In terms of school basketball, the most well liked title on the town is Duke Blue Devils star freshman Cooper Flagg, who has opened the season robust and is the projected No. 1 general decide within the 2025 NBA Draft.
However, proper subsequent to him is fellow five-star freshman Dylan Harper, who has instantly sprung on the scene for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights after being the No. 3 general recruit within the 2024 class.
Harper, a local of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, elected to stick with the hometown staff, committing to Rutgers and attracting fellow five-star freshman Ace Bailey, who was the No. 2 general recruit within the cycle.
Bailey caught headlines early on with a 25-point efficiency in an exhibition recreation towards St. John’s, however the 6’9” wing missed the primary two video games of the season, paving the best way for Harper to make the most of the highlight early for Rutgers.
And the 6’3”, 215-pound level guard did precisely that. Harper opened his school profession with three consecutive 20-point outings, taking pictures 57.5 p.c from the sector and dispensing 3.7 assists per contest over Rutgers’ first three wins.
With Bailey again within the fold, the 2 stars have discovered a method to coexist properly, as Harper hasn’t let his foot off the gasoline, main as much as Tuesday’s thriller within the Gamers Period Match, that includes Rutgers, Notre Dame, Alabama and Houston.
Going through a feisty Combating Irish staff, it was the Harper present for the Scarlet Knights on Tuesday, as the purpose guard exploded for 36 factors on 12 of twenty-two taking pictures, marking probably the most that any freshman has scored in a single recreation this yr.
It was a dominant efficiency from the freshman, as Harper received to the free throw line 14 occasions, navigating his approach easily contained in the arc, resulting in a extremely environment friendly efficiency. The five-star crammed up the stat sheet, grabbing six rebounds and dispensing six assists, whereas turning the ball over simply as soon as and was a relaxed presence in Rutgers’s backcourt.
With Bailey struggling together with his shot, hitting simply 4 of 12 of his makes an attempt, Harper took over within the 85-84 extra time victory, scoring eight of Rutgers’s 16 factors in extra time, together with the game-winning free throw as he received to the road with 11 seconds remaining to seal the deal.
It was a memorable second, because the New Jersey native discovered a method to shine in his largest check but with the brilliant lights on and the sport on the road. To make issues much more particular, Harper had the efficiency in entrance of his father, Ron Harper Sr., who relished the second courtside.
“When the stage will get greater, you’re going to see an even bigger efficiency out of him,” stated his father Ron Harper Sr, through nj.com. “I already understand it as a result of he was raised to be that approach. He was raised with an older brother who can play. His outdated man gained these championships. Now it’s all about him.”
For those who thought that was it from the proficient freshman, suppose once more. As a result of Harper discovered a method to make profitable play after profitable play in one other tightrope recreation, as Rutgers took on Alabama on Day 2 of the in-season match, discovering a method to shine underneath the brilliant lights but once more in an excellent greater check.
Going through the high-octane Crimson Tide offense, Harper was the spark that led the best way as soon as once more for the Scarlet Knights, who fell simply brief in a 95-90 loss that went all the way down to the ultimate seconds.
In Wednesday’s recreation, Harper went off for 37 factors, topping the freshman season report that he set the night time earlier than, whereas taking pictures 11 of 19 from the sector and making high quality shot after high quality shot on the rim within the second half.
As soon as once more, the purpose guard feasted on the free throw line, taking pictures 15 of 16 on the charity stripe, and was in assault mode all night time lengthy en path to a significant scoring efficiency, getting assist from his five-star counterpart Ace Bailey, who poured in 22 factors on 9 of 18 from the sector.
It wasn’t sufficient to fight Alabama’s offense, because the Crimson Tide shot 51.7 p.c from the sector and had a big benefit from three.
However, Harper seems to be the a part of an NBA guard seven video games into his school profession, discovering a method to be extremely environment friendly on the rim, whereas exhibiting the qualities of a degree guard by getting teammates concerned and limiting turnovers.
If Rutgers is to make some noise this season, Harper will undoubtedly be one of many leaders of that cost, and it was a memorable two-day interval for the five-star freshman right here on the Gamers Period Pageant.
