When will the Rutgers freshman debut?

On By Littum

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Ace Bailey warmed up to no. 24 Rutgers basketball Monday, but the freshman sensation didn’t make his collegiate debut.

Bailey, the No. 1 overall recruit. 2 according to 247Sports Composite rankings in 2024 the recruiting class behind Duke’s Cooper Flaghas missed the first two games of the Scarlet Knights’ 2024-25 college basketball season. He joined no. 3 overall recruit Dylan Harper to give Rutgers overall recruiting class No. 9.

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While Harper had 24 points and six rebounds in the Scarlet Knights’ 75-65 win over Saint Peter’s, Bailey has yet to appear in a game due to injury. But his coach, Steve Pikiell, provided an update on the status of the freshman sensation.

“He’s close,” Pikiell said after Monday’s game.

Here’s the latest on the status of Bailey, with Rutgers scheduled to play its third game of the season on Friday:

Ace Bailey Injury Updates

Bailey has been prone to one hip injury, according to Jon Rothstein. Bailey missed the Scarlet Knights opener on Nov. 6 after suffering the injury in a Monday training session before the season opener on October 4. He also sat out Monday’s 75-65 win over Saint Peter’s.

The 6-foot-10, 200-pound small forward had 25 points in a 91-85 exhibition loss to St. John’s on October 17. According to the Asbury Park PressBailey “looked fine warming up” ahead of Monday’s game. The Scarlet Knights return to action at home at Jersey Mike’s Area in Piscataway, New Jersey, against Monmouth on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET. The door seems ajar for Bailey to make his debut then.

Bailey attended McEachern High in Powder Springs, Georgia, where he led the team to a Class A title after averaging 33.4 points, 15.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.9 blocks per game. Bailey committed to the Scarlett Knights over Tennessee, Kentucky and Kansas, making him the highest-rated prospect to ever sign with Rutgers.