Rutgers University's two prized freshmen lived up to the hype Thursday night in their first live action.
Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey showed off their high-ceiling flashes and advanced shot-making.
They dazzled from deep within. They didn't get upset or nervous.
Among two players projected to be in the top 10 of the NBA draft generated attention and buzz for this Big Ten program, even in a 91-85 exhibition loss to St. John's at Jersey Mike's Arena. was everything Rutgers fans wanted to see. .
“Dylan is very controlled for a freshman,” St. John's coach Rick Pitino said after the game. “He plays like a senior. He has a lot of stuff. [Walt] The way he plays is “Clyde” Frazier. He was great and Ace Bailey is a great talent. Both are great. They deserve the rankings they are getting. ”
Harper was the more consistent of the two with 20 points and four rebounds, while the 6-foot-10 Bailey was the more explosive with 25 points and four 3-pointers.
They both looked like they deserved the huge hype they were receiving.
More than 20 NBA scouts participated, including the general managers of the Nets, Magic and Raptors.
At one point early in the second half, Bailey made a series of deep 3-pointers.
In the second half of the game, Harper, 6-6, first made a 3-pointer, then sank a pull-up jumper and drew a foul, giving him six straight points. Both teams exchanged heavily contested shots throughout the night.
In the end, St. John's was the better team and erased a 12-point second-half deficit.
But even though they were completely defeated on the glass and finished the exhibition with a narrow 14-2 margin, there was a lot to like about the Scarlet Knights.
“Those two children [Harper and Bailey] He has talent. I also like the items we surrounded them with,” Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. “You can move pieces around, too. First and foremost, they're great kids. They're really good passers. They have some things to learn, and the college defense is going to help them continue to get better.” But they're exciting. I'm grateful for this whole group. They're a great fit for us.”
