Observing Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, and Will Riley in the Rutgers-Illinois Game

February 6th, 2025

Yesterday, I took the time to watch Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey take on Kasparas Jakucionis and Illinois in a very competitive, Big Ten college basketball game. This game did not disappoint, as both Harper and Bailey both played very well from the get-go, and Rutgers was able to rely on their superb scoring and skill set to get a hard-fought win over Illinois. Will Riley also was one of the standout performers, as he excelled as a scorer, shot maker, and facilitator off the bench. Here are my thoughts on how Harper, Bailey, Riley, and other various prospects fared in this game, as well as where they may currently stack up as prospects for the NBA.

Rutgers’ freshman, Dylan Harper scored 28 points, made 3 threes, and had 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block in his team’s 82-73 win over Illinois. (Photo: Ed Mulholland/Getty Images)

Dylan Harper had a strong all-around performance to help lead his team to a win over Illinois. Harper did a great job of making plays on both ends of the floor, and he did everything well in order to help his team get the victory.

Harper did a good job of scoring off the dribble. He is a strong, powerful driver that has great strength, body control, and scoring touch, and he would score in traffic as well as frequently draw fouls upon his defenders to get to the free throw line. On one play, Harper was able to drive hard on the baseline to score on an acrobatic, reverse layup. Sometimes though, he would occasionally miss shots when he wouldn’t get foul calls.

He also shot the ball well, especially from downtown. Harper showed a knack for making threes, and he showed that he can do so both off the catch and dribble. He was able to dribble off of a screen to make a pull-up three, and he also ran off the ball to make a quick three later on. Harper also was able to make a step-back, mid-range jumper, but he struggled more to make mid-range jumpers. He also excelled at scoring on the move, and Harper was able to score on a quick backdoor cut once.

He also displayed good playmaking skills in this game. Harper would throw crisp, accurate passes as he can consistently find teammates on the move, and he can pass out of double teams to rack up assists on the court due to possessing good court vision. Occasionally though, he would commit turnovers. On one play, he threw a quick, hasty interior pass that got intercepted. On another, he had a ball poked away from him by a defender to lose the ball that time.

Also, Harper showed a solid ability to rebound the basketball. He also defended very well. He showed a penchant for intercepting passes to get steals, and he also showed he can poke balls away and tie up opposing ball-handlers to nearly get other steals. Harper was able to hustle back to make an impressive shot block to prevent an opponent from scoring on a drive in transition once. He also managed to close out on a corner three to force a miss. There was one play where he was called for a reach-in foul due to over-aggressiveness, but overall, Harper played very good defense in this game.

In general, Harper had a strong showing to help his team get a win over Illinois, and he reminded NBA scouts and teams why he will be a likely top 5 pick in the 2025 draft. He is a strong, athletic playmaker that can make a lot of plays happen with the ball in his hands, and he was able to score and pass at will. He also showed a much better three-point shot than anticipated and he also defended very well. He did everything well in this game, and he could end up being a star player in the NBA.

Rutgers’ freshman forward Ace Bailey scored 18 points, and had 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 assists in his team’s 82-73 win over Illinois. (Photo: Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images, via Sports Illustrated)

Ace Bailey put forth a good showing to help lead his team to a win over Illinois. He excelled at making plays on both ends of the floor, and he made a more concerted effort in helping his team in the other facets of the game to help his team get the victory.

Bailey has a knack for making the tough shots and make it seem effortless, and he was solid in making mid-range jumpers throughout the game. He can dribble or run off ball screens to get open, and he also would make turnaround, fadeaway jumpers over defenders. He also excelled at scoring out of the post, and Bailey was able to score on a turnaround layup.

Plus, he thrived at scoring on hustle plays. Bailey ran the floor to score on an explosive, high-flying dunk. He also managed to score on a thunderous jam off of a quick backdoor cut. While Bailey didn’t take any threes in this game, he was still quite effective as a shooter and scorer nonetheless.

Also, Bailey showcased solid playmaking skills in this game. He showed much more of a willingness to pass the basketball, and it paid off by getting him assists, as he generally passed and handled the ball well. He excelled at finding teammates on the move, and he also can pass off the dribble and out of the post. On the downside, there was one play where he held the ball a bit too long before falling and throwing a hasty pass that got intercepted. Another time, he leapt up high to get a rebound shortly before carelessly losing the ball.

Bailey did a great job of rebounding the basketball. He has a keen nose for the ball, as he was quite active at crashing the glass to get boards on both ends of the floor, and he was able to get some tough boards in traffic. He also defended well. Bailey has great length, athleticism, and instincts that allow him to rotate to block shots to his teammates. In this game, he was able to make some impressive blocks, which included swatting a three-point shot to a teammate once. He also would close out on shooters to force misses, and he also quickly rotated and ran in to deflect a pass out of bounds another time. On the downside, sometimes he would over-help in the paint and be late to close out, which would lead him to give up three-point baskets. Another time, he was too aggressive on the close out, which led him to foul a three-point shooter. On a separate play, he got beat off the dribble when defending a spin move to allow a score.

In summary, Bailey put forth a solid all-around performance to help lead his team to a win over Illinois. Ace Bailey is a very talented prospect whose blend of size, athleticism, skill level, and upside will make him a likely top 5 pick for the 2025 draft, and he could end up being a star player in the NBA.

Will Riley scored 18 points and dished out 6 assists in his team’s 82-73 loss to Rutgers, and he looked like a lottery-caliber prospect in this game. (Photo: Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images, via Sports Illustrated)

Illinois’ 6-8 freshman swingman, Will Riley also played very well in his team’s tough loss to Rutgers. He did a great job of making plays with the ball in his hands as he showed off versatile scoring skills, made tough shots, and he also showed off deft playmaking skills and strong court vision to help his team on offense.

Riley showed a fairly solid ability to knock down outside shots, as he particularly excelled at making threes. He was able to make them both off the catch and dribble, and he made a particularly impressive sidestep pull-up three to his right. On the downside, he struggled to make pull-up jumpers consistently, as he especially struggled to make them from the mid-range. He also did a good job of scoring off the dribble. Riley is an athletic, crafty scorer that would continually find ways to score the basketball. He was able to score on a tough, fadeaway jumpers to showcase his shooting touch and scoring prowess. He was able to use a spin move to score, and he also managed to score on an acrobatic, reverse layup another time. Sometimes, he would take tough, off-balanced shots that would lead to misses, but generally Riley excelled at taking it to the rim to score the basketball.

Also, Riley showed off solid playmaking skills in this game. He is an athletic playmaker that has good court vision, and he would make solid passes off the dribble, and would also find teammates on the move to rack up assists. On the downside, sometimes he would over-dribble and commit ball-handling turnovers, but Riley was surprisingly effective as a ball-handler and distributor on the floor.

He also was able to chip in to get a few rebounds, as he was able to get a board on each end of the floor. Riley also played decent defense in this game. He would use his length, athleticism, and positioning to stay in front of his man to force opponents to miss mid-range shots. He also doubled an opposing ball handler to help force a passing turnover. On one play though, he got beat off the dribble, which forced his teammate to commit a foul that time. On another, he was late to rotate, which led him to give up a corner three basket.

Overall, Riley played very well in his team’s loss to Illinois, and he was able to make some very impressive scores and passes to help his team, especially on the offensive end. His play has been inconsistent this year, but he is a tall, athletic swingman whose enticing offensive skills combined with his athleticism and upside could make him an intriguing option for NBA teams in the mid to late first round range of the 2025 draft, as Riley could end up being a solid complementary player in the association.

Kasparas Jakucionis didn’t have a great showing in this game, and while it was highly anticipated that maybe he would play well, he ended up struggling considerably on offense in his team’s loss to Rutgers.

Jakucionis is a tall, agile skilled playmaker that can make some eye-popping plays with the ball in his hands, but unfortunately, unlike in prior games, he didn’t make many special plays in this game. He struggled to knock down outside shots as he missed all of his threes, and he was ineffective as a pull-up jump shooter. He also struggled to make shots off the dribble. On the plus side, he was solid at scoring on the move. Jakucionis ran the floor to score on the break, and he also managed to score on a quick cut.

While he didn’t shoot the three-ball well against Rutgers, he was able to leverage the threat of his ability to make outside shots into helping him draw three free throws when hoisting up a three once. Plus, he also managed to drive and use a pivot move in order to draw free throws on a fadeaway jumper to showcase his crafty ability to get to the foul line.

He also displayed decent playmaking skills. Jakucionis is a crafty playmaker that can make solid drive and kick passes as well as find teammates on the move to set up a wealth of scoring opportunities for them. Sometimes though, he can force the issue too much, which can lead to turnovers. Occasionally, he may over-dribble and commit ball-handling turnovers. Other times, he may over-penetrate and throw hasty passes that get intercepted.

Unfortunately, Jakucionis didn’t get many rebounds in this game, as he only managed to get a couple of defensive boards. He played perhaps above average defense. Jakucionis was able to jump on a loose ball that a teammate deflected to him to help his team get a steal. He also contested a mid-range runner to force a miss. However, he tended to bite on pump fakes and play too aggressively, which would lead him to foul jump shooters.

Overall, Jakucionis didn’t have a great game against Rutgers, but he’s been impressive in other previous games that have showcased his potential. He is a crafty offensive player that can score in a variety of ways, and can make deft passes to rack up assists, but he can also be a bit streaky with his jump shot and can play a bit out of control at times. Still, he’s been having a very good freshman season, and he’s shown enough to warrant being a lottery pick in the 2025 draft (based on the other games he’s played this season), and Jakucionis could end up being a good complementary player in the association.

Ben Humrichous is a mobile, skilled swingman that shot the ball very well in his team’s loss to Rutgers. He excelled as a three-point shooter and low post scorer, and he almost made an impressive block on a play that his teammate committed a foul beforehand, which wiped the block off the box score.

Humrichous shot the ball well, especially from downtown. He showed that he can make threes both off the catch and dribble, and he ran off the ball to make an open three once to showcase his movement shooting potential. He also excelled at scoring out of the post, as he would score on smooth, turnaround fadeaway jumpers.

He displayed adequate playmaking skills. Humrichous was able to pass out of the post to get an assist, but he also threw a bad pass out of the post that got intercepted another time. Also, he did a decent job of rebounding the basketball, and Humrichous was particularly effective as an offensive rebounder. On one play, he ran in to crash the glass to get an offensive board, and his opportunistic ways also helped him draw free throws on a put back shortly afterwards.

Defensively, he looked to be fairly average. He was able to defend in the post and contest the shot to help force a miss, and Humrichous will actively contest shots to help them do so. He also managed to double an opposing ball handler to help force a passing turnover. On the downside, he tended to be late on his rotations, which would lead him to give up three-point baskets. Another time, he got beat off the dribble, which led him to allow a mid-range basket to his opponent.

Overall, Humrichous is a skilled forward that can score the basketball, and he is player that projects well into a 3 and D role at the NBA level. He’ll need to be a more disciplined defender in games, but his size, skill level, and feel for the game could enable him to be a second round pick in the 2025 draft, as he could end up being an effective role player in the NBA.

Tomislav Ivisic had an adequate showing in his team’s loss to Rutgers, and he was able to make some solid plays on both ends of the floor. He showcased a solid shooting touch as well as the ability to stretch the defenses with his floor-spacing capabilities, and he also showed off some tantalizing passing and defensive skills in this game.

Ivisic showed a knack for scoring out of the post. He would often use spin moves to score on turnaround jump hooks, and he also showed that he can score in traffic. Plus, he also managed to score on a put back. While he didn’t shoot nearly as well from the outside, Ivisic was able to make an open three-pointer once to showcase his ability to be a stretch big on the floor.

He also passed the ball well, and he showcased solid playmaking skills in this game. Ivisic showed a knack for throwing accurate interior passes to find cutters to notch assists, and he also made a solid drive and dish to do so once due to possessing solid handles and very good court vision. On one play though, he threw a hasty pass that got intercepted.

Also, Ivisic rebounded the ball very well, as he was able to get numerous boards on both ends of the court. He also played perhaps adequate defense in this game. Ivisic was able to use his size and length to block a put back to force a miss, and he would actively contest shots around the basket to get stops for his team. He also jumped a pass to get a steal. On the downside, he would be late on his rotations, which would lead him to give up baskets.

Overall, Ivisic is a very tall, skilled big man that has been having a strong freshman season, and he has a diverse skill set that could make him an enticing option for NBA teams to consider in the late first to the second round range of the 2025 draft, and he could end up being a solid role player in the NBA.

Morez Johnson Jr. quietly played fairly well in his team’s loss to Rutgers. He showed a knack for scoring on rolls to the rim, particularly off of rolls and cuts, as he was able to score on a powerful dunk, and he also managed to score in traffic once.

He also showcased fairly average playmaking skills. He also passed out of the post to notch an assist, but collided into an opponent when driving to the hoop to commit an offensive foul and a turnover that time. He did a decent job of rebounding the basketball, and he was quite effective at crashing the glass to get offensive boards. He also played adequate defense in this game. He would actively contest shots and make rotations to force misses and turnovers, but he and his team would struggle to defend in screen situations, and he also was quite foul prone.

Overall, Johnson is a fairly athletic, high-motor big man that showed that he can make hustle plays, especially on offense. He’ll need to expand his skill set offensively, but he is a rim-running big man that could project to be a rotational big man at the NBA level.

Rutgers’ 6-7 freshman forward, Dylan Grant didn’t have a great game overall, but he is a very athletic Rutgers forward that was able to score on a thunderous dunk off of a backdoor cut to showcase eye-popping athleticism, and he also made a corner three to showcase his offensive versatility. On the downside, he didn’t shoot well from the outside overall.

He did rebound the ball very well, and he was active as a help defender in this game. Grant played satisfactory defense, as he managed to block a shot to himself to stop a fast break, and he also poked a ball away to get a steal. However, he struggled to defend a taller opponent in the post, which led him to give up the basket that time.

Overall, Grant is a very athletic, energetic forward that showed promise as a high-motor, 3 and D forward for the NBA. He’ll need to polish up his skills, but he could be a second round prospect that could be a player to watch in the future.

Kylan Boswell didn’t have a great game in his team’s loss to Rutgers, but he defended very well in the first half. He is a quick, agile combo guard that can hound opposing ball handlers, as he’ll get his hands on passes and poke balls away, and can jump on loose balls to get steals. He also has quick feet and can stay in front of his man and contest shots to force misses. However, he would sometimes get outmuscled when defending opponents off the dribble, which would lead him to pick up fouls. Overall, he played satisfactory defense in this game.

On offense, he didn’t shoot well, but he did have some tough scores off the dribble and on the move. He was able to make some drive and kick passes, but he didn’t notch many assists, and he also was called for a carry once.

Overall, Boswell didn’t have his best game, and he’ll need to improve his offense and be a more consistent player in games, but he defended much better than anticipated, and he could be a prospect to watch in the future.

All in all, those are my thoughts on how Harper, Bailey, Riley, and other various prospects fared in this game. Thanks for reading.