Amari Bailey, of the elite high school, has committed to UCLA basketball for the second time, he announced Wednesday night.
Bailey originally committed to the Bruins and then coach Steve Alford as a high school freshman, but dropped out eight months later. Bailey also made a commitment to DePaul before starting eighth grade, but dropped out before entering high school.
Bailey, a 6-foot-tall shooter from Sierra Canyon High School (California), is ranked third on ESPN 60 for the 2022 class.
“He is a pure matchmaker who has effortless goalkeeping skills with or away from the ball,” said Paul Biancardi, ESPN’s national recruiting director. “Your pitch shows balance and accuracy at a variety of points on the floor. I like your self-confidence to make contested pitches when needed. Your driving game and paint finishes end with explosive athletics and body control. Equally adept at creating for yourself or make it easier for others. In the transition or in the half-court, he shows an excellent pass vision. “
Shooter # 1 in the 2022 class, Bailey helped lead US basketball to a gold medal at the 2019 Fiba Americas Sub-16 Championship in Brazil. He started all six games in that event, averaging 13.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
“He is a smart ball coach who changes his speed and direction on purpose when navigating a defense,” said Biancardi. “He’s a bit underrated as a versatile defender who will recover and start the counterattack. He has a presence on the court and offensive instincts that remind me of D’Angelo Russell.”
Bailey is coach Mick Cronin’s first appointment in class 2022, but he is also a candidate to be reclassified to class 2021. If he is promoted and enrolls at UCLA, Bailey will enter a class that includes little five-star striker Peyton Watson and ESPN 100 gunner Will McClendon.
The Bruins’ 2021 class is ranked No. 7 in the country; if Bailey is reclassified, he will enter the top five nationally.