It’s that time of year again. College basketball is back, and we’re already kicking off the season with our first exhibition games. Last night, we saw two of the most promising college players in the country, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. They took the floor together as Rutgers faced off against St. Jonh's. Both looked formidable as they showed us exactly why they were two of the highest high school recruits in the country!
Even though this game ended in a loss for Rutgers, there is still a ton to be hopeful for. Bailey and Harper both showed great promise in their first matchup. Ace ended the game with 25 points, five rebounds, an assist, one block, and a steal while shooting just under 50% from the field. He showed some great shooting range in the game, taking challenging shots from deep over defenders. His range and length already give shades of players like Brandon Miller and Brandon Ingram. Even though this was the first taste of what he has in his bag, we’re hopeful this game is only the start for him.
Dylan Harper was exciting as well. He had a similarly impressive stat line, scoring 20 points, four rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Harper showed off his elite size at the PG, standing at 6’6, and his ability to create his own shot. That was probably the most impressive thing about the freshman. The way he creates space and his ability to knock down the midrange at-will truly set him apart from his peers. In this first glimpse, Harper showed similarities to guards like Jalen Brunson and CJ McCollum.
With both guys showing up in game one, we expect to see more as the season rolls out. We know it's incredibly early to get excited about these guys, but they look like elite talents. With their NBA stock already near the top, it's good to see the scouts may have been right about these two. If we’ve learned anything, though, Rutgers will be a must-watch team all year!
It is crazy to be already diving into NBA draft content, but that’s what we are here for. With Harper and Bailey both projecting in the top 3 of the draft, there is no doubt these two will garner the most attention in college basketball this year. As expected, several NBA teams are already eyeballing them, too. Teams like the Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls, and Detroit Pistons will be losing games to snag one of these guys. With the top prize of the coming NBA draft being Cooper Flagg, all three of these players could be team-altering additions. This year's tanking competition could be tight as teams angle to improve their odds by a single percentage points.