Rutgers star freshman Ace Bailey (hip) to miss opener

Field Level Media|published: Wed 6th November, 12:22 2024

Oct 3, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Rutgers guard/forward Ace Bailey takes a question at the podium during the 2024 Big Ten Menís Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Melissa Tamez-Imagn Images

Rutgers freshman Ace Bailey, considered a top-five 2025 NBA Draft pick, will miss Wednesday night's season opener against Wagner in Piscataway, N.J.

He suffered a hip injury in practice on Monday and is day-to-day for the No. 25 Scarlet Knights, per reports.

A 6-foot-10 forward who was the Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year, Bailey was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 2 player nationally -- behind Cooper Flagg of Duke -- in the 2025 class. He is one of two five-star players to join Rutgers this season along with guard Dylan Harper, ranked No. 3 in the nation.

In a 91-85 exhibition-game loss to St. John's on Oct. 17, Bailey scored 25 points on 8-of-18 shooting -- 4 of 9 from 3-point range -- and had five rebounds in 36 minutes.

--Field Level Media

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