Junior high school Amari Bailey has committed to UCLA basketball for a second time, he announced Wednesday night.
Bailey originally committed to the Bruins and then-coach Steve Alford as a freshman in high school, but he made the commitment eight months later. Bailey also committed himself once to DePaul before starting eighth grade, but he untied himself before going to high school.
Bailey, a 6-foot shooting guard from Sierra Canyon High School (California), is in 3rd place in ESPN 60 for the 2022 class.
“He’s a pure combination guard with an effortlessly high skill with or off the ball,” said Paul Biancardi, ESPN’s national recruiting director. “His jump shot shows balance and accuracy in different places on the floor. I like his confidence to take when needed. His drive and paint finish ends with explosive athletics and body control. As a game creator, he is equally adept at creating for himself. create or facilitate for others. In transition or in halfway he shows an excellent passing vision. ‘
The No. 1 shooting guard in the 2022 class, Bailey, helped lead USA Basketball to a gold medal at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in 2019 in Brazil. He started all six games at that event, averaging 13.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
“He’s a smart ball handler who deliberately changes his speed and direction when navigating through a defense,” Biancardi said. ‘He is somewhat underestimated as a versatile defender in the backfield who will bounce back and start the quick break. He has a presence on the track and offensive instincts that remind me of D’Angelo Russell. ‘
Bailey is coach Mick Cronin’s first commitment in the 2022 class, but he’s also a candidate to reclassify in the 2021 class. If he does join UCLA, Bailey will join a class that includes five-star small forward Peyton Watson and ESPN 100 shooting guard Will McClendon.
The Bruins’ 2021 class is at number 7 in the country; if Bailey reclassifies, it will fall into the top five nationally.