Sheldon Bailey Discusses Keeping Solomon Bailey Focused On His Goals & The Vultures Away

Solomon Bailey, out of California, is part of the 2025 class; he is only in the eighth grade but already making a name for himself. He turned heads at Chris Paul’s Rising Stars top 20 game with his ability to score and get his teammates involved.
Last month, Bailey put on a show at the Ballislife Jr. All American Camp and then went out and won the dunk contest with NBA legend Jamal Crawford and NBA Champion Matt Barnes in attendance.
Bailey is currently 6’1 and is considered very athletic & a strong slasher. He is also one of the top incoming freshmen in California next season. With him gaining national recognition heading into his freshman year, college and professional scouts will be paying close attention this upcoming season. In addition, he will also be on potential agents and business managers’ radar, especially with the change in the NIL rules. With that being said, I recently spoke with Solomon’s father, Sheldon Bailey, about how he keeps the vulture away from his son. The older Bailey is a former professional athlete turned actor.
“Social media is social media, so it is wide open and his mom monitors some of that stuff. He also has a good head on his shoulders and at the end of the day, my son knows where he comes from. He also knows about work ethic and what we have been doing along the way, ” said Sheldon Bailey.
“I still believe he has a lot of humanity and we also installed community service to help other people to help him focus on his goals. People are going to try to pull him in different directions, but we have a strong relationship.”
He continued by discussing potential NIL sponsorships in the future.
“All of that stuff will come the way it is supposed to come. The main thing is to make sure that he is performing well, he feels good about himself, and he is continuing to work on his game and improve on certain things. Once he accomplishes these certain nuances all of that stuff will fall in place. If it is the Overtime League, China, Austrialia, college, or the G-League whatever, we have relationships to do that. It is really about him taking care of his business every day as a young man, and working on his weakness, and turning them into strengths, which should result in him shaking the commissioner’s hand one day.”
Make sure you keep your eyes out for Solomon Bailey moving forward.

Landon Buford is an accomplished sports and entertainment journalist based in Richardson, Texas, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, WWE, MLB, and the entertainment industry. Known for delivering high-impact stories and headline-making interviews, Buford has earned a global audience through content that blends insider access with compelling storytelling.
He previously served as director of editorial and brand communications at PlayersTV, where he helped shape the platform’s editorial voice and brand identity. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of LandonBuford.com—an independent outlet with more than 1.6 million views and syndication from major platforms including Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports. Buford’s interviews with stars like Gary Payton, Kevin Durant, Mark Cuban and Chris Paul showcase his talent for meaningful, in-depth conversations.
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