Rutgers Star Freshman Ace Bailey Declares for NBA Draft
In a move that has been anticipated by many, Rutgers freshman Ace Bailey, who is projected to be the No. 3 pick, has officially declared for the 2025 NBA draft. Bailey has also signed with Omar Cooper of Lifestyle Sports Agency, as he confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday.
Bailey expressed his gratitude towards the Rutgers community, saying, “I want to thank everyone at Rutgers. The community for supporting us and traveling across the country to watch us. My teammates, coaches and support staff. The donors. The strength and conditioning coach, nutritionist, managers and also the security guards, Rob and Julio, for keeping us safe. Everyone pushed me to get better every day, to be the best version of myself. I am thankful for everything they did for me. I felt a lot of love from everyone.”
Reflecting on his college experience, Bailey added, “I loved being in college and playing college basketball. The student section, the chants, the blackout games, the wins and losses. All of it.”
Bailey’s performance on the court has been nothing short of impressive. He was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and was third-team All-Big Ten after averaging 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. His partnership with freshman guard Dylan Harper, the projected No. 2 pick, was a highlight for the Scarlet Knights, despite the team finishing with a 15-17 record.
Bailey reflected on his growth over the season, stating, “I did good. I could have done way better, but I matured this season. The game slowed down for me. My IQ got higher. I got faster and way stronger. My ballhandling and shooting tightened up. Rutgers had me guarding everyone from point guards to power forwards. I learned a lot.”
Standing at 6-foot-10, Bailey is known for his exceptional shotmaking ability. He made 47 3-pointers in 30 games and had three games where he scored over 30 points in Big Ten play. As one of the youngest prospects in the draft, not turning 19 until August, Bailey brings a combination of aggressiveness and defensive intensity that complements his scoring instincts.
Bailey is confident about his future, saying, “I’m nowhere close to reaching my potential. I’m still young, still learning, but I’m working every day. My playmaking is improving. NBA teams will get an energetic player ready to talk, lead and put people in the right positions. I can take a good team to a better level.”
Currently in Atlanta, Bailey is preparing for the predraft process. He is an avid student of the game, watching NBA games nightly and studying players like Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander closely.
For those keeping track, the NBA draft combine is scheduled for May 11-18 in Chicago, with the draft itself taking place on June 25-26 in New York.
- Bailey’s college stats: 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks per game
- Projected No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA draft
- Teamed with Dylan Harper, projected No. 2 pick
- NBA draft combine: May 11-18, Chicago
- NBA draft: June 25-26, New York
Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and international teams.
Originally Written by: Jonathan Givony
