.jpg)
4 hours ago
1
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights entered the season with high expectations, especially with the arrivals of Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. The duo was expected to lead the Knights to the promised land, but after a season marked by inconsistency, Rutgers didn’t even make it to the NCAA Tournament.
When Bailey and Harper were on the floor together, they were taking the college basketball world by storm. However, injuries prevented them from sharing the court for parts of the season. Earlier this month, Harper declared for the NBA Draft. On Wednesday, it was Bailey’s turn. The freshman averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game.
Bailey had such a standout year that he accomplished feats not seen since Trae Young's college days—an impressive comparison considering Young’s phenomenal season at Oklahoma. Bailey had a remarkable freshman campaign, and now he’ll get the chance to showcase his talent on the professional stage once his name is called in June.
Throughout the season, Bailey drew major hype for his performance. The freshman forward delivered several standout games, solidifying his status as a projected top-five pick.
“Ace Bailey looks every bit like a top-5 draft pick,” Raphael Davis said earlier in the year. “It was beautiful.”
Rutgers experienced one of its most disappointing seasons, but Bailey helped fans forget about that with his dominant play. Despite his success, Bailey faced criticism for being one-dimensional and allegedly a poor teammate. Fran Fraschilla was quick to defend him.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
“The nonsense about the RutgersMBB freshman not being a team player or one dimensional earlier in the season is laughable,” Fraschilla posted.
Bailey is projected to go No. 2 or No. 3 in the draft—assuming the negative rumors don’t gain traction. At his core, Bailey is a confident player who consistently showcased his talent every time he stepped on the court.
English (US)