Former <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/rutgers-scarlet-knights/">Rutgers</a> star <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/ace-bailey-150396/">Ace Bailey</a> was selected by the Utah Jazz with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. His pro dreams are now a reality.



While Rutgers did not make the NCAA Tournament with Bailey as well as fellow lottery pick Dylan Harper, the pairing was highly productive. Bailey showed flashes of elite scorer potential in the NBA and has unique size.



In 30 games last season, Bailey averaged 17.6 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game, 1.3 assists per game, shot 46% from the floor and 34.6% from three-point range. Some NBA players, <a href="https://x.com/briannnnf/status/1872310707313852488">like Kevin Durant, were very complimentary of Bailey’s game.</a>



As a member of the Class of 2024, Bailey was a five-star-plus recruit out of Chattanooga (Tenn.) McEachern (Ga.),<a href="https://www.on3.com/news/on3-industry-ratings-rankings/"> according to the On3 Industry Ranking</a>, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in Georgia, the No. 2 small forward in the class and the No. 2 overall prospect in the class.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-nba-draft-experts-are-saying-about-ace-bailey">What NBA Draft experts are saying about Ace Bailey</h2>



On3’s resident NBA Draft expert James Fletcher III liked Bailey’s game in college while playing for the Scarlet Knights. But there are parts of his game that need much more development, outside his shotmaking and scoring, in order to be a top tier NBA player one day.



“Ace Bailey has run away with the title of most polarizing prospect in the NBA Draft this season, with a huge gulf in opinions,” <a href="https://www.on3.com/pro/news/2025-nba-draft-board-3-0-ranking-top-75-prospects-after-nba-combine-withdrawals/">Fletcher III wrote.</a> “The shot-making ability is undoubted, but questions about his overall efficiency and ability to play within the construct of most professional schemes leave some worried. While there is a tempting upside, there is also a floor which losers the overall value.”



Bailey was ranked No. 5 on Fletcher III’s Big Board 3.0. His teammate, Harper, was ranked No. 2 behind top prospect Cooper Flagg (Duke).



RotoWire’s profile of Bailey actually compares him to Durant, Michael Porter, Brandon Miller and Jabari Smith. The Rutgers product has the makings of an elite player.“Similar to Porter and Miller, Bailey could immediately be a solid third offensive option for a team with a great playmaker already, but it’ll take a couple of years before he’s developed into a polished offensive product,” his <a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/ace-bailey">profile read.</a> “While there are visions of Durant when watching Bailey play, Durant’s development coming into the league was well ahead of where Bailey is now. Smith had a promising start to his career, but his development was put on hold when the Rockets emerged as contenders this season.”

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