Rutgers star freshman Bailey out vs

Jeff Borzello, ESPN Personnel WriterNov 6, 2024, 11:43 AM ET

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• Basketball recruiting insider.
• Joined ESPN in 2014.
• Graduate of University of Delaware.Rutgers star freshman Ace Bailey is out for

  Wednesday’s game against Wagner after suffering an injury in practice on Monday, the school revealed, delaying the debut of the forecasted top-five pick.Bailey, whose injury was not defined by the school, will be evaluated on an everyday basis.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated A 6-foot-10 wing from McEachern High School(Georgia), Bailey is anticipated to be

  the centerpiece

  for a Rutgers group getting in the season with the highest expectations in program history. Bailey, ranked No. 2 in the ESPN 100 for the 2024 class, ended up being the program’s highest-ranked hire in history when he committed to the Scarlet Knights in January 2023. He’s a competitor to be the No. 1 choice in June’s NBA draft, ranking No. 2 in ESPN’s 2025 draft rankings behind Duke’s Cooper Flagg. Bailey, who turned 18 years old in August, currently showed flashes of his tremendous talent, scoring 25 points and making four 3-pointers in an exhibit game loss to St. John’s last month.Rutgers was ranked No. 25 in the preseason AP poll, marking simply the second time considering that 1978 that the Scarlet Knights were ranked entering the season.Wednesday’s game against Wagner will still feature the debut of fellow freshman and top-five recruit Dylan Harper, who is No. 3 in ESPN’s draft rankings.Rutgers’2nd game is at home against Saint Peter’s on Nov. 11.