As the upcoming college basketball season approaches, basketball fanatics are already crafting top 60 mock drafts, with many crowning Cooper Flagg as the clear-cut number one pick. And why wouldn’t they? Flagg checks many of the boxes teams look for in a top prospect such as weakside rim protection, the ability to create offensive advantages as a floor spacer and roller, and the athleticism to make plays in the open floor. He passes the eye test, and the talent is undeniably there. However, another highly touted prospect is staring him eye-to-eye: Ace Bailey.
Coming into Rutgers, Bailey was widely regarded as the number two prospect in the country for the 2024 class. He has already accomplished nearly everything individually at the grassroots level, from being selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game to being named Gatorade Player of the Year for Georgia. His shot creation and shotmaking abilities, combined with his otherworldly athleticism, bolster his overall offensive skill set, making him an extremely unique player for his size and position. At 6’10”, Bailey possesses the lateral quickness of a guard and the length of a big. If you were creating a player in 2K, Bailey fits the prototype perfectly. But why isn’t he as sought after as Flagg?
According to Twitter scouts, the common denominator seems to be his “poor shot selection.” Even though Bailey was highly efficient offensively, consistently hitting difficult shots ranging from fadeaways to NBA threes, this narrative has stuck with him before he’s even played a college game. While many rely on highlights and struggle to form their own opinions of a player, I had the pleasure of watching Bailey play countless times in person during his final two years of high school. From his junior to senior year, Bailey not only grew physically but also developed significantly as an overall player. His three-point shooting improved and extended beyond the college line. His patience and offensive IQ took a leap. Even while attracting consistent double teams and loaded help from off-ball defenders, his playmaking off the dribble and distribution for others improved. Certain weaknesses became strengths, while other areas of his game grew even stronger.
Now that the next draft cycle is upon us, I encourage viewers to let these young players develop and grow before labeling them with premature narratives and restricting them as prospects. Let’s scrap the early mock drafts and let the game do the talking. Maybe then, we’ll truly see who’s the top dog.