Ace Bailey (basketball)
{{Distinguish|Ace Bailey}}
{{Short description|American basketball player (born 2006)}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Ace Bailey
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| team = Rutgers Scarlet Knights
| number = 4
| position = Shooting guard / small forward
| league = Big Ten Conference
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 10
| weight_lb = 200
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2006|8|13}}{{cite web |url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Airious-Bailey/Summary/193999 |title=Ace Bailey |publisher=RealGM, L.L.C |website=Real GM |access-date=January 15, 2024}}
| birth_place =
| nationality = American
| high_school =
| college = Rutgers (2024–present)
| highlights =
- Third-team All-Big Ten (2025)
- Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2025)
- McDonald's All-American (2024)
- Jordan Brand Classic (2024)
- Nike Hoop Summit (2024)
- Mr. Georgia Basketball (2024)
}}
Airious "Ace" Bailey born August 13, 2006) is an American college basketball player for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights of the Big Ten Conference. He was a consensus five-star recruit in the 2024 class.
Early life and high school
Bailey grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and initially attended Boyd-Buchanan School.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2021/jan/11/prep-roundup-freshman-bailey-helps-spark-boy/|title=Prep roundup: Freshman Ace Bailey helps spark Boyd Buchanan past region rival|work=Chattanooga Times Free Press|date=January 11, 2021|access-date=November 12, 2023}} After his freshman year, he moved to Powder Springs, Georgia and enrolled at McEachern High School.{{cite web|url=https://www.onthebanks.com/2023/11/12/23957630/5-star-forward-ace-bailey-officially-signs-nli-with-rutgers|title=5-Star Forward Ace Bailey Officially Signs NLI with Rutgers|first=John|last=Catapano|website=OnTheBanks.com|publisher=SB Nation|date=Nov 12, 2023|access-date=November 14, 2023}} Bailey averaged 22 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and four blocks per game as a junior.{{cite web|url=https://rutgers.rivals.com/news/rutgers-scarlet-knights-basketball-signee-bio-f-ace-bailey|title=Rutgers Scarlet Knights Basketball Signee Bio: F Ace Bailey|first=Richard|last=Schnyderite|website=Rivals.com|date=November 12, 2023|access-date=November 15, 2023}}
Regarded as the No. 2 prospect in the Class of 2024 according to 247Sports, Bailey improved his stats to 32.5 points, 15.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.4 blocks per contest. Bailey was selected to play in the 2024 McDonald's All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic, and Nike Hoops Summit during his senior year.
=Recruiting=
Bailey is a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2024 class, according to major recruiting services.{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-tigers-basketball-recruiting-airious-ace-bailey-201888956/|title=5-star SF Ace Bailey includes Auburn in top group|first=Christian|last=Clemente|website=247Sports.com|date=January 1, 2023|access-date=November 12, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-recruiting/article270710527.html|title=UK in recruiting race for Airious Bailey, Tahaad Pettiford|work=Lexington Herald Leader|date=January 6, 2023|access-date=November 12, 2023}} He committed to play college basketball at Rutgers over offers from Ohio State, Kentucky, Kansas, Texas, and Oregon.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/rutgersbasketball/2023/01/rutgers-lands-highest-ranked-recruit-in-program-history-in-5-star-forward-ace-bailey.html|title=Rutgers lands 5-star forward Ace Bailey — highest-ranked hoops recruit in program history|first=Brian|last=Fonseca|website=NJ.com|date=January 15, 2023|access-date=November 12, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.app.com/story/sports/college/rutgers/2023/01/15/rutgers-basketball-takeaways-as-scarlet-knights-win-in-overtime/69799327007/|title=Rutgers basketball beats Ohio State, lands 5-star forward|work=Asbury Park Press|date=January 15, 2023|access-date=November 14, 2023}} Bailey signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Scarlet Knights on November 12, 2023, during the early signing period.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/2023/11/5-star-forward-ace-bailey-makes-rutgers-pledge-official-becomes-highest-ranked-signee-in-program-history.html|title=5-star forward Ace Bailey makes Rutgers pledge official, becomes highest-ranked signee in program history|first=Brian|last=Fonseca|website=NJ.com|date=November 12, 2023|access-date=November 14, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/college/rutgers/2023/11/12/rutgers-basketball-nips-bryant-as-cliff-omoruyis-ups-downs-continue/71522235007/|title=Rutgers basketball nips Bryant; Ace Bailey signs|work=The Record|date=November 12, 2023|access-date=November 14, 2023}}
{{College athlete recruit start|year=2024}}
{{College athlete recruit entry
|recruit=Airious Bailey
|position=F/G
|hometown=Chattanooga, Tennessee
|highschool=McEachern High School
|feet=6
|inches=10
|weight=200
|commitdate=November 12, 2023
|scout stars=
|rivals stars=5
|247 stars=5
|espn stars=5
|espn grade=97
}}
{{College athlete recruit end
|rivals overall=2
|247 overall=2
|espn overall=2
|year=2024
|accessdate=February 26, 2025
|bball=yes
}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=College=
Personal life
Bailey's mother Ramika McGee played college basketball at West Virginia University.{{cite web |title=Airious Bailey - Men's Basketball |url=https://scarletknights.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/airious-bailey/14341 |website=Rutgers University Athletics |access-date=25 September 2024 |language=en}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/kentucky/article/ace-bailey-kentucky-basketball-recruiting-offer--193432711/|title=Kentucky offers 2024 5-star forward Ace Bailey|first=Chris|last=Fisher|website=247Sports.com|date=September 15, 2022|access-date=November 14, 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://scarletknights.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/airious-bailey/14341 Rutgers Scarlet Knights bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bailey, Ace}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Tennessee
Category:McDonald's High School All-Americans