Rutgers star declares for NBA Draft

Rutgers guard/forward Ace Bailey, considered one of college basketball’s top prospects, has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, per Shams Charania of ESPN.

A freshman in 2024-25, Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals in 33.3 minutes per game across 30 outings (all starts) for the Scarlet Knights, posting a shooting line of .460/.346/.692. He was named to the Big Ten’s All-Freshman Team, as well as the All-Big Ten Third Team.

The No. 3 pick on ESPN’s big board, right behind Rutgers teammate Dylan Harper, Bailey had a "polarizing" season, Jeremy Woo noted in ESPN’s most recent mock draft. But the 6-foot-10 swingman’s rare skill set ensured that he remains near the top of most NBA evaluators’ boards.

"I did good," Bailey told ESPN. "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 ball-handling and shooting tightened up. Rutgers had me guarding everyone from point guards to power forwards. I learned a lot."

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony writes that Bailey has "exceptional" shot-making ability and has displayed impressive defensive intensity. He’s also one of the youngest prospects in the 2025 draft class — he’ll turn 19 in August.

"I’m nowhere close to reaching my potential," Bailey said. "I’m still young, still learning, but I’m working every day. My play-making 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."