Tag: Airious Bailey

What does representing Rutgers in the McDonald’s All-American game mean to five-star forward Ace Bailey?

Airious Bailey talks about representing Rutgers at the McDonald’s All-American Game.

On Tuesday night, Ace Bailey will play in the McDonald’s All-American Game. The five-star forward will partner with future Rutgers teammate Dylan Harper in the game.

The five-star tandem of Bailey and Harper are among the best players in the nation in the 2025 recruiting class. They represent the highest-ranked recruiting class in Rutgers basketball history.

Bailey is the top-ranked player in the nation according to USA TODAY High School Sports. He will face off against Duke commit Cooper Flagg, the nation’s top-ranked player by all the other recruiting outlets.

Going up against Flagg will be a marquee measuring stick for Bailey, but it isn’t one that concerns him.

“I mean, I mean it is what it is, just come to play. Play my heart out. Play my game, just do what I do best,” Bailey said.

“So the end results are going to be the end results.”

Philosophical from Bailey if not level-headed.

Bailey will play on the West team and will count Harper as his teammate on Tuesday night and moving forward. Potentially, it is a preview of things to come for Rutgers fans.

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The duo of Bailey and Harper are the highest-ranked players to ever sign with Rutgers.

And with this star-studded class comes a lot of attention and buzz. For Bailey, speaking on Monday during a press conference for the McDonald’s All-American Game, the attention is something that leads him to be thankful.

“I mean, it’s a pleasure like I said, just thank God,” Bailey said.

“I mean for me and Dylan to come here – him being a New Jersey kid me being a Tennessee kid – just a blessing to come support and to show where we are going to bring Rutgers. It’s just a blessing.”

Ace Bailey puts up 32 points as McEachern rolls into Georgia state finals

Ace Bailey puts together a complete performance for McEachern to get to the state championship in Georgia.

Ace Bailey has shown no signs of a letdown as the five-star forward

The win from McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia) sees them into the AAAAAAA state title game in Georgia. The hard-fought 63-56 win over Wheeler (Marietta, Georgia) was another vintage performance from Bailey. The Rutgers basketball product finished with 32 points and 15 rebounds.

Last week, Bailey was named the No. 1 player in the nation by USA TODAY High School Sports. The Georgia forward earned the top spot because of his unquestioned athleticism coupled with an inside/outside game that is polished and impressive.

On Saturday in the state playoffs, Bailey popped off several shots that showed his range. He also did very well in getting to the rim.

 

Bailey is a McDonald’s All-American selection as well as a finalist to be the Naismith Boys High School Player of the Year.

McEachern (26-5) has won 13 straight games; their last loss came on Jan. 15 against Harvard-Westlake.

They will play Grayson (Loganville, Georgia) on Saturday night for the state championship.

Oh no he didn’t! Rutgers basketball commit, 5-star forward Ace Bailey posterizes an opponent

Rutgers basketball commit Ace Bailey is at it again with another highlight dunk.

Rutgers basketball has never had a player like Ace Bailey. The five-star forward, who signed with Rutgers during the early signing period, is a walking highlight film.

On a weekly basis, Bailey is showing why he was a coveted player by Rutgers. He is ranked a consensus five-star and is the second-best player in the nation according to ESPN and is a 6-foot-10 forward from McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia).

Bailey is simply a unique player, one who is explosive to the rim but who is smooth in transition with the ball in his hands. He has range with his shooting and he is a strong defender as well as a very good and committed rebounder.

But these dunks show just how explosive Bailey is and give a glimpse into his NBA potential.

 

This is a one-and-done player for Rutgers if he continues on this trajectory.

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Bailey joins a Rutgers recruiting class that is top 10 in the nation. The class also features Dylan Harper, a five-star guard from Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey).

It is the first time in program history that Rutgers has two players ranked as five-star recruits.

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Harper is the No. 3 player in the nation, which is also a first for Rutgers. Never before have the Scarlet Knights had two of the nation’s top three players in a single class.

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 basketball commit Dylan Harper is dominant in the ‘City of Palms Classic’

Dylan Harper, a Rutgers basketball commit, was strong on Tuesday in the City of Palms Classic.

Dylan Harper showed on Tuesday night why the Rutgers basketball commit is considered one of the top players in the nation. It was a sensational output from Harper and more evidence of the special talent he is bringing to the Big Ten next year.

Tuesday’s win by Dob Bosco is another piece of convincing evidence why Harper is a five-star recruit and was highly coveted by several of the nation’s top programs.

According to ESPN, Harper is the top guard in the country and the second-best overall recruit.

Harper finished with 28 points, eight rebounds and three assists as Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey) cruised to a 76-50 win over McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia). McEachern was paced by Airious Bailey, a five-star forward who is also committed to Rutgers.

The duo of Harper and Bailey (who already signed with Rutgers) makes the Scarlet Knights one of the top 2024 recruiting classes. Bailey, the No. 3 recruit in the nation, put up 24 points in the loss.

Harper showcased his ability on the dribble but also had an explosiveness that is encouraging for Rutgers. He showed his good range and ability to pull up and pop a jump shot.

 

But Harper was also very strong in getting to the rim. The guard showed strength in getting to the basket and creating his own shot.

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With the win, Don Bosco is now 2-0. McEachern is 5-3. Bailey was very strong in the performance, but Harper’s Don Bosco was simply too strong and fresh in the second half.

 

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Two weeks ago at a ceremony at the Fanatics headquarters in New York City, Harper committed to the Rutgers basketball program. He also had programs such as Duke and Indiana among his finalists.

Why did 4-star Lathan Sommerville pick Rutgers basketball this week?

Lathan Sommerville believes in the direction of Rutgers basketball.

Lathan Sommerville made it official this week, turning his commitment into a signed letter of intent to play for Rutgers basketball. The four-star forward is certainly a building block piece for the Scarlet Knights and head coach Steve Pikiell.

He is part of a Rutgers basketball recruiting class that is the best in program history.

Sommerville was a national recruit and a big get for Rutgers at a position of need. He was ranked as a four-star recruit and ranked No. 120 nationally in the 247Sports Composite.

In May, Sommerville announced a top seven that included Villanova, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Bradley, Xavier, Missouri and Virginia Tech as in addition to Rutgers. His offer list also included the likes of Bradley, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Xavier.

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“I picked Rutgers because it’s a great program with a coaching staff and supporters,” Sommerville told Rutgers Wire this week.

“I also fit their system offensively and defensively. That’s where I feel I will progress the most.”

Sommerville is one of four recruits who signed with Rutgers over the past week. On Saturday, five-star forward [autotag]Airious Bailey[/autotag]. Also part of this class are [autotag]Dylan Grant[/autotag] (a four-star guard) and three-star forward [autotag]Bryce Dortch[/autotag].

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ESPN ranks this class as having three signed players who are four-star recruits. This could be a program-defining class for Rutgers.

“I feel like we are really versatile and skilled. I also feel like we have a lot of potential and a lot to prove,” Sommerville said.

“We’re getting closer and closer as the time goes on.”

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)

Rutgers women’s basketball recruit Mikayla Blake stars at Rucker Park

Mikayla Blake, a Rutgers basketball recruiting target, was a standout at Rucker Park on Saturday.

Well, they really should rename it Rucker Park, especially after three Rutgers basketball targets stood out on Saturday night.

Mikayla Blake, a guard at Rutgers Prep, was named the MVP of the women’s SLAM Summer Classic. She is a five-star recruit and recently had Rutgers in her top seven.

In addition to Rutgers, her top seven includes Indiana, Stanford, Tennessee, UCLA, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin.

ESPN ranks her as the No. 16 player in the nation.

Playing at the famed Rucker Part, Blake showed off why she is the top women’s basketball recruit in the tri-state area in the 2024 recruiting class.

 

Blake wasn’t the only high school prep star with strong linkings to Rutgers. On Saturday, five-star forward Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey (a Rutgers men’s basketball commit) was one of the stars of the nightcap. And fellow five-star Dylan Harper, who has Rutgers in his final five, also put in a strong performance in the game.

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Ace Bailey remains sold on Rutgers basketball: ‘It’s been great’

Ace Bailey talks about Rutgers basketball.

Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey has been putting on a clinic for the ‘Athletes of Tomorrow.’ The Rutgers basketball commit has left little doubt that he is one of the nation’s top players and a truly elite talent.

Bailey, a five-star forward who committed to Rutgers in January, has been a revelation at the Tip-Off Classic in Suwanee, GA. the class of 2024 prospect has shown dominance in the low post, the ability to play above the rim and a strong defensive presence as well as being able to rebound.

He is a consensus top-three recruit in the nation.

Reporter Dylan Clearfield asked Bailey about “Being a Rutgers commit right now” and why he committed to the Big Ten program.

“It’s been great. I’ve loved it ever since I committed – before I even committed,” Bailey told Clearfield.

“It’s been great.”

A 6-foot-9, 200-pound forward from McEachern (Powder Springs, GA) committed to Rutgers in January following the Scarlet Knights’ overtime win against Ohio State.

The interview, conducted this week, included Bailey talking about what players and coaches influenced his game and development. He was also asked the question of if he ever thought this would happen and he’d become an elite high school basketball prospect.

“I really didn’t. It was always a dream, I never knew I’d get this good, be the person I am now,” Bailey said.

“Keep getting better every day, keep working. Staying humble, put God first.”

 

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With the addition of four-star Bryce Dortch, Rutgers basketball now has one of the top recruiting classes in the nation (and might be No. 1 soon)

Rutgers basketball has a top six recruiting class in the nation.

With the commitment of four-star forward Bryce Dortch on Tuesday, Rutgers basketball made a move

A four-star recruit according to Rivals and 247Sports, Dortch’s commitment gives Rutgers two four-star commits (Dortch along with center Lathan Sommerville) and a five-star (Airious Bailey).

With the commitment of Dortch, the Rutgers class is currently second in the nation on both Rivals and 247Sports. The consensus top class currently is North Carolina, with 247Sports ranking the Tar Heels as currently having commitments from two five-star players and one four-star.

This is significant for Rutgers, as the program has never had such a highly-rated recruiting class in the modern era of recruiting services. The class has the chance to be a transformational one with the potential of adding another five-star player very much real.

Dylan Harper, the top-ranked player in the nation according to On3 and 247Sports, is a consensus five-star recruit who has Rutgers very much in the mix. He is the second-best player in the nation per ESPN.com and third overall for Rivals.

Bailey is ranked as the third-best recruit in the nation by ESPN.

Rutgers was out in Colorado this week at a USA Basketball event to recruit Harper. Assistant coach Brandin Knight was present at a practice over the weekend.

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Ranked the No. 125 player in the nation according to Rivals, Dortch is a 6-foot-7 forwad at Brimmer & May School (Chestnut Hill, MA). He recently took an official visit to Marquette and holds an offer list that includes UMass, Providence, Seton Hall, Temple, Texas A&M, VCU and Virginia Tech among others.

 

On3 is the outlier when it comes to the national ranking for the program, with Rutgers at sixth nationally in their rankings. Bailey is a five-star at On3 but Dortch and Sommerville are both three-star recruits (both are top 50 players at their position according to On3).

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