Ace Bailey (basketball)

Last updated
Ace Bailey
No. 19–Utah Jazz
Position Small forward
League NBA
Personal information
Born (2006-08-13) August 13, 2006 (age 18)
Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school
College Rutgers (2024–2025)
NBA draft 2025: 1st round, 5th overall pick
Drafted by Utah Jazz
Playing career2025–present
Career history
2025–present Utah Jazz
Career highlights
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Airious "Ace" Bailey (born August 13, 2006) [1] is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2024 class.

Contents

Early life and high school career

Bailey grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and initially attended Boyd-Buchanan School. [2] After his freshman year, he moved to Powder Springs, Georgia, and enrolled at McEachern High School. [3] Bailey averaged 22 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and four blocks per game as a junior. [4] He improved his stats to 32.5 points, 15.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.4 blocks per game as a senior. Bailey was selected to play in the 2024 McDonald's All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit during his senior year.

Recruiting

Bailey was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2024 class, according to major recruiting services. [5] [6] On January 15, 2023, he committed to playing college basketball for Rutgers over offers from Ohio State, Kentucky, Kansas, Texas and Oregon. [7] [8] Bailey signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Scarlet Knights on November 12, 2023, during the early signing period. [9] [10]

College recruiting information
NameHometownSchoolHeightWeightCommit date
Ace Bailey
SG / SF 		Chattanooga, TN McEachern (GA)6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg)Jan 15, 2023 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:  5 stars.svg     247Sports:  5 stars.svg     On3:  5 stars.svg     ESPN:  5 stars.svg    (97)
Overall recruit ranking:    Rivals: 2    247Sports: 2    On3: 2    ESPN: 2
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Rutgers 2024 Basketball Commitments". Rivals. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  • "2024 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Recruiting Class". ESPN. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  • "2024 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved May 30, 2025.

College career

Bailey became the highest-ranked recruit in Rutgers program history. [11] [12] After missing the first two games due to injury, he made his college basketball debut on November 15, 2024, scoring 17 points and adding six rebounds, two steals, and one block in a win over Monmouth. [12] [13] On November 20, he recorded his first career double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds against Merrimack. [14] Bailey earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors (alongside Braden Smith and Kasparas Jakucionis) following his career-high 39-point performance against Indiana on January 2, 2025. [15] [16] On January 19, he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second time after leading the team to a 2–0 week and topping the scoring charts with two double-doubles: 20 points and 10 rebounds against UCLA, and 24 points with 11 rebounds against Nebraska. [17]

At the conclusion of his freshman year, Bailey declared for the 2025 NBA Draft on April 23, foregoing his remaining college eligibility. He finished his collegiate career having earned Third-Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors. [18] [19]

Professional career

Bailey was selected with the fifth overall pick by the Utah Jazz in the 2025 NBA draft. [20] On July 2nd, he signed with the Jazz with Walter Clayton Jr. [21]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2024–25 Rutgers 303033.3.460.346.6927.21.31.01.317.6

Personal life

Bailey's mother, Ramika McGee, played college basketball at West Virginia University. [22] Bailey's father, Richard Bailey, played college basketball at Houston. His aunt, Venus Lacy, played in the WNBA and was a member of Team USA's 1996 Olympic team that won a gold medal. [23]

References

  1. ↑ "Ace Bailey". Real GM. RealGM, L.L.C. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Prep roundup: Freshman Ace Bailey helps spark Boyd Buchanan past region rival". Chattanooga Times Free Press . January 11, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  3. ↑ Catapano, John (November 12, 2023). "5-Star Forward Ace Bailey Officially Signs NLI with Rutgers". OnTheBanks.com. SB Nation . Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  4. ↑ Schnyderite, Richard (November 12, 2023). "Rutgers Scarlet Knights Basketball Signee Bio: F Ace Bailey". Rivals.com . Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  5. ↑ Clemente, Christian (January 1, 2023). "5-star SF Ace Bailey includes Auburn in top group". 247Sports . Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  6. ↑ Drummond, Cameron (January 6, 2023). "UK in recruiting race for Airious Bailey, Tahaad Pettiford". Lexington Herald Leader . Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  7. ↑ Fonseca, Brian (January 15, 2023). "Rutgers lands 5-star forward Ace Bailey — highest-ranked hoops recruit in program history". NJ.com . Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  8. ↑ Iseman, Chris (January 15, 2023). "Rutgers basketball beats Ohio State, lands 5-star forward". Asbury Park Press . Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  9. ↑ Fonseca, Brian (November 12, 2023). "5-star forward Ace Bailey makes Rutgers pledge official, becomes highest-ranked signee in program history". NJ.com . Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  10. ↑ Carino, Jerry (November 12, 2023). "Rutgers basketball nips Bryant; Ace Bailey signs". The Record . Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Rutgers lands 5-star junior Ace Bailey — highest-ranked hoops recruit in program history". Tar Heel Times. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Bailey's Rutgers career begins with 17 points, win". ESPN . November 15, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  13. ↑ "How Ace Bailey Fared in His Rutgers' Debut". Sports Illustrated . November 15, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Ace Bailey's 23-point double-double leads No. 24 Rutgers over Merrimack". Sportsnet . November 20, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Ace Bailey Named Big Ten's Freshman of the Week". Rutgers University Athletics. January 5, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Purdue, Illinois, Rutgers Score Men's Basketball Weekly Accolades". Big Ten Conference . January 7, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Ace Bailey Named Big Ten's Freshman of the Week for 2nd Time". Rutgers University Athletics. January 19, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Men's Basketball's Ace Bailey Declares for 2025 NBA Draft". Rutgers University Athletics. April 23, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Bailey entering NBA draft, shares Rutgers 'love'". ESPN . April 23, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  20. ↑ "What Ace Bailey Brings to the Utah Jazz". NBA.com. June 25, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Utah Jazz Sign Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr". NBA.com. July 2, 2025. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Airious Bailey - Men's Basketball". Rutgers University Athletics. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  23. ↑ Fisher, Chris (September 15, 2022). "Kentucky offers 2024 5-star forward Ace Bailey". 247Sports.com . Retrieved November 14, 2023.
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