By Liam Reilly
@liampreilly852
ESPN’s Class of 2024 Top 100 Recruits list is filled with future star talent. Headlining this year’s class is No.1-ranked prospect and Duke commit Cooper Flagg, who is already considered the top pick in the 2025 NBA draft and a generational talent by scouts. Flagg may be the consensus No.1 player, but the No.3-ranked prospect isn’t far behind.
Rutgers commit Airious “Ace” Bailey, a 6-foot-8 small forward and 5-star recruit who plays for McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, is a talented wing prospect who has sharp physical tools, can knock down 3-point shots and is a dominant rebounder. The Indians are 13-5 on the year, with Bailey’s play being a key factor.
Baily, who was ranked 26th in February 2022, has made a leap all the way to third overall. McEachern head coach Tremayne Anchrum has been in Bailey’s corner since his sophomore year.
“We knew it was just a matter of time, everybody wants everything to happen right away but we’re patient about it,” Anchrum said. “He put the hours and work in so we knew this was going to be the outcome.”
Bailey committed to Rutgers a year ago today, on Jan. 15, 2023.
“It’s been great, they’ve been showing me love since I committed and still to this day,” Bailey said. “I feel at home. The culture, the people, the community all are great.”
Anchrum knows from experience that Bailey has a lot to bring to the table for the Scarlet Knights.
“Versatility, being active and he plays so hard for every practice and game so they’re gonna get a warrior,” Anchrum said.
Rutgers’ fanbase got its first peek of what Bailey is bringing to Jersey Mike’s Arena when McEachern took part in The Battle, a series of showcases aimed to display the top talent in high school. Bailey put on show with 40 points and 21 rebounds in a dominant performance over Camden High.
“It felt great, it felt good and I’m blessed to be put in that position,” Bailey said when asked what playing at his future home court meant to him. “I appreciate the crowd showing me love from tip-off.”
Rutgers fans were also treated to seeing one of their other commits play at The Battle when No. 2 ranked prospect Dylan Harper of Don Bosco High School arrived on the scene and averaged 30.7 points per game.
Both Bailey and Harper were selected to the 25th annual edition of the Nike Hoop Summit to represent Team USA. The future Scarlet Knights will go toe-to-toe with the top prospects from around the world. This isn’t the first time the duo played together, as they teamed up in the Elite 24 game in August.
“Him and I are like brothers,” Bailey said. “We talk and communicate every day to each other, watching each other on TV. It’s all love.”
At the 2024 Spalding Hoophall Classic, facing off against Harvard-Westlake, McEachern started off slowly, and he and his team found themselves down 32-20 at the half. Bailey unexpectedly struggled, going 0-4 on 3-point shooting and miscommunicating a few times with teammates on passes.
During the second half, however, Bailey shined. The 5-star showed why he should be in the talks for the top recruit after slamming down a dunk and splashing a deep three to cut the deficit down to a one-point game. The Indians were able to force overtime, but ultimately lost 60-59.
Although he had a slow start, Bailey had a solid game with 21 points and 14 rebounds. The same can’t be said for his shooting, as he went 1-for-7 from three-point range. The senior made up for it on the defensive end, collecting three blocks and a steal.
Bailey holds one trait that doesn’t appear on the statsheet, being a leader. Anchrum says he brings every quality a leader can.
“Scoring, rebounding and blocking shots, he brings everything,” Anchrum said.
Fellow 2024 recruits Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper were also present at Hoophall. Flagg had 15 points and 10 rebounds in his last game while Harper dropped 22 points. Bailey isn’t worried about where he’s ranked. He is focused only on getting better.
Basketball runs deep in the Bailey family, as his mom, Ramika, played at West Virginia, his dad, Richard, played at Houston, and his aunt Venus played in the WNBA. Bailey received advice from his mom about her JUCO days.
“She told me grades are the biggest thing, so I take that very seriously,” Bailey said. “She told me that they were running at three in the morning, doing all crazy stuff. I was younger when she told me and I’m experiencing it now, so I needed that.”
Getting to the NBA is a goal for Bailey. He plans on being one and done at Rutgers and hope to be selected for the 2025 NBA draft. Being able to play with superstars in the league would be a blessing to him.
“Wherever Kevin Durant or [Jayson] Tatum is where I want to play, Paul George too,” Bailey said.
Photo by Patrick Fergus/The Student