The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have had a rough season despite having two top-five prospects on the roster. Likewise, Rutgers forward Ace Bailey had an up and down season which reveals both his strengths and his concerning weaknesses. Nevertheless, Bailey possesses a combination of size, athleticism, and scoring ability that teams would be intrigued by. Let’s dive into Ace Bailey’s overall game in his 2025 NBA Draft profile.
Ace Bailey 2025 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Bailey played in a lone collegiate season at Rutgers, teaming up with another top-five prospect in Dylan Harper. Unfortunately, the two of them together were unable to will the team to the NCAA tournament. The roster outside of those two did not contain much talent, and Harper was out for a good portion of the season due to an illness. Individually, Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 33.3 minutes per game. He shot 46% from the field, 34.6% from three, and 69.2% from the free-throw line. Bailey showcased many highs and lows in his game throughout the season. However, his size at six-foot-eight and his shot-making abilities stood out, especially given the state of the roster. For his efforts on the season, Bailey was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team and the Big Ten All-Freshman team.
Strengths
Standing at six-foot-eight with a seven-foot wingspan, Bailey has the athleticism and physical tools to make a big impact on both ends. He can make athletic defensive plays on one end and convert them into highlight shots on the other. As an offensive player, Bailey is capable of scoring on all three levels. However, he does most of his work in the mid-range and from beyond the arc. Bailey has great touch on these shots and is extremely comfortable taking pull-up shots. Not only that, but he can shoot the ball in a variety of ways, including step-backs or coming off of screens. He has a buttery-smooth shooting form that has a high release point, allowing him to straight-up shoot over shorter defenders. Additionally, Bailey has impressive body control and footwork that he uses to beat opposing defenders.
While much of his defensive potential is theoretical, he has all the tools to be an impactful defender. He has shown flashes of being a versatile defensive piece who can defend multiple positions. In particular, Bailey is quick enough to stay in front of perimeter players and has the size to defend wings. His length allows Bailey to be a solid weakside shot-blocker. Furthermore, Bailey has also used his length to force turnovers through jumping passing lanes. Also, it’s important to note that Bailey can play with a motor and is a good rebounder.
Weaknesses
There is a lot to like about Bailey’s game, however, he does have many noticeable issues that he must address. On offense, one major problem is the fact that he can struggle to get to the rim due to his shaky handle and lack of strength. Due to this, Bailey tends to settle for tough, contested mid-range shots. Generally, Bailey’s shot selection is quite poor, and he takes bad shots way too early in the shot clock. Bailey can also play with tunnel vision, completely ignoring teammates. While he did improve in this regard over the course of the season, it is still a major problem that he needs to sort out. Even when he does pass, Bailey is turnover-prone and has a poor assist-to-turnover ratio.
On the defensive end, Bailey is susceptible to serious lapses on defense, especially off the ball. Ball-watching is a major problem of Bailey. There were numerous times this season where Bailey was back-doored due to his poor defensive awareness. Sometimes, Bailey can be so disengaged on defense where he isn’t in a position to guard anyone. Bailey has a ton of upside, but he seriously needs to work on his defensive awareness and shot selection.
NBA Comparison
Considering Bailey’s size and shooting ability, he bears resemblance to several players. One specific comparison is Michael Porter Jr., as they both are tall forwards with can be big-time perimeter shot-makers. Brandon Miller is another name that comes to mind, given their similar builds and talent for scoring.
2025 NBA Draft Projection
Top-five pick.
Photo credit: © Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
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