is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Provo, Utah. Currently writing for SB Nation and FanSided, he has covered the and athletics since 2024 and graduated (woohoo!) from Utah Valley University.

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And not just because he’s holding up the line at Splash Summit. Bailey, half of a Rutgers tandem that has dominated draft coverage since their arrival with the (admittedly pitiful) Scarlet Knights, has put his toolkit on display at the NBA Draft Combine to... mixed results.

After being listed at 6’10” entering his freshman season, league executives likely choked on their Chicago dogs when his official combine measurement stood at 6’7.5” barefoot — a glaring 2.5-inch difference that will offer some reason for reevaluation before diving head-first into “Durant 2.0” conversations.

Beyond his height alone, however, Bailey keeps spreading extra layers of questionability marmalade on his draft resume, simultaneously confusing and frustrating teams that have viewed him as a sure-thing top-4 prospect.

Shot selection has been the sticking point most frequently referenced by his vocal detractors, as his shooting percentage wedged itself below the line of reliability as a primary points manufacturer on the Rutgers assembly line.

He hit 34.6% of his long-range jumpers as a freshman and 46% from the field overall. But as his opposition stiffens in the NBA, maintaining this level of efficiency (and ideally building upon it) will be key to his professional outlook.

Bailey has no intention of seeking cleaner air before launching, either.

His message to those questioning his ability to reliably score at the highest level? He’s not going to change his identity to please the purists; Ace is as willing as ever to fire away under heavy pressure.

Not an ideal response to those who diagnose Bailey with offensive tunnel vision.

The truth is, despite his truly spectacular potential, Ace’s skill boat has sprung a few leaks. A shaky handle at the perimeter, sticky fingers when it comes to sharing the basketball, and a basketball IQ slightly inadequate to match his competitive hunger (61 turnovers to only 38 assists as a freshman) have steadied out any zealous evaluators who may be hungry enough to take him right after Cooper Flagg.

Even his athleticism has fallen into question with his max vertical springing short of even Dylan Harper, his collegiate running mate and consensus second overall pick.

In fact, Ace’s 34.50” vertical falls below the launches of Flagg, Edgecombe, and Johnson, three players likely to breach the top 5 in the final draft order, with Edgecombe and Johnson threatening to bump Bailey from the top 3.

The Utah Jazz sit with the 5th overall pick. Basketball gods, you know I don’t ask for much, and you

I’m gonna free fall out into nothin’
Gonna leave this world for a while.
-Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty

Yes, the full given name of the one called “Ace” is Airious Bailey, a standalone name that may give scouts reason to believe they’re witnessing the basketball deity of aerobatics. My preference aside, Ace’s relatively underwhelming showing at the NBA Draft Combine could just be the catalyst to shake him loose from his stone perch in the top 3 of the draft order, and the Utah Jazz should be sending spies into enemy lines to whisper doubts into the ears of opposing officers.

A player with Bailey’s star potential is the best realistic outcome for the Utah Jazz, and would be considered an unequivocal success at the 5th selection for a team desperate for championship DNA.

And while Knueppel, Edgecombe, and Johnson all flex positive attributes, few flash the same spark as Ace Bailey when they take to the floor.

A player capable of embodying a franchise’s offensive and defensive identities, Bailey uses his athleticism at both ends of the court. Averaging 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals is rare as a team’s first or second offensive option, and that’s thanks to a competitive edge Bailey uses to shred the opposition — with or without the basketball.

The Utah Jazz own one of basketball’s most ineffective defensive units, and turn around to a frequently stagnant offense on the other end. With Bailey, Will Hardy would find himself with a weapon capable of sparking dread in the hearts of the competition.

Simply put, Ace’s only reason for sliding in the NBA Draft would be for triviality; he’s sincerely one of the most “don’t overthink it, pick the star” prospects in recent memory to find himself engulfed by question marks. In combination with strong combine outputs from his peers in VJ Edgecombe and Tre Johnson, it’s not a stretch to predict a Bailey slip.

It’s likewise not a reach to suggest this could be the best result for a Jazz team starving for star power. If Ace is still available at 5, Utah should submit their pick the very moment they’re on the clock.