Ace Bailey from Rutgers isn’t really the cream of the crop in the 2025 NBA Draft. Nope, that title goes to Cooper Flagg from Duke, who’s all set to be the top pick next month. And get this, Bailey isn’t even the top prospect from his own college team. Dylan Harper, Bailey’s ex-teammate at Rutgers and a former five-star player, is expected to be snatched up by the San Antonio Spurs right after Flagg at number two.
Rutgers is going to make history this summer by being the first college team to miss the NCAA Tournament with not one, but two top-five prospects on their roster. Bailey’s game has been a hot topic since he started at Rutgers, alongside Harper, as one of the most hyped recruits. Some folks think Bailey is the next Kevin Durant, while others aren’t so sure he’ll live up to the hype.
Bailey’s got some serious upside. He can make shots from way downtown or pull off a fancy turnaround fadeaway with defenders all up in his grill. The Philadelphia 76ers might kick off the draft night by picking him at number three, but he probably won’t slip past the Washington Wizards at number six. Sounds like Bailey’s a bit of a wild card in this draft, with folks having all sorts of opinions about his game. Not really sure why this matters, but hey, that’s the draft for you.
The last draft cycle had folks scratching their heads over Purdue star Zach Edey, who was a big man with big question marks. Some thought he’d be a late first-round pick, while others, like the Memphis Grizzlies, saw him as a top-10 talent. Bailey, on the other hand, has the potential to be a real star in the NBA. His scoring skills are what’s going to reel in those top-five picks. Sure, his shot selection at Rutgers was a bit iffy at times, but the dude can sink some seriously tough shots.
Bailey measured in a bit shorter than expected at the NBA Draft Combine, coming in at 6-7.5 without shoes. Some folks saw that coming, while others were hoping for a growth spurt or something. But hey, I don’t think his height is going to be a dealbreaker for the teams eyeing him in the draft. Outside of Flagg and Harper, it’s a bit of a free-for-all in picks three through ten, just like last year’s draft. Who knows what’s going to happen on draft night? Your guess is as good as mine.
