McEachern forward Ace Bailey is Georgia’s Gatorade boys basketball player of the year and one of three finalists for the Gatorade national player of the year, it was announced Thursday morning.

The other national finalists are Cooper Flagg of Monteverde Academy in Florida and V.J. Edgecombe of Long Island Lutheran in New York.

Flagg, a Duke signee, is the consensus No. 1 prospect nationally. Edgecombe, the consensus No. 4 player, has signed with Baylor.

Bailey, the consensus No. 2, has signed with Rutgers. Bailey averaged more than 30 points and 15 rebounds per game for a Class 7A team that reached the finals, losing to Grayson.

Georgia’s Gatorade girls player of the year, announced last week, is Danielle Carnegie of Grayson.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will publish its all-state teams and announces its state players of the year next week.

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com