Five-star forward Ace Bailey is one of three finalists named for the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year. The Rutgers basketball commit is in contention for the most prestigious honor in high school basketball.
Bailey, ranked the No. 1 player in the nation by USA TODAY High School Sports, is a five-star forward from McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia). He signed with Rutgers in December.
Bailey is coming off an incredible season at McEachern, where he led his team to the state championship game. He showed his incredible athleticism but also a nuanced and developing range to his game.
According to ESPN, Bailey is the No. 2 player in the nation.
Joining Bailey as finalists for the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award include Cooper Flagg (a Duke commit) and VJ Edgecombe (a Baylor commit).
[lawrence-related id=36346,35854]
Last week, Bailey praised Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell
“Anybody who comes and sits down on your couch and talks with your parents like he did,” Bailey said in his interview.
“He’s been real every day since Day 1. You can have a coach who says one thing and then when you get there, it is totally different. I just felt something different with coach Pikiell. My mom liked it, we’re big on family. That was a big thing.”
Bailey is expected to arrive at Rutgers in June.