Checking in with Rutgers’ Star Duo of Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey

Rutgers took the spotlight early this season with an unusually impressive recruiting class, and our first look at top prospect Ace Bailey gave a clear idea of ​​just how impressive this recruiting class was. While Dylan Harper has led the Scarlet Knights to a 3-0 start, the addition of this second top talent could help Rutgers take another leap.

This first look at the powerful duo resulted in a 90-81 victory over the Monmouth Hawks. Let’s take a look at Ace Bailey’s collegiate debut, as well as Dylan Harper’s impressive body of work through the first four games of the year:

Ace Bailey is considered by most to be the No. 2 prospect in the 2025 NBA draft, behind Duke’s Cooper Flagg. He looked good in his season debut against Monmouth. Bailey has great positional size at 6-foot-4 and impressive ball skills, allowing him to attack from all over the floor. In his first showing, Bailey wasted no time in showcasing his elite scoring ability, finishing the game with 17 points on 50% shooting from the field, including 1-of-3 from beyond the arc.

Many have expressed concerns about Bailey settling for tough fadeaways and pull-up jumpers, and while he can force shots at times, his ability to knock them down as consistently as he does is very intriguing. His knack for making cool jumpers is reminiscent of Jabari Smith in his first season at Auburn, but Bailey has a much higher offensive ceiling thanks to his creativity in creating looks for himself off the jump.

In addition to his scoring in this game, Bailey also contributed six rebounds, two steals and one block. His defensive versatility could keep him at the top of the upcoming draft and adds more tools that could translate to the NBA. His upside is extremely high, and if this level of play continues despite tougher competition, he has a decent chance to challenge for the No. 1 spot.

Dylan Harper played in each of Rutgers’ first four games, scoring 20 or more points in each outing. As a taller senior guard at 6-foot-1, Harper intimidates smaller opponents and uses his quick change of direction to get past taller defenders at the rim. In his most recent game against Monmouth, he recorded 20 points, five rebounds, six assists and two blocks, with shooting splits of 66.7%/66.7%/100%. Harper plays with impressive control and footwork when attacking the court, skills that will likely translate well to the NBA.

While Harper struggled with his shooting in the first three games, hitting just 20% of three and 57.1% from the free-throw line, playing alongside Bailey seemed to open up the playing field for him. He was clearly the focal point of the opposition’s defense before Bailey’s debut, but may now be able to breathe a little easier.

Harper will likely be the first leading guard selected in the upcoming draft, mainly due to his offensive impact and positional size. However, he also has the potential to develop into a serious two-way threat. He has quick feet and active hands, but it’s his instincts that stand out, allowing him to beat his man in the right spots while using his strong frame to throw them off balance. Like Bailey, Harper also has an extremely high ceiling at the NBA level and could have a multi-faceted impact early in his professional career.

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