Tag: Ron Harper Jr.

Ron Harper Jr.’s former coach details his NBA-ready skillset for Boston

Ron Harper Jr. is currently playing in the Las Vegas Summer League for the Celtics. His former head coach believes he can stick in the NBA

Ron Harper Jr has signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Boston Celtics. He is currently with the franchise at Las Vegas Summer League, where he’s made three appearances, averaging 5.3 points per game while shooting 37.5% from the field. Harper Jr. has made a strong impression while coming off the bench for D.J. MacLeay’s roster.

During a recent interview with Bobby Deren of 247 Sports, Harper Jr’s former head coach at Rutgers, Steve Pikiell, shared his thoughts on how his former player can impact an NBA roster and what makes him a good developmental prospect in the league.

“Ron can really score and he is what the NBA looks for now—guys that can shoot the ball. And he can guard a lot of people,” Pikiell said. “He’s strong and I thought that was awesome. I know he had a really good workout too for them. So I am happy and hopefully, he gets more opportunities. He’s good. He belongs in the league. He scores points, I don’t care where he plays.”

Harper Jr. will likely be in the Celtics’ rotation as they face off against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. Boston currently boasts a 2-1 Summer League record and will be looking to add another win against their NBA Finals opponent.

Regardless of how he performs in Friday’s game, Harper Jr. will get a chance to continue fighting for a roster spot in Boston when he attends their training camp. However, given the depth of talent at Joe Mazzulla’s disposal, he does face an uphill battle to stick with the best team in the NBA.

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Boston Celtics have reportedly signed Ron Harper Jr. to an Exhibit 10 deal

If he can continue to add to his game and develop his 3-point shot, Harper could make a lot of sense as a Boston developmental project.

The Boston Celtics have signed free agent small forward Ron Harper Jr. to an Exhibit 10 contract, according to recent reporting from the Athletic’s Jared Weiss. Per Weiss, “Harper has shown progress with the summer league team after returning from shoulder surgery.”

Son of Los Angeles Lakers luminary Ron Harper, the younger Ron played his college ball at Rutgers, going unselected in the 2022 NBA draft. He would then sign with the Toronto Raptors as a two way player, with whom he played parts of two seasons playing for the Raptors 905 at the G League level. Harper has struggled a bit at the NBA level, but has shown flashes in the G League, where he has averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game.

If he can continue to add to his game and develop his 3-point shot, Harper could make a lot of sense as a Boston developmental project.

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Ron Harper Jr. joins the Sin City Celtics for the NBA’s 2024 Las Vegas Summer League

Will he make one of Boston’s two way slots?

The Boston Celtics are, by and large, done with their team building for the coming 2024-24 NBA regular season. After having re-signed or extended all the eligible players from last season’s title team, the Celtics have just one open roster spot they may leave as such to start the regular season for cap savings and flexibility purposes.

That leaves a pair of two way roster spots Boston will likely fill with one of the unsigned players on their Sin City Celtics roster of players set to take the floor for Boston in the NBA’s 2024 Las Vegas Summer League later this month. And one intriguing player in the mix for that spot is Ron Harper Jr.

The hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” podcast, Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance, took a closer look at his game on a recent episode. Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say about Harper maybe making the team.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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The Knight Society set to host NIL fundraiser at Top Golf in July

The Knight Society is having an NIL fundraiser in July for men’s basketball.

Ahead of a season of high expectations, Rutgers men’s basketball will have a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) fundraiser hosted by the Knight Society.

The ‘Scarlet Open’ NIL event will take place on July 28 at the Top Golf in Edison, New Jersey. Last year’s event featured Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell and several former players.

Featured in the event will be current members of the men’s basketball team as well as former star players Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr.

The Knight Society has emerged as an important piece for Rutgers athletics in the NIL space:

“(The) Knight Society is a community organized by former Rutgers Basketball player Geo Baker and former Rutgers Football player Eric LeGrand that supports Rutgers student-athletes through NIL (Name Image Likeness) through brand promotion and events that initiate networking and other promotional opportunities within the Rutgers ecosystem.”

 

Based on last year’s event, the ‘Scarlet Open’ features “teams competing against one another in an elimination-style tournament. Points leaders advanced out of each round until a champion was eventually crowned in the finals.”

On this day: Ron Harper Jr. hit a buzzer-beater to stun No. 1 Purdue in 2021

On December 9, 2021, former Rutgers guard Ron Harper Jr. hit a half-court buzzer-beater to defeat No. 1 Purdue, 70-68. 

Two years ago on Dec. 9, former Rutgers guard Ron Harper Jr. hit a half-court buzzer-beater to defeat No. 1 Purdue, 70-68. Harper totaled 30 points on 67.7 percent shooting from the field in a winning effort.

The Don Bosco prospect recorded a double-double against the Boilermakers, grabbing ten rebounds to go with his 30 points. He added five three-pointers on seven attempts and logged one assist and one steal. Harper Jr. averaged 15.8 and 5.9 rebounds per game, guiding the Scarlet Knights to an 18-14 record during the 2021-22 season.

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For his effort during his senior season, Harper Jr. received Honorable Mention All-American (Associated Press) and Second All-Big Ten selection (Coaches and Media). He was the highest all-conference honors for a Scarlet Knight in the Big Ten at the time and the highest all-conference selection for a Scarlet Knight since Quincy Douby in 2005-06.

At the end of the 2021-22 season, the former Scarlet Knight declared for the NBA Draft. As the Ex-Rutgers star went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors signed the Rutgers guard shortly afterward, signing Harper Jr. to a two-way contract with their G-League team. In two seasons with the Raptors 905, Harper Jr. was waived by the organization because of a season-ending injury.

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Harper is the older brother of Dylan Harper, the five-star guard who committed to Rutgers this week.

Rutgers basketball: Clifford Omoruyi named to Naismith top 50 watch list

Cliff Omoruyi makes a prestigious national watch list.

With the 2023 college basketball season underway, expectations are high for Clifford Omoruyi. During his college career, the Benin City native has been a force on the boards for Rutgers and one of their best players offensively. Due to his play, he is getting recognition for his impact on a national level.

On Monday, Omoruyi was named to the top 50 Naismith Trophy Watchlist, given to the National Player of the Year by the Basketball Hall of Fame. He is the first Rutgers player to make the preseason watchlist since Ron Harper Jr. in 2021. While it is an impressive accomplishment for the Rutgers center, he is focused on helping his team win.

“I’m super excited for the team this year,” Omoruyi told Rutgers athletics. “Being a leader alongside Aundre (Hyatt) and Mawot (Mag) an Oskar (Palmquist) is exciting. We all want to win. We want to put game balls and trophies in Coach (Steve) Pikiell’s office. We have a goal of winning the Big Ten Championship and personally, I want to be the best player I can be for my teammates.”

 

In Rutgers season opener, Omoruyi shined as he led the Scarlet Knights in points with 12 and rebounds with seven. However, the Scarlet Knights could not take advantage of his play as they lost to Princeton 68-61.

As the season progresses, Omoruyi’s play will be watched closely. The Naismith trophy watch list will be cut down to the nation’s top 30 players in February, and four finalists will be selected in March. On April 2, the winner will be announced at the Final Four.

Ace Bailey, several Rutgers basketball recruits are selected for USA Basketball October mini-camp

Rutgers basketball commit Ace Bailey headlines the USA Basketball minicamp in October.

Four players with varying ties to Rutgers basketball were included on the initial roster for the USA Basketball minicamp that is scheduled for October.

The list of Rutgers recruits includes Dylan Harper, Airious Bailey, Darius Adams, and Tre Johnson. Bailey, one of the top players in the country, committed to Rutgers earlier this year.

In addition to improving their skills, the players participating will participate in various educational programs presented by USA Basketball, the NCAA, and the NBA Development program.

For the Scarlet Knights, the mini-camp could provide a preview of the future. Bailey is a five-star recruit and the No. 3 overall player in the 2024 class, per 247Sports’ rankings. Harper is also one of the top players in the 2024 class and already has Rutgers ties. His brother Ron Harper Jr., who is currently a member of the Toronto Raptors, spent his college days at Rutgers. 

 

Adams and Johnson are still a few years away from their collegiate debuts, as they are part of the 2025 class and have offers from the Scarlet Knights.

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As this talented group competes against the best, their progress will be closely watched. For players in the 2024 class, it should build confidence for next year. 

 

Rutgers basketball recruiting: Ace Bailey ‘looks like an NBA prospect’

On3 raves about the potential for Rutgers basketball commit Ace Bailey.

Five-star forward Ace Bailey had a tremendous summer, with the Rutgers basketball recruit apparently making a pitch to be the nation’s top player.

Bailey, who committed to Rutgers in January, is the second-highest ranked recruit in the nation according to On3. He is only behind Dylan Harper, a New Jersey guard who is also high on Rutgers and may be closing in on his commitment decision.

(In fact, Rutgers might be the leader here for Harper)

In their most recent update, On3 has Harper as the nation’s top player in the 2024 recruiting class. But in their analysis, they raved about Bailey and even said that he made a case to be the nation’s top recruit.

Jamie Shaw, in analyzing Bailey, made it clear the player’s high ceiling:

“Bailey checks all the boxes that you want physically when projecting players toward the highest level. At 6-foot-10, he has great positional size for a wing. He can handle within two and three dribbles and rise up with full extension to knock down shots with range over his defender. He is also an explosive athlete, capable of finishing high above the rim.”

He then added that in terms of his jump from the college to the professional level, that “Ace Bailey looks like an NBA prospect.”

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As for Harper, Shaw said that the race tightened between the two players to be the nation’s top recruit. Harper was praised by the On3 analyst, although he notes that there are questions about his explosiveness.

On Harper, this was written by Shaw:

“Harper is best with the ball in his hands. The 6-foot-6 guard has an excellent change of pace and delivers on target and on time all over the court. He led the USA Basketball U19 team in assists this summer, then followed that up, finishing Peach Jam second in scoring.”

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Ron Harper Jr. signed his second NBA contract with the Toronto Raptors

Former Rutgers star Ron Harper Jr. signed his second consecutive two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors.

The Toronto Raptors opted to keep former Rutgers star Ron Harper Jr. on a two-way contract for next season. The 23-year-old undrafted guard did not have a strong showing at Summer League earlier this month, but his solid performance in the G-League earned him an additional two-way opportunity with the Raptors.

Harper appeared in nine games for the Raptors at the NBA level last season, averaging 2.2 points and 0.8 rebounds a night. While playing for the Raptors 905 in the G-League last year, the former Scarlet Knight averaged 16.7 points in 30 games. He shot 50.1% from the floor while shooting 36.6% from three-point range. Also, Harper recorded an average of 5.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and a steal per game.

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During the Summer League, Harper averaged 12 points in four games, shooting 34.9% from the field and 16.7% from behind the arc. The 6-foot-6 guard had a solid performance in the final games with the Raptors 905 in 2022-23, helping him earn an additional two-way opportunity.

 

Harper is a restricted free agent after the Raptors offered him a two-way qualifying offer ahead of free agency. The undrafted guard will spend most of his time in the G-League next season, working on his offensive development. If Harper’s deal doesn’t convert into a standard contract, the former Rutgers four-year starter will be ineligible for the NBA post-season games.

While playing with Rutgers, Harper was a two-time All-Big Ten honoree and an Associated Press All-American honorable mention.

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How is former Rutgers star Ron Harper Jr. doing in the NBA Summer League?

Ex-Scarlet Knight, Ron Harper Jr, has averaged 29.1 minutes per game in four games, playing well for the Raptors in the NBA Summer League.

Former Rutgers star Ron Harper Jr. enters his second year with the Toronto Raptors after being undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft. On July 14, 2022, Harper signed a two-way contract with the Raptors 905 G-League team.

In four seasons (2018-2022) with the Scarlet Knights, the New Jersey native from Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, averaged 12.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists for his career. Harper Jr. recorded  1381 points, 548 rebounds, 157 assists, 68 blocks, and 81 steals in 110 games.

NBA: 2K24 Summer League

Ron Harper Jr’s NBA 2K24 Summer League Stats, according to nba.com
GP MIN PTS FG% REB AST STL
4 29.1 12.0 34.9% 4.5 2.0 1

In the 2023 Summer League, the Toronto Raptors are 1-4 and are No. 28 in the standings. The Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 108-101 to capture their first Summer League win.

As for the former Scarlet Knight, Harper Jr. has averaged 29.1 minutes per game in four games. He’s played well throughout the summer, averaging 12 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. His shooting percentage is below average, but his shot attempts have increased. Harper Jr continues to develop as he tries to make the active 2023-24 roster for the Toronto Raptors.

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NBA G-League: Raptors 905

Ron Harper Jr’s NBA G-League 2022-23 Season stats, according to Gleague.nba.com
GP MIN PTS FG% REB AST BLK
29 32.7 17.1 50% 5.3 3.5 1.2

The 6-foot-5, 245-pound forward averaged 17.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in his first NBA G-League season. In 29 games played for the Raptors 905, Harper Jr. averaged 32.7 minutes and 50% field goal percentage. On the road (14 games), the former Scarlet Knights averaged 17.6 points per game, 2.5 three-pointers, 5.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals. Also, the small forward averaged 16.9 points per game, 1.9 three-pointers made, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists at home (15 games) last season.

NBA: Toronto Raptors

Ron Harper Jr’s NBA 2022-23 Season stats, according to ESPN.com
GP MIN PTS FG% REB AST BLK
9 5.3 2.2 50% 0.8 0.4 0.1

Harper Jr. got called up to the NBA during the 2022-23 season, where he appeared in nine games for the Toronto Raptors. In nine games, the former Don Bosco Prep star averaged 5.3 minutes per game and recorded 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and one block for the season. He logged 2.2 points per game on 50% shooting from the field.

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