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Rutgers Makes Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper Announcement Before NBA Draft

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Josh Valdez | Last updated Jun 20, 2025 5:13 PM ET

Rutgers basketball stars Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey will get drafted to different NBA teams on Wednesday after joining forces in Piscataway, New Jersey this past season. The two five-star recruits didn't lead the Scarlet Knights to the promised land, but they each had individual success.

Harper earned third-team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Freshman honors after averaging 19.4 points on 48.4 percent shooting (33.3 percent 3 PT) with 4.6 rebounds and four assists over 32.6 minutes. Bailey received the same accolades after notching 17.6 points on 46 percent shooting (34.6 percent 3 PT) with 7.2 rebounds across 33.3 minutes.

Now, the two will take the baseball field before starting their professional basketball careers, via Rutgers' social media.

Dylan Harper begins his draft week in Pinstripes.

Catch his first pitch at @Yankees Stadium on Sunday around 11:20 a.m. #TheKnighthood️⚔️ pic.twitter.com/reg1mZhmYh
— Rutgers Men’s Basketball (@RutgersMBB) June 20, 2025

Harper will throw the first pitch at Yankee Stadium before Sunday's Baltimore Orioles-New York Yankees game, while Bailey will do so at Citi Field for Tuesday's Atlanta Braves-New York Mets contest.

The NBA Draft will be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Wednesday night. Barclays is home to the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty.

Ace on the mound during draft week!⚾️

Catch Ace Bailey’s first pitch at the @Mets on Tuesday night around 7 p.m. #TheKnighthood️⚔️ pic.twitter.com/zi7N55SXQu
— Rutgers Men’s Basketball (@RutgersMBB) June 20, 2025

Harper is projected to get drafted No. 2 overall to the San Antonio Spurs or a team that trades up, via The Athletic. Meanwhile, Bailey could either go No. 3 or fall past that, as his outlook is murkier after not doing pre-draft workouts with any clubs. The 18-year-old had a workout and dinner scheduled for Friday with the Philadelphia 76ers, but canceled it on Wednesday.

The 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz, and Washington Wizards own the Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 picks, respectively.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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