NEW YORK (Jan. 7, 2025) --- Ace Bailey of Rutgers University has been named Division I Men’s Player of the Week by the Met Basketball Writers Association.
 
The designation, for games played Dec. 30-Jan. 5, is unique in that it encompasses players from 21 Met area Division I schools.

It's the first MBWA weekly award for Bailey and the second in a row for Rutgers, whose Dylan Harper was similarly honored on Dec. 17 before a holiday vacation break.

A 6-10 freshman guard-forward from Chattanooga, TN, Bailey --- who also was named the Big Ten Conference co-freshman of the week --- led the Scarlet Knights (8-7) to a 1-1 record last week, posting 24 points along with eight rebounds in a 91-64 homecourt victory over Columbia on Monday and then equaling the Rutgers freshman scoring record on Thursday with 39 points in an 84-74 loss at Indiana.
 
Bailey shot 73% from the field in leading RU to a 44-35 halftime lead over Columbia and nailed 61.1% of his shots (11-of-18) overall in the game.
 
Against Indiana, where he also had eight rebounds and four blocks, Bailey tied the school’s freshman scoring mark originally set by Corey Sanders in 2016. The output was the most by a Rutgers freshman in a regulation game, as Sanders’ points were notched in triple overtime.
 
Bailey canned 16-of-29 shots (55.2%) overall against Indiana, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range. His 16 made field goals are the most ever for an RU freshman and the most ever by a Rutgers player in a Big Ten game.

Players receiving MBWA Division I Honorable Mention for the week: Dalen Davis, Princeton; Josh Pascarelli, Marist; Tanner Thomas, Sacred Heart.