Why is Rutgers' 5-star freshman Ace Bailey not playing tonight?
There has been a lot of hype surrounding Rutgers Scarlet Knights 5-star freshman Ace Bailey over the summer. The 18-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best prospects of this year's freshmen class in college basketball.
Without playing a single game for the Scarlet Knights, Bailey has already got high expectations to live up to as he looks to give Rutgers an edge in the Big Ten this season.
Rutgers will lock horns with the Wagner Seahawks at Jersey Mike's Arena in the season opener on Wednesday night. Head Coach Steve Pikiell is surely eager to get his players off to a winning start after his Rutgers team finished with a 15-17 losing record last season.
Why is Ace Bailey not playing for Rutgers tonight?
In a recent report, NJ Advance Media's Brian Fonseca stated that Ace Bailey will be sidelined for the Scarlet Knights' highly-anticipated season opener against Wagner tonight because of an unspecified injury.
It seems like Rutgers fans will have to be patient before they can witness their five-star freshman in action this season. Without him, the Scarlet Knights cannot afford to get complacent if they want to open this NCAA campaign with a victory on their home floor.
What can Rutgers expect to see from Bailey this season?
Bailey can be a positive influence at both ends of the floor. The talented teenager is a versatile 6-foot-10 wing player who has the vision to create some decent plays for others around him offensively. He was an elite scorer and rebounder during his senior year in high school.
He can even chip in by making some important defensive contributions for his side. He is a good shot-blocker from the weak side and can get the best out of his teammates on the floor.
Bailey became the highest-ranked basketball player in Georgia following his impressive rise at McEachern High School during his senior year. He helped them secure a 26-6 winning record and a Class A title while stuffing up the stat sheet along the way.
Ace Bailey ended his senior year with an average of 33.4 points, 15.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.9 blocks per game to his name. Earlier this year, he became a McDonald's All-American.
Rutgers fans can expect to see Bailey dominate the game at both ends. However, it remains to be seen whether the Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year can stay healthy for the Scarlet Knights during this season in NCAA men's basketball.