When NBA scouts and draft experts watch Rutgers freshman forward Ace Bailey, sometimes their jaws drop to the floor.

“He’s a freakin’ freak,” ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla told NJ Advance Media by phone on Monday.

“Outrageous shot-making ability,” ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony wrote on Twitter.

“He’s got a little Kevin Durant in his game,” ESPN’s Seth Greenberg said last month.

“His shot-making is not normal,” one NBA scout told NJ Advance Media. “It’s an anomaly.”

The 6-foot-10 Bailey, averaging 17.9 points and 7.1 rebounds, will be in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, with one NBA scout telling NJ Advance Media it’s “not clear cut” between Bailey and Duke freshman Cooper Flagg.

Givony and ESPN colleague Jeremy Woo currently have Bailey at No. 3, behind Flagg and teammate Dylan Harper.

Still, Bailey does have things he needs to work on. He only has five assists on the season, and needs to develop as a passer while also getting stronger.

“At 6′10″, he’s a dynamic shot-maker with impressive range and athleticism,” NBA draft analyst Matt Babcock told NJ Advance Media. “However, he lacks discipline and has plenty of room for development in terms of maturity. He also needs to get a lot stronger physically.”

Fraschilla is a huge fan of he 18-year-old Bailey, but also pointed out areas he can improve.

“He’s got flaws,” Fraschilla said. “You know, I wish he was a better passer, but what he’s doing is just mind-blowing for a kid this young.”

Fraschilla said we won’t really know about Bailey until a few years down the road, long after he’s left Rutgers.

“You’re not going to judge this guy until he’s three years in the league, because unlike Cooper or even Dylan Harper, who have skills that translate immediately — like Dylan does with his passing and his ability to get to the lane — this kid’s skills are not going to really blossom until he gets bigger and stronger physically,” Fraschilla said.

The former Manhattan, St. John’s and New Mexico coach also pointed out that it helps Bailey to be playing with Harper.

“Absolutely,” said Fraschilla who saw Rutgers at practice and in Las Vegas at the Players Festival. “For a kid who’s so good, like Dylan Harper is, he is very unselfish.

“For a guy who’s such an elite scorer, Dylan Harper is also an elite teammate and passer, like he’s constantly looking for Ace. And now Ace can’t do back what Dylan can do for Ace, because that’s not his game. He’s not a passer right now…

“I love the fact that when Ace is feeling it, Dylan’s looking for him, man. It’s very nice to see.”

Bailey says the same thing, pointing out that he and Harper “sharpen” each other’s skills as they get to know each other during their one-and-done seasons.

“I mean, we sharpen each other every day,” Bailey said Saturday night after going for 21 points and 7 rebounds in the Seton Hall win. “We push each other to our limits. I mean, from posting, from guard work, from everything. So we just sharpen each other from everything.”

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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.