When the buzzer sounded on Rutgers’ 89-97 double overtime loss to USC in what would be their final game of the 2024-2025 season, all eyes were on freshman sensation Ace Bailey. Despite his 17-point effort the Scarlet Knights couldn’t overcome the Trojans, ending their disappointing campaign with a 15-17 record.
But as the dust settled on a season that began with just five victories in their first ten games, a bombshell announcement sent shockwaves through college basketball.
Ace Bailey’s Major Announcement and More
It has been reported that Bailey who is projected to be the No. 3 prospect has has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, turning his brief but stellar Rutgers tenure into a launchpad for professional stardom.
Rutgers star freshman Ace Bailey has declared for the 2025 NBA draft, Bailey tells ESPN. Bailey is the No. 3 prospect in ESPN’s NBA draft projections. pic.twitter.com/UW18n4hk6z
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 23, 2025
Bailey officially joined Rutgers in 2024 but he committed to the college the previous year, becoming the highest-ranked recruit in school history. The hype surrounding his commitment was massive and he lived up to it. From the moment he stepped on the court Bailey’s athleticism, shot creation, and two-way potential were on full display.
During his 30-game stint Bailey demonstrated consistent play by averaging 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds together with 1.3 assists and single-blocked shots each game at 46% field goal efficiency and 34.6% beyond the arc accuracy. His unique capability to shoot from everywhere made opponents struggle to defend him.
“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 ball handling and shooting tightened up. Rutgers had me guarding everyone from point guards to power forwards. I learned a lot,” said Bailey to ESPN in an interview.
Moreover his stellar play didn’t go unnoticed. Bailey was named Third-team All-Big Ten and also earned Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection.
Even though Rutgers fell short of making the NCAA Tournament, Bailey’s individual success was impossible to ignore. He gave the Scarlet Knights a national spotlight, brought excitement to the fanbase, and set himself up as a surefire first-round pick.
Ace Bailey’s Message to His Team & Coaching Staff
Although Bailey’s time with Rutgers was short but it was impactful. In just a brief stint with the program, he formed a close bond with both his teammates and the coaching staff leaving a lasting impression on those around him.
This strong connection led Bailey to share a heartfelt message with everyone he spent time with at Rutgers.
“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. I loved being in college and playing college basketball. The student section, the chants, the blackout games, the wins and losses. All of it,” said Bailey in an interview with ESPN.
Bailey trained under the guidance of head coach Steve Pikiell, who has led Rutgers since 2016. As Bailey prepares for the next chapter in his career all eyes now turn to see which team will be fortunate enough to select this talented young star.