Will Rutgers stars Ace Bailey or Dylan Harper go No. 1 in the 2025 NBA Draft? ESPN expert sets odds

Rutgers basketball will receive a lot of attention this season as the Scarlet Knights boast two of the best prospects in this year’s class.

With Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey on the roster, Rutgers will look to compete in a tough Big Ten. As they do, people around the basketball world will watch as the five-star rookies showcase their talents on the path to their professional careers.

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ESPN’s Jonathan Givony provided the latest assessment of their career prospects on Wednesday as he delved into the competition for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. While he said Duke’s Cooper Flagg was the favorite (51%), he predicted Bailey and Harper would be his two main competitors.

He gave Bailey a 25 percent chance of becoming the No. 1 overall pick.

Givony’s reasoning:

Bailey isn’t nearly as successful as Flagg in terms of his resume or accolades, as he’s hidden away on smaller high school and grassroots teams and later enters as a top prospect despite also being young for his class is (he turned 18 on August 13th).

His background has given him more experience in a go-to role with developmental reps at point guard. He has expanded his game, becoming a two-pronged force and the type of big-time playmaker that modern NBA teams covet. However, this has made him ineffective at times, with some pretty wild, spacey moments on both ends of the pitch.

The next highest predicted chance was 10% for Harper:

Harper dominated the high school all-star circuit in April, showing outstanding performances in practice and competition at the McDonald’s All-American Game, the Nike Hoop Summit and the Jordan Brand Classic. This has led to some scouts ranking him No. 1 on their individual boards.

Listed at 6’3″ tall, the Rutgers point guard has a strong frame and a 6-10 meter wingspan and displays impressive ball-handling skills, strength and agility in ball screen use and defense. He finishes with physicality within the team, provides security all over the field with competitiveness and intelligence and can provide a lively dribble. He also brings dynamic shooting ability and excellent instincts on both ends of the floor.

Rutgers will open its 2024-25 season against Wagner on Nov. 6 at Jersey Mike’s Arena.