Rutgers homerun effort: Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper can build legacy on way to NBA Draft

Rutgers made a homerun effort in the 2024-25 season, and head coach Steve Pikiell connected on the recruiting trail. Guaranteed attention was secured when five-star freshmen Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper chose to play college basketball in New Jersey at Rutgers.

Now, armed with a supporting cast of transfer portal additions, the dynamic guard-forward duo has a chance to build legacy before entering the 2025 NBA Draft.

Pikiell was able to land the duo which headlined a No. 6-ranked recruiting class, a feat made easy when securing Bailey – the No. 2 overall player in the On3 Industry Rankings – and Dylan Harper – the No. 3 overall player. Now the time for performance has arrived, with an early Top 25 ranking to accompany the preseason accolades.

Defining what legacy means for Bailey and Harper this early is difficult, given the volatility of postseason play in college basketball. While on-court results will surely play a role, history is already made by choosing to forego the traditional blue-blood footprint and combine forces at a school which lacks the historic list of top NBA alums but offers all the resources needed.

Ace Bailey

Although he has played just one college game to this point, missing the first week of action with injury, Ace Bailey is already considered a Top Five prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft class. He also has the best chance to challenge Duke’s Cooper Flagg for the No. 1 overall pick, given his combination of size and skill.

Long identified for his offensive ability, which projects to translate at any level of basketball, Bailey can create in a number of ways. In part, the 6-foot-10 forward uses his high-level athleticism to create space or get downhill.

Without a long track record at some of the prestigious high school events his competitors frequented, there is a high emphasis placed on his ability to make a quick transition to the college level and develop an efficient game.

Bailey got off to a fast start there, scoring 17 points with six rebounds and three stocks (steals + blocks) in his debut vs. Monmouth. He shot 50-percent from the field and 33.3-percent from 3.

Defense is an area where Bailey can prove himself quickly by using that same athleticism to compete.

Dylan Harper

To start the season, Dylan Harper already has more tape to study than his teammate. He also brings big-time pedigree as the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper and brother of former Rutgers star Ron Harper Jr., now in the G-League.

Dylan Harper has started quickly, showcasing his ability to run the show at point guard. He is averaging 21.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists through three games. He also holds a 62.5-percent effective field goal percentage.

With a 6-foot-6 frame, Harper is the perfect mold NBA scouts now look for at point guard. As the league continues to get taller across the board, the emphasis on finding tall guards able to dribble, pass and shoot is evident across the draft board.

Currently projected inside the Top Five of the 2025 NBA Draft, he has done nothing to dissuade projections from placing him at the top of a long list of talented guards ready to come off the board in a talented class.