Dylan Harper has further cemented his spot in Rutgers basketball history with another unbeatable program mark.
Harper is the first Rutgers player to be drafted to the NBA since Hamady Ndiaye in 2010 , the first first-round selection since Quincy Douby in 2006 , the fourth to be chosen in the first round and the third since the draft moved to its current two-round format in 1989 .
former Duke star Cooper Flagg , who was taken first overall by the Dallas Mavericks. The second-highest-ranked recruit to ever sign for the Scarlet Knights, Harper fluctuated between the top three spots in the 247Sports Composite rankings throughout his final two years of high school at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey before finishing as the No. 3 prospect in his class behind Bailey. Harper lived up to expectations individually during his single season in Piscataway, setting a program record for points in a single season by a true freshman and finishing with the 20th-highest scoring average by any Scarlet Knight in a single season. Across 29 appearances — some of which came as he dealt with illness and an ankle sprain — Harper averaged 19.4 points on 48.4% shooting , 4.6 rebounds, four assists, 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks in 32.6 minutes per game. Rutgers did not see success as a team with Harper and Bailey, however, finishing with a 15-17 record and missing the NCAA Tournament. Still, Harper’s offensive skillset, physical maturity and NBA pedigree — his father, Ron Sr., won five NBA championships while playing alongside legends like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal — made him a highly-sought prospect. Draft analysts and anonymous coaches alike raved about his ability to get to the rim at will, how he plays at his own pace and his playmaking as a passer. Harper will now hone those skills with the Spurs, an organization that has drafted the past two Rookies of the Year — generational prospect Victor Wenbanyama and former UConn star Stephon Castle — and has a long history of exceptional development under former head coach Gregg Popovich’s watch. With the Basketball Hall of Famer transitioning to a front-office role amid health problems, recently-promoted head coach Mitch Johnson will be tasked with continuing that tradition with Harper. He and general manager watched Harper workout in private twice — once in San Antonio, once in New Jersey — before electing to draft him. They showed “zero interest in engaging in trade conversations” about the No. 2 pick, according to multiple reports.. “We’re excited about what they may bring.”Brian Fonseca may be reached atIf you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.
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