CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Venus Lacy rumbles down Venus Lacy Parkway in a tan Suzuki Aerio with 264,770 miles on its odometer. In her rearview mirror is an 8-foot-tall sign outside Brainerd High featuring her resume: Girls state championship 1984; La. Tech NCAA National Championship 1988; USA Olympic Women’s Basketball Gold Medal Winner 1996. On her GPS screen is the address for a home where her great nephew, Airious Bailey, spent time as a bone-thin tenderfoot.
‘Diamond in the Dirt’
At 14, Ace Bailey departed Chattanooga with NBA dreams. After a winding path and whistle-stop at Rutgers, where will he land?
A Chattanooga artist painted a portrait of Ace Bailey on a wall in his hometown ahead of the NBA Draft. Kevin Armstrong | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Ad Choices