After the NBA draft lottery, Duke’s Cooper Flagg is locked in as the overall number one pick. Teams’ needs will determine the rest of the picks, and as it stands, Rutgers star Ace Bailey is still projected to be a top-five selection. Bailey’s too talented for teams to pass up on him, regardless of whether they’re lacking in his position.
Ace Bailey Measurements Draw Comparison to Ex-Duke Superstar
The 2025 draft prospects already had their measurements and physical examinations at the combine, and media and scouts are beginning to see similarities between NBA stars and the young prospects.
Ace Bailey’s physical tools jump off the page immediately for a wing prospect, drawing comparisons to Jayson Tatum in our historical database. Similarly big and long enough to play the 4 once he gets stronger, especially with that 8’11 standing reach. pic.twitter.com/cM35JCyFtF
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 14, 2025
Bailey has earned comparisons to Jayson Tatum due to his similar physicals at the combine.
“Ace Bailey’s physical tools jump off the page immediately for a wing prospect, drawing comparisons to Jayson Tatum in our historical database. Similarly big and long enough to play the 4 once he gets stronger, especially with that 8’11 standing reach”. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony said.
Bailey is a shot-making demon. Standing at 6’8″, he shows an ability to make a wide range of difficult shots. He can dominate the midrange while also stepping back and knocking down a shot from 3-point range. But there are concerns about his ability to consistently create against set defenses and get to the basket.
Although Bailey has the quickness, explosiveness, height, and length, he is still wiry and can be bumped off his intended driving path. This should change as he adds more muscle.
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Bailey was named Third-Team All-Big Ten and to the All-Freshman Team this year. He averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 45.8% from the field. Bailey scored a total of 510 points and currently sits third all-time in Rutgers’ history.
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