Jeremy WooMar 8, 2025, 07:30 AM ET
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Piscataway, New Jersey, hit its all-time high in NBA front office foot traffic this season, thanks to a pair of projected top-five draft picks -- Rutgers star freshmen Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey.
Harper and Bailey, who are ranked Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, on ESPN's Top 100 rankings for the 2025 draft, could become the first college teammates selected in the top five since Duke's Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett in 2019. Their high-profile pairing has put Rutgers at the center of behind-the-scenes conversations with NBA teams that are working to get a handle on the top of the draft, which is led by projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg (Duke).
In October, the Scarlet Knights earned a preseason top-25 ranking for the second time since 1979, thanks to the additions of Harper and Bailey, two of the highest-ranked recruits in program history. Fast-forward to March, however, and Rutgers' results haven't lived up to expectations. The Scarlet Knights (14-16) are not projected to make the NCAA tournament.
Despite the challenging season, Harper and Bailey have made clear their cases as top prospects. Harper, a 6-foot-6 point guard with scoring prowess, is averaging 19.3 points and has won scouts over with his command of the floor. Bailey, a 6-10 wing, is averaging 18.2 points and stepping up as arguably the best tough-shot maker in college basketball.
How have NBA teams' evaluations of Harper and Bailey changed this season? What are their strengths, weaknesses and most projectable traits at the next level? Whom do they compare to in the NBA? Are scouts concerned about evaluating the pair as individuals and what's the impact of Rutgers likely missing the NCAA tournament?
To answer these questions and better understand the conversation around Rutgers' duo, ESPN talked to 10 NBA executives and scouts who agreed to analyze Harper and Bailey on the condition of anonymity.
During these discussions, one notion was unanimous: It rarely hurts to see elite prospects playing together.
"The reality is that's what happens in the NBA," an Eastern Conference executive said. "You're not going to get there and be the only guy that's good."
Evaluating Harper: 'An offensive orchestrator with size'