Tag: Ron Harper Jr.

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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Watch: Ron Harper Jr. posterizes an opponent in the NBA Summer League

Ron Harper Jr. has a tremendous dunk in the NBA Summer League.

Former Rutgers basketball standout Ron Harper Jr., currently aToronto Raptors forward, threw down a tremendous dunk on Wednesday night, showing his explosiveness at the NBA 2K24 Summer League.

Harper, in his second season with the Toronto Raptors, is playing for the Raptors in the summer league. On a two-way contract last year, Harper played in nine NBA games, averaging 2.2 points per game and shooting 50 percent from the floor.

One of the most beloved players in Rutgers basketball history, Harper played a huge role in the resurgence of the Scarlet Knights in recent years. In his last two seasons at Rutgers, the program made consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

In three games in the summer league, Harper is averaging 9.7 points per game. He is averaging 28.2 minutes per game.

Harper threw down an impressive dunk on Wednesday night agaisnt the Detroit Pistons, driving the basket and elevating with power and explosiveness. He did so over Pistons’ 6-foot-9 center Amar Sylla. A member of the Senegal national team, Sylla is an experienced big man with strong European experience.

 

It has been a summer of slam dunks for Rutgers basketball. Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey had a tremendous dunk at the Peach Jam. Bailey is a five-star commit and part of the program’s 2024 recruiting class.

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As for Harper, his highlight play came in a game that the Raptors lost 94-90 to the Pistons.

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Dylan Harper interview: On his relationship with Air Bailey and possibly suiting up for Rutgers basketball

Dylan Harper talks Rutgers basketball, his thoughts on staying home and Air Bailey.

Dylan Harper is on the USA Basketball junior national team, the New Jersey guard making the final cutdown last week. It is another achievement for a player who has the chance, were he to commit to Rutgers basketball, the change the arc of the program.

Ranked as the nation’s top prospect by On3, Harper is a member of the class of 2024. He is a five-star guard for Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.).

Speaking last week before the final roster cutdown, Harper spoke with Rutgers Wire following a practice with Team USA. He touched on a number of topics, including updating his recruitment (he will take two official visits this fall) and his thoughts on representing New Jersey throughout this process.

He also talked about recruiting.

One of the players that Harper is the closest with is [autotag]Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey[/autotag]. A five-star forward from Georgia, Bailey committed to Rutgers in January, becoming the highest-ranked verbal in program history.

Bailey did not make the final roster, but Harper says the two spent time together in Colorado.

“We have a great relationship, we talk all the time, we text. He’s always saying if I go there with him, we can do something special,” Harper told Rutgers Wire.

“So I hear that a lot from him.”

The idea of playing at Rutgers and following in his brother, [autotag]Ron Harper Jr.[/autotag]’s path, is intriguing to Harper. The 2024 recruiting class for Rutgers, which features the aforementioned Bailey, is ranked second in the nation.

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“I think if I went there, we’d have a very special, a very hard-working class,” Harper said.

“Everyone, when you’re little, you want to be a hometown hero. So that’s a big factor.”

Because of the connection to the program via his brother, Dylan has been around Rutgers more than anywhere else. Rutgers is clearly recruiting him very hard and has made him a priority recruit for this upcoming class.

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“It’s a great relationship because my brother went there,” Dylan said.

“Every time I am there, it’s always heartwarming.”

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Can the Rutgers Scarlet Knights make it to their third straight NCAA tournament?

The Scarlet Knights are on a mission this year to punch their third straight ticket to the NCAA tournament, but does head coach Steve Pickiell have enough firepower to get them there?

The Scarlet Knights are on a mission this year to punch their third straight ticket to the NCAA tournament, but does head coach Steve Pickiell have enough firepower to get them there? Last year, Pickiell relied on veteran experience from guard / forward Ron Harper Jr. and guard Geo Baker to provide scoring for the Scarlet Knights. Harper Jr. and Baker both averaged double-digit points for Rutgers, Harper averaging almost 16 points per game and Baker averaging a little over 12 points per game. Unfortunately, both of these veteran players moved on from Rutgers, making their positions difficult to replace.

The Rutgers men’s basketball program got extremely lucky this off-season, as none of their rotation players opted to enter the transfer portal. Unlike football, the men’s basketball program has found some success playing in the Big Ten Conference, beating teams like Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan State. With the tip-off of the 2022-23 season just a few days away, it will be interesting to see who Pickiell leans on to carry his team to another NCAA tournament.

Come tip-off on Monday, November 7, 2022 against Columbia University, look for Pickiell to call upon junior center Clifford Omoruyi and senior guard Paul Mulcahy. Last season, Omoruyi led the Scarlet Knights in rebounding owning the paint with roughly 8 rebounds a game. As for Mulcahy, he was a big contributor to Rutgers’ success as he was an excellent vacillator averaging a little more than five assists per game. Going into the 2022-23 season, Mulcahy is going to have to be more of a score-first guard rather than passing it off. Look for Mulcahy’s points per game to increase this season since Baker and Harper are no longer in the lineup. It will be interesting to see who Pickiell’s sixth man will be this year as many returning Scarlet Knights have experience from last season. My guess would be Dean Reiber who averaged 7.5 minutes a game last season. Reiber will be called upon when Omoruyi needs some rest allowing Rutgers to stretch the floor with his ability to shoot the three-ball.

The 2022-23 season is going to be an exciting year for Rutgers basketball as each year the team has shown signs of improvement. Come Monday, November 7, look for Pickiell and the Scarlet Knights to make strides toward their third straight NCAA tournament.

 

NBA Summer League Recap: Big Ten Rookie Results

Let’s take a look at how the rookie Big Ten players performed in Las Vegas NBA Summer League

The 2022 NBA summer league in Las Vegas wrapped up this past weekend. It was a great showcase for some of the league’s top future talent. The Las Vegas portion was an 11 day event, featuring all 30 teams playing five games a piece.

There was some strong competition throughout the week and a half, and the Portland Trail Blazers took home the Summer League title when it was all said and done. There were a ton of former Big Ten players involved in the proceedings, including former Scarlet Knight and pillar of the program, Ron Harper Jr.

Like Harper, many of those young NBA prospects actually participated in Big Ten play just last year – including several high draft picks. Let’s take a look at the performances of the rookies from the Big Ten in NBA Summer League.

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