On an episode of “The Knighthood Podcast,” Rutgers star Ace Bailey shared the story of his turning point in high school basketball.
The podcast, broadcast three months ago on the official Rutgers men’s basketball YouTube channel, featured host Jeremiah Williams and the two highest-ranked recruits in Rutgers history, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. They talked about their high school basketball careers, college recruiting, favorite NBA players, and more.
One of the highlights of the podcast is Ace Bailey’s moment of change in high school. Ace had recently transitioned from Boyd-Buchanan School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, and had limited playing time.
“I started high school at home in Chattanooga… And then I moved like my sophomore year. My sophomore year… I only played like three and four games because of the transition” (24:43-24:58 ).
When asked about the exact moment it began to take off, Ace responded:
“My eighth grade year, before freshman year, I went to a camp in Kansas. It was like a group of players there like Crossroads Elite. That made me grow. Taking what I did at that camp to school baseball, I say Seriously. It really exploded from there” (25:11-25:36).
Ace also talked about how he has been adapting to university life:
“I mean, it’s been great. Summer workouts have been fun. We’ve been working in a weight room, on and off the court… it’s all been fun, it’s been great. So keep building off of that.” that” (1:20- 1:33).
The 6-foot-10 Ace Bailey committed to play college basketball at Rutgers as a five-star recruit and one of the top players in the class of 2024. As a senior, the 18-year-old guard averaged 32.5 points , 15.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. His brilliant performances earned him a selection in the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game and earned him the 2024 Mr. Georgia Basketball award.
What to make of Ace Bailey’s college career at Rutgers so far
The 18-year-old guard is quickly making a name for himself in college basketball. In just nine games for Rutgers, he is already showing off his impressive skills. Bailey is currently averaging 17.9 points per game and has recorded ten steals and seven blocks this season, proving to be a formidable presence on the court.
While he still has room to grow, his performance so far suggests he is on his way to becoming a standout player. As he continues to develop, Rutgers fans can expect even more dominant performances reminiscent of his high school days.
Edited by Nadim El Kak.