Tag: Ace Bailey

Two future Rutgers basketball stars named as McDonald’s All-Americans

Two future Rutgers basketball players named to the McDonald All-American Game.

Two members of the Rutgers basketball 2024 recruiting class were named McDonald’s All-Americans on Tuesday. Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, both five-star recruits, received one of the top honors in high school basketball by being named to the game.

And for the last time before they unite at Rutgers, Harper (East) and Bailey (West) will be on opposite teams. Over 700 high school players were nominated to the game.

Earlier this year, Harper’s Don Bosco (Ramsey, New Jersey) beat Bailey and McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia) 76-50 in the City of Palms Classic. Harper scored 28 points to key Don Bosco’s win.

This year’s game will be played at the Toyota Center (Houston, Texas) on Apr. 2. The game will air on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET.

 


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Bailey was named as the second-best player in the nation by 247Sports this week. He moved up at the expense of Harper, who dropped one spot to the third overall recruit in the 2024 class.

Rutgers recruit Ace Bailey moves up in 247Sports player rankings

Ace Bailey makes a move in the national recruiting rankings.

Rutgers basketball commit Ace Bailey has continued to dazzle scouts with his scoring ability. While he was already one of the top recruits in his class, he has moved up the 247Sports player rankings and is now the second-best player in his class.

With the move up the rankings, Bailey is now the second-best player in the nation behind just Cooper Flagg. In moving up a spot (Bailey was previously ranked No. 3 nationally), he surpasses future Rutgers teammate Dylan Harper in the rankings.

Harper had been the nation’s top player until Cooper Flagg re-classified in August and became a part of the 2024 recruiting class.

As for Bailey, he scored 33 points in a 63-62 win over Milton on Saturday at the Georgia Nike Elite Classic. However, that is not his only big game in national competition this season.

 

In a 60-59 loss to Harvard-Westlake at the Hoophall Classic, he added 23 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks to his resume. In the Battle in New Jersey, he added 40 points and 21 rebounds to his resume in a win over Camden on December 29.

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Although Rutgers fans will have to wait a few more months to see Bailey make his collegiate debut, his latest rankings show why his future is bright. In an up-and-coming program, Bailey is a vital piece of the future.

Watch: Rutgers basketball’s 5-star commit Dylan Harper is impressive with this putback dunk

Rutgers basketball commit Dylan Harper has a quiet game but made an impressive play for Don Bosco Prep.

Dylan Haper’s latest highlight is one that might be seen in a video game. This time, the Rutgers basketball commit almost nonchalantly puts back a rebound with a two-handed dunk this past Saturday.

A five-star guard, Harper committed to Rutgers in December. He is having a strong year for Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey), averaging 22.7 points per game in 11 games played.

Harper is the No. 2 recruit in the nation according to ESPN.

The highlight sees Harper follow a three-point shot from teammate Jordan Ghee, jump, get the rebound and put it back with a two-handed dunk. Good instincts from Harper on the play while also showing a flash of his explosiveness.

 

Harper had a quieter game on Saturday, scoring nine points in Don Bosco’s 62-45 win over Paul VI (Haddonfield, New Jersey).

Despite injuries this season, Harper is still looking strong. He is one of two five-star commits in the Rutgers 2024 class, joining forward [autotag]Ace Baile[/autotag]y from McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia).

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Ranked the No. 3 player in the nation, Bailey is having a very strong season. Harper and Bailey are the two highest commits in Rutgers basketball history.

Rutgers Basketball: 2024 commit Ace Bailey is the No. 1 prospect in Georgia

Rutgers basketball five-star 2024 recruit Airious “Ace” Bailey is Georgia’s top senior boys basketball player this season.

Rutgers basketball five-star 2024 recruit Airious “Ace” Bailey is Georgia’s top senior boys basketball player this season as he guides McEachern High School to the No. 2 ranking school in the state.

Bailey, a 6-foot-10 small forward from McEachern, Georgia, is the state’s No. 1 boys basketball recruit this season and the No. 3 prospect in the nation, according to 247Sports. On November 11, 2023, Bailey signed his letter of intent with Rutgers basketball as he became the first five-star recruit in their 2024 recruiting class.

The Powder Springs, Georgia standout has guided McEachern High School to a 13-5 recruit this season. In 18 games this season, Bailey has averaged 26 points per game, 5.5 rebounds, and logged 33 total three-pointers.

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Rutgers added one of the best players in the country when Bailey signed with the Scarlet Knights. He can play and guard every position on the floor while showing off his athleticism. He plays way above the rim, scoring and grabbing multiple rebounds at the small forward position. Bailey can shoot the rock and facilitate the basketball when needed.

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This 2024 recruit will bring instant offense for the Scarlet Knights next season, with the ability to score points off the dribble and raise his level of play against the top competition.

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Watch: Rutgers basketball signee Ace Bailey is pure dominance for McEachern

Future Rutgers basketball forward Ace Bailey has a huge weekend.

Rutgers basketball has a real gem in Ace Bailey.

Bailey, who signed with Rutgers in December, is putting together an absolutely dominant senior season. The 6-foot-9 forward from McEachern High School (Powder Spring, Georgia) is showcasing his entire repertoire in his final season before heading to the Big Ten.

A five-star forward, Bailey is a consensus top-three player in the 2024 recruiting class.

On Saturday night, he poured in 33 points for McEachern in a win over Milton (Milton, Georgia). But the night before was nothing short of a clinic as Bailey was unstoppable for McEachern.

Showing off his inside and outside game, Bailey turned heads against North Paulding (Dallas, Georgia) on Friday night with his game above the rim. It was his ability to dunk that was on display as Bailey showed his explosiveness.

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Bailey will arrive at Rutgers over the summer as part of the Scarlet Knights’ much-celebrated 2024 recruiting class. Also in the class is [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag], a five-star guard from Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey).

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Harper committed to Rutgers in December during an event at the Fanatics headquarters building.

Check out these highlights from Bailey during his Friday night game against North Paulding:

NBA draft analyst for ESPN raves about Rutgers basketball’s Ace Bailey: ‘NBA range…highlight-reel explosiveness’

An NBA draft expert praises Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey’s performance this season.

An ESPN analyst raved about the NBA potential of Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey, a Rutgers basketball.

Bailey has been very strong and impressive this season, making s legitimate case to be the nation’s top recruit. His athleticism combined with the range of his offensive game have coupled together to make him an explosive and multiple scorer.

He is a 6-foot-9 forward from McEachern, Georgia who is ranked the No. 3 recruit in the nation by ESPN. He signed with Rutgers in December,

He is one of two Rutgers basketball commits ranked as consensus five-star recruits (the other being [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag]).

Jonathan Givnoy, an NBA Draft analyst for ESPN, praised the performance of Bailey this season and his prospects at the next level (well, technically two levels up):

 

Interestingly, Bailey is seen as a guard. Most analysts and insiders have projected him as a forward at Rutgers.

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Bailey is a key part of the 2024 recruiting class for Rutgers, which is a consensus top-10 class in the nation. It is the first time in Rutgers basketball history that the program has secured commitments from multiple five-star recruits.

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Harper is ranked the second-best player in the nation by ESPN.

Watch: Rutgers commit and 5-star forward Ace Bailey shows his NBA draft potential

Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey puts together a dominating performance for McEachern at ‘The Battle.’

Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey was unstoppable at times on Friday night, the five-star forward putting together at ‘The Battle.’ He did so on the very same Jersey Mike’s Arena court he will call home next year with Rutgers.

Bailey finished with 40 points and 21 rebounds as McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia) beat Camden (Camden, New Jersey) 77-52 in a showcase tournament hosted by Rutgers. Bailey, a 6-foot-9 forward, is a consensus five-star recruit who is ranked as the No. 3 player in the nation by ESPN.

McEachern has won four straight games and is now 9-3 on the season.

Bailey showed some good mid-range game and the ability to be a dominant force in the paint. It was a complete performance from Bailey as it mixed the sublime with some grit.

Check out this impressive dunk from Bailey, showing off the explosive side of his game:

 

Bailey featured heavily in his team’s game in ‘The Battle.’ Future Rutgers teammate Dylan Harper, the nation’s second-highest-ranked recruit, did not play due to injury.

 

Ace Bailey reacts to his Rutgers basketball debut: ‘Felt like I was already playing in the red’

Ace Bailey is tremendous in his Jersey Mike’s Arena debut.

Ace Bailey gave Rutgers basketball fans a taste of his potential on Friday night in his Jersey Mike’s Arena debut. A five-star forward, Bailey went off in a dominating performance at ‘The Battle.’

Bailey had a tremendous performance, putting up 40 points and 21 rebounds as McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia) beat Camden (Camden, New Jersey) 77-52.

Ranked the No. 3 player in the nation by ESPN, Bailey is a consensus top-five recruit and a five-star forward. He signed with Rutgers basketball earlier this month.

And Friday allowed him to debut at Jersey Mike’s Arena. A number of Rutgers fans turned out to see Bailey put together a jaw-dropping performance at ‘The Battle,’ a showcase event being hosted this year at Rutgers.

“It felt like I was already playing in the red. It felt great. The crowd gave great energy. It was just a high school game, I wonder what it is going to be like when I’m here,” Bailey told reporters after the game.

“They came out and showed mad love. They didn’t have to be here, it made me feel good on the inside, they came here to support me.”

 

(h/t to Charlie Parent of ZagsBlog for the video)

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Dylan Harper, a five-star guard also committed to play at ‘The Battle’ with Don Bosco Prep, was unable to go due to injury. Harper is the second-highest ranked recruit in the class by ESPN.

Steve Pikiell talks about 5-star signee Ace Bailey: ‘People will really like watching him play’

Rutgers basketball head coach Steve Pikiell talks about the 2024 recruiting class and landing Ace Bailey.

With Ace Bailey signed, sealed and delivery expected, Rutgers men’s basketball head coach Steve Pikiell was able to publicly comment for the first time on the class of 2024 prospect. A five-star forward, Bailey is a top-five recruit in the nation.

On Saturday, Bailey signed his National Letter of Intent (NLI) and officially committed his future to Rutgers. Bailey had originally given Rutgers his verbal in January.

He is the highest-ranked recruit in program history. The early signing period saw Rutgers land all four committed players in the class of 2024.

Following Wednesday’s win over Georgetown, Pikiell was able to talk a bit about the players he will be getting on campus this summer. Asked about this group, Pikiell said that he is “Thankful (for) all of them, they’re all going to be really good players.”

But Bailey is the pinnacle of this class and the caliber of recruit that Rutgers has never before landed.

“Ace is a s special talent. Loyal, great family, great work ethic,” Pikiell said.

“It just shows you where Rutgers is, I think that’s important We’re a great academic school, we play in a great league. We sell out, we have great crowds.

“To be able to get a player like that will be fun. People will really like watching him play.”

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A forward from Georgia, Bailey is explosive with great length and the ability to play above the rim. He is the second-best player in the nation according to Rivals.

Watch: 5-star Ace Bailey is the highest-ranked commit to ever sign with Rutgers basketball

Ace Bailey officially joins Rutgers basketball.

After nearly 10 months of waiting, Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey made it official, signing with Rutgers basketball on Saturday night. The 5-star forward is the highest-ranked player to ever sign with Rutgers.

Bailey’s signing ceremony came after his high school team, McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia), played on Saturday night.

He is a consensus top-five recruit in the nation. ESPN ranks him as the third-best player in the nation.

An explosive forward, Bailey plays above the rim and is strong in going to the rim. He has great length and has the ability to handle the ball in transition.

Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell has never had a player as a dynamic as Bailey and what he brings to the court in terms of being a complete package at forward.

 

Gavin Griffiths held the distinction of the highest-ranked recruit to ever sign with Rutgers. The four-star forward, now a freshman, was part of the 2023 recruiting class for the Scarlet Knights.

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On Friday night, making his Jersey Mike’s Arena debut, Griffiths scored 25 points in a win over Boston University.

As for the 2024 recruiting class, Rutgers is a consensus top 10 class in the nation.

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(h/t to Mike Broadbent of the ‘Rutgers Podcast‘ for the yeoman work in grabbing the Bailey signing)