yet to officially declare for the NBA Draft, it is expected that Bailey will make his announcement in the coming weeks to months.