Amari Bailey, the elite high school, hired UCLA basketball for the second time, he announced Wednesday night.
Bailey initially worked for the Bruins and then-coach Steve Alford as a high school student, but disengaged eight months later. Bailey joined DePaul before starting eighth grade, but disengaged before entering high school.
Bailey, a 6-meter and 4-foot shooting guard at Sierra Canyon High School in California, is ranked 3rd in ESPN 60 for the 2022 class.
“He’s a pure combination goalie who has the ability to score effortlessly with the ball or away from the ball,” said Paul Biancardi, ESPN’s national recruiting director. “His jumps show balance and accuracy from a variety of places on the floor. I like his self-confidence to take challenged photos when needed. His driving game and paint finishes end with explosive athleticism and body control. As player, he is just as good at creating for himself or facilitating for others. In transition or in midfield, he demonstrates a remarkable passing vision. “
No. 1 police officer in the 2022 class, Bailey helped lead the US basketball to a gold medal at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Brazil. He started all six games at that event, averaging 13.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
“He’s a clever ball manipulator who changes speed and direction with purpose when navigating a defense,” Biancardi said. “He is somewhat underestimated as a versatile defender on the backfield, who will come back and start the break quickly. He has a presence on the field and offensive instincts that remind me of D’Angelo Russell.”
Bailey is coach Mick Cronin’s first engagement in the 2022 class, but he is also a candidate for reclassification in the 2021 class. Peyton Watson and ESPN 100 shooting guard Will McClendon.
The Bruins’ 2021 class is ranked 7th in the country; if Bailey reclassifies, he would enter the top five nationally.