Ace Bailey - Rutgers wing - 18 y/o

Stats: 18 p/g, 7 r/g, 34% 3pt, 1.3 blk

Measurables: 6'8" - 202 lbs - 7'1" wingspan

Bailey is the most polarizing prospect in this class by a mile, a guy with a super high ceiling, but also a super low floor. Bailey is a natural scorer, particularly from the mid-range. He has a smooth, quick release and the ability to hit contested jumpers off the dribble, pull-ups, leaners, and post-up fadeaways. His confidence in his shot is tremendous but sometimes leads to ball-hogging and shot-chucking. At 6'7.5" with a wingspan just over 7 feet, Bailey possesses excellent size and length for an NBA wing. He also shows explosive bursts of athleticism, leading to impressive blocks and dunks. With his length and athleticism, Bailey has the tools to be a versatile defender, capable of guarding multiple positions. He's shown flashes of weak-side shot-blocking and overall defensive impact, and his motor on this end of the floor improved throughout his freshman season. He's a strong rebounder for his position, averaging 7.2 rebounds per game in college. Bailey showed growth throughout his freshman year, particularly in his defensive effort, willingness to pass, and 3-point rate. Given his youth (18 years old) and physical gifts, there's a strong belief he has significant room to develop. While he's an impressive shot-maker, his shot selection can be questionable. He tends to favor contested mid-range jumpers and has been streaky from three-point range (34.6% in college). His free-throw percentage was also inconsistent, though it improved significantly in the second half of the season. Bailey's assist-to-turnover ratio (38 assists to 61 turnovers in 30 games) is an area where he must improve. He can be tunnel-visioned, often looking for his own shot rather than finding open teammates, and his passing can be inaccurate. His handle is loose, which takes away from his ability to get downhill. He's still a bit wiry and needs to add muscle to withstand the physicality of the NBA, particularly when driving to the rim and defending stronger wings. This impacts his finishing at the rim.

NBA Comps: T-Mac, MPJ, Kevin Durant

Best Fits: Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Utah

Ceiling: All-NBA

Floor: Benchwarmer

Projected Draft Range: 3-6