NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
It’s not that uncommon for blueblood programs to have two five-star prospects arrive on campus the same year.
It rarely happens at schools that don’t have that kind of tradition. And that’s what makes No. 25 Rutgers one of the most intriguing stories of the season as the Scarlet Knights welcome Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper.
Bailey was the nation’s No. 2 prospect in his high school class and Harper was No. 3, according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports. The impact they can have as freshman teammates became apparent Oct. 17 when Rutgers faced St. John’s in a preseason exhibition. Rutgers lost 91-85, but Bailey scored 25 points and Harper added 20.
“Dylan, for a freshman, he’s got so much control,” St. John’s coach Rick Pitino said after the game. “He plays like a senior. He’s so much under control. He’s got a lot of Clyde Frazier in him, the way he plays. He was amazing. Ace just has great talent. Both of them are great. I think they’re terrific. Obviously they deserve the ranking that they’re getting.”
Bailey, who is 6-10, averaged 33.4 points, 15.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.9 blocks while winning a state title his senior year at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia.
Harper, the son of former NBA guard Ron Harper, had 23 points per game his senior year at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey.
“They’re great kids, first and foremost,” Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. “They’re really good passers. They’ve got to learn some things. College defense is something they’re going to continue to get better at. But they’re exciting.”
247Sports director of scouting Adam Finkelstein said Harper is more polished at this point, but Bailey has the greater upside.
“I think it’s very possible that Harper is the more consistently productive college freshman and Bailey gets picked higher in the draft,” Finkelstein said. “I think Bailey, with a great year, could contend for that No. 1 overall pick….
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/college-basketball-freshman-class-features-184408186.html
Author : NBC Sports
Publish date : 2024-10-30 18:44:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
