Tag: Ace Bailey

247Sports says Rutgers basketball’s Ace Bailey ‘has the highest upside in the class’

Ace Bailey had a shot at being the No. 1 recruit in the nation.

Ace Bailey was in serious contention to be the top player in the 2024 recruiting class according to 247Sports. The Rutgers basketball commit is expected on campus this summer.

A five-star forward, Bailey is the No. 1 player in the nation in the USA TODAY High School Sports rankings. He is the highest-ranked recruit in Rutgers basketball history.

In this week’s final rankings for the class of 2024, Duke commit Cooper Flagg was ranked No. 1 in the nation. Bailey was ranked second with his future Rutgers teammate [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag], a five-star guard, rounding out the top three.

Flagg, Bailey and Harper all recently played in the McDonald’s All-American Game. Harper was the game’s Co-MVP.

Bailey, who showed off not just his athleticism but some elite range this past season for McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia), had a legitimate case to be the nation’s top-ranked recruit.

In writing for 247Sports, director of scouting Adam Finkelstein praised the growth of Bailey:

“As for Bailey, he’s improved at such a rapid rate. In the process, he’s shown flashes of true stardom this year with his combination of wing size, athleticism and tough shot-making ability. As a result, he could actually have the highest upside in the class if everything goes right for him.”

Finkelstein did caution that Bailey will need to continue rounding out his game, especially his shot selection.

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Rutgers has a top-10 recruiting class in the nation according to 247Sports. It features four total players ranked in the top 150 nationally.

Did Rutgers basketball make the cutdown for four-star forward Jaylen Harrell?

Jaylen Harrell announces a top six that includes Rutgers.

One of the top recruits in the class of 2025, Jaylen Harrell, has Rutgers basketball in his top six with a decision coming at the end of the month.

Harrell included Rutgers in a top six that also has Alabama, Kansas, Providence, Virginia Tech and Xavier.  He is a 6-foot-6 small forward from CATS Academy (Boston)

ESPN ranks Harrell as a four-star recruit. He is the No. 62 recruit in the nation according to On3.

Programs such as Georgetown, Wake Forest and Washington were not included in the cutdown. According to reporting from On3, Harrell will make his college commitment on May 27.

Also included in the reporting was that Harrell plans on taking two more official visits, having already visited Providence and Rutgers.

The story about his top six and his upcoming recruiting trips was re-tweeted by Harrell:

 

Rutgers is coming off a strong recruiting cycle, with a class ranked top-10 nationally. The class features the five-star duo of [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] and [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag].

 

How did the Rutgers basketball duo of Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper do in the 247Sports final rankings?

Rutgers basketball has two of the top three recruits in the nation.

With the incoming arrival this summer of Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, Rutgers basketball has two of the top three players in the nation in the 247Sports final rankings.

The 247Sports rankings for the class of 2024 were certainly quite the flex for Rutgers, with the five-star tandem of Bailey and Harper ranked second and third in the nation, respectively.

Duke commit Cooper Flagg remained the top player in the class. Harper is coming off an offseason where he was the Co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game and then followed that up with 30 points in the Jordan Brand Classic.

Flagg played in both games.

And with two players in the top three nationally, Rutgers has the No. 9 overall class in the class of 2024. Bailey and Harper are both signed with Rutgers.

Also in the 247Sports ranking from the Rutgers class is three-star center [autotag]Lathan Sommerville[/autotag] (No. 106 in the nation) and three-star small forward [autotag]Bryyce Dortch[/autotag] (No. 150 in the nation).

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Rutgers has never before had four recruits ranked in the top 150 nationally, a first-ever for the program.

USA TODAY High School Sports ranks Bailey as the top player in the nation.

 

 

Cooper Flagg holds on to top spot in final 247Sports recruiting rankings

Duke signee Cooper Flagg, the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, beat out Rutgers’ Ace Bailey for the top spot in 247Sports’ final 2024 rankings.

247Sports released its final 2024 recruiting class rankings for men’s basketball on Wednesday, and star Duke signee Cooper Flagg maintained his grip on the top spot.

Flagg, heralded as a generational prospect by some, kept the No. 1 ranking for the entire year. He helped lead Montverde Academy to an undefeated season and a national title at Chipotle Nationals as a senior.

“He’s the surest thing in this class,” said Adam Finkelstein, who discussed the 247Sports rankings reveal. “Both at Duke and beyond.”

Rutgers signee Ace Bailey, who finished second in the final rankings, pushed Flagg until the end, however. In an article discussing the rankings, Finkelstein said he thought Flagg had the higher floor but Bailey’s developmental pace is impressive.

“(Flagg)’s going to be a winning and highly versatile two-way player and is one of the early favorites to be a top pick in the 2025 NBA draft,” Finkelstein wrote. “Is he an offensive alpha at the highest level? That’s the part that is still to be determined.”

Finkelstein also flagged Khaman Maluach, another Duke signee who finished as the fourth-ranked player in the class, as someone fans need to be patient with as he progresses.

Rutgers basketball is set to play Kennesaw State, per report

Rutgers basketball has a new non-conference opponent.

It looks like yet another non-conference opponent is being lined up for Rutgers basketball.

Per college basketball insider Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, Rutgers will play at Kennesaw State this upcoming season. The obvious local ties to Georgia are clear for Rutgers, given that freshman guard Jamichael Davis and incoming freshman Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey are from the state.

Last year, Kennesaw State finished the season 15-16 (6-10 Atlantic Sun Conference). In late December, the Owls battled well at Indiana in a 100-87 loss.

Rutgers is primed for a bounce-back season, having finished last year 15-17 (7-13 Big Ten). A five-star forward, Bailey is a big reason for the optimism around Rutgers heading into the fall.

Also joining Bailey at Rutgers is five-star guard [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag] from Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey).

 

Harper had a very strong close to his high school career with tremendous showings at the McDonald’s All-American Game as well as the Jordan Brand Classic.

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The duo of Bailey and Harper are the first-ever five-star commits in Rutgers history.

Who does Rutgers basketball play next year? Big Ten releases basketball conference schedule

The Big Ten released their conference schedule this week.

On Wednesday, Big Ten college basketball fans had a reason to celebrate. The conference released the breakdown of conference opponents for every school for the 2024-2025 season. Each team is set to play a 20-game conference schedule. This season’s newest members are Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington.

For Rutgers basketball, there will be plenty of reasons to travel to Jersey Mike’s Arena. Their home slate includes Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin. They will go on the road to face Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon, and Washington. 

During the 2023-2024 campaign, Rutgers went 7-13 in conference play. They recorded wins against Indiana, Nebraska, Michigan, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Northwestern. Their goal this season is to improve on that record while making an NCAA Tournament bid.

The 2024-25 @bigten opponents slate is set ✅#TheKnighthood🛡⚔️ pic.twitter.com/NcKe0oK8Zv

— Rutgers Men’s Basketball 🏀 (@RutgersMBB) May 1, 2024

While the start of the season is still months away Rutgers fans can start playing vacations that until this year would not be on the schedule. Fans will have the opportunity to travel to Oregon and Washington to see Rutgers in action. Those two teams posted a combined record of 21-19 in the PAC 12 last season.

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Game dates and television times will be announced at a later date. Thursday’s release has only created more excitement for this upcoming season, as Rutgers is set to welcome a talented recruiting class that includes Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. 

Cooper Flagg finishes senior year as number one prospect in On3’s Top 150 rankings

Cooper Flagg fends off Ace Bailey in final on3 recruiting rankings.

Cooper Flagg has had one heck of a final year in high school. It started with him reclassifying last September to rejoin his original class. Soon after, he committed to the Duke Blue Devils, his dream school and the team he’s been a fan of since he was a little kid. He would then lead Montverde Academy to a national title, and along the way, Flagg dominated and received all types of awards.

He would be named McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand All-American and compete in the Nike Hoop Summit. Now, he finishes the whirlwind year as On3’s number-one player in its final 2024 recruiting rankings.

Ace Bailey, the number two overall prospect, pushed Flagg all season long in. an attempt to overtake him. Still, Jamie Shaw of On3 Sports specifically cited Flagg’s ability and consistency in performing at the highest levels since entering high school as the most significant reason Flagg remained ahead of Bailey. Bailey is hyper-athletic, with great size and a great frame, and he showcased terrific shotmaking but also relied too much on his jump shot. In contrast, Flagg utilizes his ever-improving jump shot as a small part of his ability to get to the basket and be a creator and initiator in half-court, where he makes terrific reads.

The conversation will continue during the summer and through each player’s one and only college seasons at Duke and Rutgers, respectively, as each is on a crash course for the 2025 NBA Draft.

Flagg can now rest and enjoy his time off and being to prepare for the next challenge: becoming a Duke basketball player. He won’t make the trip to Durham for good until sometime in June, but based on everything we’ve seen from Flagg, this young man will not be afraid of the moment or challenge.

Omari Moore talks recruitment, potential for summer visits

Guard Omari Moore talks Ivy League offers, summer plans.

Omari Moore is beginning to see things heat up with his recruitment. While he flies a bit under the radar, the guard prospect has double-digit offers from mid-majors and Power Six conferences.

Moore is a 6-foot-3 guard from Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, New Jersey) who is a strong distributor and a proven scorer. Defensively, he uses his length well in addition to being a solid rebounders.

The class of 2025 prospect currently holds a strong offer list that includes Columbia, Drake, Fordham, Iona, Lehigh, Old Dominion, UPenn, St. John’s and La Salle among others.

“I have been in frequent contact with Princeton, Yale and UPenn,” Moore told USA TODAY High School Sports.

“Princeton and Yale have made it clear that I am their top priority. Richmond has been in touch with me since November of 2023 and it’s just been building up a relationship with coach Mark (assistant coach Mark McGonigal) that’s been cool.”

Another program local to Moore that is showing interest is Rutgers. With a top-five incoming recruiting class, including [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] (the No. 1 recruit in the nation according to USA TODAY High School Sports), Moore sees Rutgers as a potential fit alongside his current offer list.

“I think playing in any league at the next level is exciting whether it is the Ivy League, Big East or Big Ten,” Moore said.

“It’s exciting but if Rutgers feels as if I’m a player they want to bring into their program, then that would be a huge honor and that is a great league to play in.”

Iona is another program that has gotten involved with Moore and kept up in his recruitment. Head coach Tobin Anderson has done a good job in fostering a relationship with Moore.

“Iona brought up for a visit and it (has been) amazing ever since we’ve been in contact,” Moore said.

As for the summer and potential visits to programs, Moore is low-key in that regard. He hasn’t mapped anything out yet.

Instead, his focus is to do well on the court and let the recruiting component take care of itself.

“I don’t have any visits planned yet,” Moore said.

“For now, I’m just focused on improving the areas I need to improve in this AAU season and show everyone that I’ve been in the gym every day, working on my craft.”

5-star Rutgers basketball signee Dylan Harper named MaxPrep National Player of the Year

Dylan Harper was nationally recognized by MaxPreps as their player of the year.

Dylan Harper was announced as the 2023-24 MaxPreps National Player of the Year on Wednesday. It is a statement award for Harper, A Rutgers basketball commit who was the most dominant player in New Jersey this year.

Harper committed to Rutgers basketball in December during a commitment ceremony at the Fanatics headquarters in New York City.

A five-star guard, Harper led Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey) to a state championship this season.

He capped off his season last week by being named Co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game. In that game he partnered with future Rutgers basketball teammate Ace Bailey, a five-star forward.

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As for the MaxPreps honor, Harper is very much deserving even with a crowded field of candidates for the honor including Duke commit Cooper Flagg and the aforementioned Bailey.

“My goal is to win a national championship,” Harper told MaxPreps.
“The recruiting class we got in, the guys we have coming back and some guys we will probably get in the transfer portal. I think we are going to be really hard to beat.
“Staying home and having the people who watched me since I was a little kid grow up and go through stages of life, go through all the ups and downs. I think that is probably the biggest part of me going to Rutgers.”

 

Dylan Harper of New Jersey is the 2023-24 MaxPreps National Player of the Year 🏆🔥

Full story ⬇️https://t.co/qIoja7p5Wz pic.twitter.com/uQUjaDosa2

In the USA TODAY High School Sports rankings, Harper is the No. 6 overall player in the nation. Bailey, a 6-foot-9 forward, is the top overall player in the nation.

 

Rutgers basketball makes the USA TODAY ‘Way-too-early’ top 25

USA TODAY has Rutgers basketball in the top 25 of their ‘Way-Too-Early’ rankings.

The hype for Rutgers basketball is legitimate and real.

Rutgers basketball is projected to be nationally ranked this season, with head coach Steve Pikiell’s vaunted recruiting class the reason for much of the hype.

Expectations are high around Rutgers basketball, especially with a special recruiting class expected to arrive this summer. Highlighting the class are a pair of five-star recruits in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper.

The duo gives Rutgers a top-10 national class with three ESPN 100 commits.

This combined with a strong start to the transfer portal (Eastern Michigan guard [autotag]Tyson Acuff[/autotag] and Princeton forward [autotag]Zach Martini[/autotag]) and there is legitimate top-25 buzz around the Scarlet Knights.

On Monday, ESPN’s preseason rankings have Rutgers at No. 21 in the nation. The rankings from USA TODAY have Rutgers at No. 25 according to Paul Myberg.

In part, Myberg wrote about the impact of Bailey and Harper on Rutgers:

Harper and Bailey are the stars of a recruiting class that ranks in the top five nationally and will give Rutgers a huge influx of talent and athleticism.

Also part of the 2024 recruiting class for Rurtgers is four-star center[autotag] Lathan Somerville.[/autotag] and four-star forward Dylant Grant.