Ace Bailey made the All-Massive 10 Crew as a freshman, and he’s anticipated to seek out the identical success within the NBA if he’s used proper.
When the very first mock drafts for 2025 got here out, Cooper Flagg was–and has since remained–the consensus high decide. Nonetheless, Ace Bailey of Rutgers College has slid down the rankings from second general, and might now be discovered anyplace between third and tenth.
The Scarlet Knights missed the NCAA Event, so it is sensible that his inventory would take a success, though in latest reminiscence high gamers both underwhelmed in or missed the event fully, and Bailey must be categorized with these gamers.
As a 6-foot-10 ahead, Bailey has instruments on each ends of the ground to thrive, and any basic supervisor who overthinks the draft and passes on him will likely be remembered for that poor selection.
Right here’s all the pieces followers must find out about Bailey earlier than the draft.
- Age/Date of Delivery: 18 (August 13, 2006)
- Nationality: American
- Top/weight: 6-foot-10, 210lbs
- Faculty: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- Profession stats: 17.6 factors, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.3 blocks, 46.0 FG%, 34.6 3PT%
- NCAA Event stats: N/A
- Profession highs: 39 factors (vs. Indiana), 15 rebounds (vs. Penn State), 4 assists (vs. Nebraska, vs. Iowa)
- NBA comparability: Rashard Lewis
He’s a 6-foot-10 ahead who strikes like a real wing and might elevate to get his shot off towards anybody guarding him. He’s the premier 3-level scorer within the draft and is the last word tough-shot maker.
He’s a strong defender who can block photographs and dance with a ball-handler on the defender, though he probably gained’t be a star-stopper. His explosive athleticism will profit drastically on each ends of the ground, though his offense is what he will likely be identified for.
He can pull up off the dribble and create for himself behind the arc or within the midrange, and has each the peak and explosiveness to get above the rim. He might slot in as a jumbo-guard or a weakside shot-blocker, permitting him to fill any position. His versatility is barely matched by Flagg.
As together with his teammate at Rutgers, Dylan Harper, Bailey suffers from tunnel imaginative and prescient. He usually pulls up and takes unhealthy photographs, though he frustratingly makes them, so his shot food regimen stays bloated.
He additionally doesn’t have the load to leap with some large males, and might simply be out-bodied on each ends of the ground, so his rebounding prowess within the NCAA may not translate into the NBA. He will also be simply knocked off beam when attacking the rim, as he doesn’t soak up contact like a stronger participant would.
He can keep in entrance of smaller gamers, however may not be capable to take a bump and keep on high as a defender, even towards smaller gamers, which is a priority. Nonetheless, when he jumps to dam a shot, he’ll as a rule get a hand on the ball supplied he hasn’t been knocked off his place.
Any group that might use a secondary defender and a scoring punch could be glad to take Bailey. A frontcourt in Charlotte of Moussa Diabate, Tidjane Salaun, and Bailey could be lengthy, athletic, and able to rebounding by committee.
He would additionally slot in nicely subsequent to Nic Claxton in Brooklyn, though the Nets would possibly play their method out of drafting him this season.
A shock cellar-dweller, the Philadelphia 76ers, might additionally use him as an eventual Paul George alternative, and if all of the instruments are there from the bounce, a younger Bailey might steal George’s spot within the beginning lineup. He’s that gifted and brings that a lot versatility to the desk.