A Pair of NBA Draft Prospects

The 2024 college basketball season has started and is in full swing, so you know what that means? The 2025 NBA draft is coming soon, as well. Draft Nation is here to guide you through the prospects and how they can help NBA teams.

Here is a pair of draft eligible players who are looking to get selected in the 2025 NBA draft.

SF- Ace Bailey, Rutgers

• 6-foot-10 198 lbs
• 2024 stats: 5 games- 17.8 ppg, 5.0 rbg, 0.6 apg

Ace Bailey grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and initially attended Boyd-Buchanan High School. After his freshman year, he moved to Powder Springs, Georgia and enrolled at McEachern High School. Bailey averaged 22 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and four blocks per game as a junior. Bailey went off in his senior year, exploding for 32.5 points, 15.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.4 blocks per contest. Afterwards, Bailey was selected to play in the 2024 McDonald's All-American Gaem, the Jordan Brand Classic, and the Nike Hoops Summit.

Bailey, a consensus five-star recruit, committed to play basketball at Rutgers over offers from Ohio State, Kentucky, Kansas, Texas, and Oregon. 

What to like about Ace Bailey

Ace Bailey is a 6-foot-10 athletic prospect that can run the floor and finish. He uses his length to be able to cover lots of ground when he is driving to the basket. He is capable of pulling up and hitting jump shots in transition and his shooting is effective behind the arc. Bailey is active on the boards and does a solid job on both ends of the court, boxing out and pulling the ball down. For a big guy, he moves the ball efficiently in offensive sets and flows right into setting picks and rolling to the basket. Bailey can set up anywhere on the court and has a strong post game with several moves in his repertoire (spin, step back, fake). 

Reason for concern

On the downside, Bailey only weighs 200-pounds. At that size, he will have trouble competing night in and night out in the NBA. Bailey was dominating in high school based on just his height and athleticism and will need to have better grip of the total game. This should improve this year while playing for a very talented Rutgers team. 

Bailey can be impatient in an offensive set and will take some questionable shots. He has a habit of forcing shots up in situations when he could have moved the ball instead. At times when Bailey starts to drive to the hoop he will pick up his dribble to take a mid-range shot instead of continuing to the basket. He has the body and athleticism to create more fouls than he does. 

Player Comparison

Tracy McGrady

It is almost impossible to watch Ace Bailey play and not be reminded of ex-NBA star Tracy McGrady. T-Mac had the ability to play all over the court and the athleticism to get to the rim. Bailey will need to improve his basketball IQ and add some muscle, but there is no reason to think he can't have the type of career the seven time All-NBA selection McGrady had.

Draft Projection

Top-5 Pick

SG V.J. Edgecombe Jr, Baylor

• 6-foot-5 180 lbs
• 2024 stats: 7 games- 11.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.0 apg

V.J. Edgecombe was born and spent his childhood in Bimini, he Bahamas. He immigrated to the United States when was in ninth grade, originally settling in Florida. Edgecomb attended Victory International Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida for two years before transferring to Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School in Brookville, New York as a boarding student. He averaged 30.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per game during his junior season as the Crusaders won the state championship. At the end of the season, Edgecombe was named the New York Gatorade Player of the Year and the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference Player of the Year.

As a senior, Edgecombe averaged 17.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game. He was selected to play in the 2024 McDonald's All-American Boys Game during his senior year. Edgecombe, a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2024 class committed to play basketball at Baylor University after considering offers from Duke and Kentucky.

What to like about V.J. Edgecombe Jr.

V.J. Edgecombe is an explosive athlete who jumps well off of one or both feet. He has an explosive first step and he uses the crossover well to get defenders off balance. Edgecombe is effective at exploding towards the rim and then stopping on a dime and hitting a mid-range shot. What separates Edgecombe from many other prospects is the way he plays defense. He is tenacious in the defensive end of the court and willing to match up against the other team's best athlete. He puts a hand in his opponents face and has the footwork to stay in front of slashing guards. He draws charges because of his speed and footwork.

Reason for concern

On the downside, Edgecombe is not as consistent of a shooter as many of the other top prospects. He is very streaky with his shot and can go a stretch where he does not miss, but long stretches of where he cannot find the hoop. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard has a smaller wingspan than most his size which could lead to rebounding issues. His perimeter shooting game is a work in progress and scouts will want to see if his one year at Baylor will help establish more of an outside game. 

Player Comparison

Victor Oladipo

Edgecombe's defensive ability reminded Draft Nation right away of 10-year veteran Victor Oladipo. Oladipo was know more for his shutdown ability than his scoring prowess when he was selected second overall in 2013 out of Indiana. However, Oladipo has averaged 16.9 points per game over his career, while being a tenacious defender. Edgecombe is going to have to work to get to those standards, but the potential is there for him to do it. 

Draft Projection

Lottery Pick