Tag: Ace Bailey

Where did Rutgers basketball fall in the ESPN Way-Too-Early-Top 25?

Rutgers basketball is ranked in the ESPN way-too-early top 25.

The hype for Rutgers men’s basketball is real, with the Big Ten program making the ESPN top 25 for next season.

Rutgers checks in at No. 21 on ESPN writer Jeff Borzello’s list. They are one spot behind Maryland and one of five Big Ten programs ranked on the first top 25 of preseason.

With McDonald’s All-Americans [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] and [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag] coming to campus in June, there are expectations that Rutgers can have a special season.

Duke is the top team in Borzello’s projections. UConn, winners of back-to-back national championships, check in at fourth in the nation.

In writing about Rutgers, Borzello offers a balance to the hype about the arrival of Bailey and Haper to the Scarlet Knights:

“Both should have a transformative impact on the team next season — but Steve Pikiell will have to surround the two with some veteran pieces. The return of Jeremiah Williams is a boost, and Pikiell has already landed Tyson Acuff (Eastern Michigan) and Zach Martini (Princeton) from the portal.”

To read Borzello’s full top 25 rankings, click here.

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As for the Big Ten, here is how the conference looks according to Borzello:

  • No. 6 Purdue
  • No. 19 UCLA
  • No. 20 Maryland
  • No. 21 Rutgers
  • No. 24 Wisconsin

Borzello has Ohio State and Michigan State as part of his ‘Next In Line’ grouping.

Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, future Rutgers basketball teammates, impress in McDonald’s All-American game

Rutgers basketball’s two future stars lived up to the hype at the McDonald’s All-American Game.

On Tuesday night, Rutgers fans got a preview of what the future will hold in the McDonald’s All-American game. Two highly regarded members of the 2024 class, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, took the floor and continued to leave scouts in awe.

While Team West lost a close battle 88-86 to Team East, Harper and Bailey made their presence felt. In 25 minutes of action, Bailey scored six points while dishing out two assists. He also made an impact on the boards, hauling in five rebounds.

congrats to our boys MVPs Dylan Harper and Derik Queen 🏆 pic.twitter.com/4cUVXoRkDz

— McDonald’s All American Games (@McDAAG) April 3, 2024

However, his teammate Harper shined against some of the best high school talent in the country. In 25 minutes of action, the talented 18-year-old scored a team-high 22 points and recorded one steal. He was the only member of Team West to score more than 20 points. Tre Johnson who is committed to Texas also had an impressive night with 17 points.

Due to his play, Harper took home some hardware. He was named the game’s co-MVP, along with Derik Queen, who scored 23 points for Team East in 24 minutes of action. In the first half, Harper led all scorers with 14 points, showing why the future at Rutgers is bright.

While fans in Piscataway still have to wait a few months for Bailey’s and Harper’s collegiate debut, on Tuesday night, the talented duo showed why scouts across the country hold them in high regard.

ESPN analyst says Rutgers basketball’s Ace Bailey ‘is as good as advertised’

Meghan McKeown Wallace breaks down how Ace Bailey has looked in the McDonald’s All-American Game.

ESPN analyst and reporter Meghan McKeown Wallace has been impressed with Ace Bailey’s performance this week at the McDonald’s All-American Game. The five-star forward has certainly lived up to the hype.

Bailey signed with Rutgers basketball in December. He was electric during the slam dunk competition on Monday night and has earned rave reviews for his performance in practice the past couple of days at the McDonald’s All-American Game.

Multiple rankings have Bailey as the second-best recruit in the nation. The only outlier is USA TODAY High School Sports, which has Bailey as the best player in the country.

Meghan McKeown Wallace, who will be part of ESPN’s broadcast team for the game, has watched Bailey the past couple of days and has been impressed.

“Ace Bailey is as good as advertised. His athleticism and raw talent means he has an unlimited ceiling,” Wallace told Rutgers Wire on Tuesday morning.

“He’s been one of, if not the most impressive player throughout the scrimmage and JamFest of the McDonald’s All-American Game.”

 

At a press conference this week for the McDonald’s All-American Game, Cooper Flagg was asked about going up against Bailey. A five-star forward, Flagg is ranked as the top player in the 2025 class by multiple media outlets including ESPN.

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The Duke commit was asked about squaring off against Bailey, who is contending with Flagg to be the nation’s top recruit.

“I mean, I think he’s a great player. Really versatile, really well-rounded,” Flagg said during Monday’s press conference.

“And to be honest, I’m not really looking for specific matchups. I’m just playing to have fun and compete. I’m just always trying to win.”

The boys edition of the McDonald’s All-American game will tip-off at 9 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN. The girls game will air on ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Watch as Jalil Bethea puts on a show at the Powerade Jam Fest Dunk Contest

Jalil Bethea wins the Powerade slam dunk contest.

Jalil Bethea put on a clinic on Monday night, winning the Powerade Jam Fest Dunk Contest. The guard, who committed to Miami in September, showed off his highlight ability in the competition.

Bethea put on a show, with multiple dunks involving him jumping over a player. He was in a battle on the night with Ace Bailey, the Rutgers basketball commit who also had his own impressive dunks.

A five-star guard from Archbishop Wood (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Bethea will play on Tuesday night in the McDonald’s All-American Game. Bethea chose Miami over an offer list that also included Kansas and Villanova among others.

He was ranked the sixth-best recruit in the nation by ESPN.

Check out the dunk that won Bethea the contest:

 

He also showed lots of potential in practice during the week, showcasing his ability offensively.

 

As for Bailey, the top-ranked player in the nation according to USA TODAY High School Sports, he produced some very strong moments in the slam dunk contest.

 

Watch future Rutgers basketball stars Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey connect on a backboard lob at the McDonald’s All-American Game

Future Rutgers basketball teammates Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper connect at the McDonald’s All-American Game.

Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey are already looking like difference-makers for Rutgers basketball. The five-star duo showed flashes of their synergy on Monday at a scrimmage for the McDonald’s All-American Game.

Bailey, the top-ranked player in the nation according to USA TODAY High School Sports, is the highest-ranked recruit in Rutgers basketball history. Harper, ranked third nationally by many recruiting outlets, is the second-highest-ranked commit to ever sign with the program.

(For those not good with math, that is a complicated way to say that Bailey and Harper are the highest-ranked commits/signees in Scarlet Knights history).

Playing for the West team, Harper and Bailey showed the potential of their partnership on Monday during a scrimmage for the McDonald’s All-American Game.

Check out this backboard lob from Harper to Bailey. The point guard drives well to the basket, and he sees Bailey moving in from the wing.

Bailey finishes off the play nicely.

 

The all-star competition takes place on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. Cooper Flagg, a five-star commit to Duke, praised Bailey’s play during Monday’s press conference.

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On Monday, Harper talked about the potential for Rutgers basketball to change, as he put it, the program’s history.

What did Cooper Flagg say about Rutgers basketball commit Ace Bailey?

Cooper Flagg talks about Rutgers commit Ace Bailey at the McDonald’s All-American Game.

Count Duke commit and five-star forward Cooper Flagg among those who admire the play of Ace Bailey. Also a five-star forward, Bailey signed with Rutgers in December.

Bailey is the highest-ranked recruit in the history of Rutgers basketball. On Tuesday, he will go up against Flagg in the McDonald’s All-American Game.

Flagg is the top-ranked player in the class of 2025 by most scouting and recruiting outlets, including ESPN. Bailey is the second-highest-ranked recruit in the 2025 class on most boards.

The only exception is USA TODAY High School Sports, which has Bailey as the top-ranked player in the nation.

On Monday during a press conference for the McDonald’s All-American Game, Flagg was asked about going up against Bailey. The Rutgers commit has been talked about for the last two months as potentially becoming the top player in the country by other media outlets.

“I mean, I think he’s a great player. Really versatile, really well-rounded,” Flagg said during Monday’s press conference.

“And to be honest, I’m not really looking for specific matchups. I’m just playing to have fun and compete. I’m just always trying to win.”

The boys edition of the McDonald’s All-American game will tip-off at 9 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN. The girls game will air on ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Dylan Harper says that this Rutgers basketball recruiting class can change the program

Dylan Harper talks about the future of Rutgers basketball and the impact he believes this class can have on the program.

Dylan Harper believes that this class can change the trajectory of Rutgers basketball moving forward. That was the message on Monday from the five-star guard, a Rutgers basketball commit who is set to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game on Tuesday.

Speaking on Monday afternoon at a press conference for the McDonald’s All-American Game, Harper said that this star-studded class can be a program changer for Rutgers. Harper is joined by fellow five-star [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] in the Rutgers 2024 recruiting class.

And Bailey, like Harper, is playing in the McDonald’s All-American Game this week. Harper is the No. 3 player in the nation according to ESPN.

Asked on Monday if Rutgers can become a destination program for top recruits, Harper said that this class can do just that.

“Definitely, I think they’ve had other great players like my brother (Ron Harper, Jr.), Geo Baker, people like that,” Dylan Harper said.

“But I think for me and Ace to come in there and just change the culture, I think it’s going to change a lot of Rutgers history.”

Dylan Harper committed to Rutgers in December at an event in New York City that was hosted at the Fanatics headquarters. It wasn’t an easy decision, he said.

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Long considered a Rutgers lean, he remained uncommitted for much of year, choosing to carefully and pragmatically make his decision.

“I mean first off my decision – it was probably one of the hardest decisions I had to make – probably in my lifetime,” Dylan Harper said.

“Just staying home – doing (it for) your family and just the people that are always there for you since Day 1. So I think that was probably the main thing that went to it.”

Harper’s teammate Bailey is the No. 1 player in the nation according to USA TODAY High School Sports.

Rutgers basketball: Dylan Harper reacts to the news of Jeremiah Williams’ return

Jeremiah Williams’ return to Rutgers basketball is welcomed by Dylan Harper.

Jeremiah Williams confirmed that he is returning to Rutgers basketball, and five-star commit Dylan Harper was all about it.

A transfer portal addition last summer, Williams was a big addition to the Rutgers basketball program when he was finally reinstated midseason. Williams missed the season’s first 20 games over allegations of violating the NCAA’s rules on gambling.

The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 12.2 points per game while shooting 44.4 percent from the floor. Upon making his debut in early February, Rutgers won its first four games with Williams playing.

It is a season of expectations for Rutgers basketball, especially with a star-studded recruiting class coming in.

Harper, who recently signed with Rutgers, is a five-star recruit and one of the top players in the nation. He is expected to partner with Williams and form one of the best backcourt in the Big Ten.

 

Coming off a strong senior season at Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey), Harper is the sixth-ranked recruit in the nation according to USA TODAY High School Sports.

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He is one of two recruits in the class of 2024 who are ranked as consensus five-star players. Harper joins forward [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] as the only five-stars to ever sign with Rutgers basketball.

Bailey is the top-ranked player in the nation in the USA TODAY High School Sports rankings.

Rutgers basketball: Two new schools reached out to Cliff Omoruyi this weekend in the transfer portal- who has reached out so far?

Cliff oMoryi’s list of suitors continues to grow.

There are two new suitors who have reached out

On Saturday, Clemson and Kansas State reached out to Omoruyi for the first time, per a source close to the situation. Omroyi has played the past four seasons for Rutgers basketball and has been a starter the past three seasons.

An All-Big Ten selection, Omoruyi averaged 10.4 points per game this season while also averaging 8.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game.

Omoruyi is one of the top defensive players in the country. Last week, Big Ten Network analyst Raheal Davis gave the opinion that he believes Omoruyi should return to Rutgers for a final season of college basketball.

These comments from Davis came before Omoruyi had decided to enter the transfer portal.

Per the same source, the following schools have reached out to Omouyi since he entered the transfer portal last week.

Omoruyi is a former four-star recruit and one of the highest-ranked players to commit to Rutgers during Steve Pikiell’s era as head coach.

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The loss of Omoruyi to the transfer portal is one of several personnel moves for Rutgers basketball this offseason. Omoruyi is one of two starters (along with forward Mawot Mag) who have entered the transfer portal so far this spring.

With a highly ranked class coming in for Rutgers, one that features two recruits ranked as five star players (forward [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] and guard [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag]), it was inevitable that Rutgers would see a thinning out of its roster ahead of the summer.

Finalists named for the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year

The Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year finalists were announced on Thursday.

On Thursday, the three finalists for the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year were announced. The top two players in the USA TODAY High School Sports Top 10 were among the finalists.

Last year, class of 2026 forward Cameron Boozer Jr. of Christopher Columbus (Miami, Florida) won the national award.

The three finalists for this year’s Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year are:

  • Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey: The No. 1 player in the nation in the USA TODAY High School Sports Top 10. A 6-foot-8 forward from McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia), Bailey is committed to Rutgers.
  • Cooper Flagg: A Duke commit, Flagg is a 6-foot-9 forward at Montverde (Montverde, Florida). Flagg is the second-highest-ranked player in the USA TODAY HSS top 10 and is the Naismith Player of the Year.
  • VJ Edgecombe: Ranked as the ninth-best player in the nation by USA TODAY HSS, Edgecombe is a guard from Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, New York). He is heading to Baylor this summer.

The three finalists will also be named their state’s Gatorade player of the year.

Last week, the finalists for the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year Award were announced.