Tag: Ron Harper Jr.

How did Ron Harper Jr. fare in the Toronto Raptors Summer League finale?

Ron Harper Jr. had a solid game in the Toronto Raptors Summer League finale.

Former Rutgers basketball star Ron Harper Jr. put in a solid effort for the Toronto Raptors in an 80-69 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in Sunday’s Summer League action.

Harper signed a two-way contract with the Raptors after going unselected during the 2022 NBA Draft. His efforts on both sides of the court have been strong enough to be considered for the roster.

After having up-and-down offensive performances in his first few games, he followed up this past Friday’s strong performance against the Miami Heat with another double-digit scoring day against the Bucks. Harper couldn’t find his stroke from deep, missing all five attempts from beyond the arc. He did get the action going inside though, going 3-for-5 from the floor and finished the game with 10 points.

Harper was able to show off his ability to score in transition and be positioned properly with his teammates, one thing he said he’s learned to refine during his short time with the Raptors so far. His aggression paid off as the team only took seven shots from the charity stripe, with Harper going 4-for-4 at the line. He added four defensive rebounds and two blocks to add to his strong performance.

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The former pillar of the Scarlet Knight program had an overall solid showing during Summer League. Harper finished Summer League with a team leading 25 rebounds, and was also top five on the Raptors in points, blocks, and steals.

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His shooting left something to be desired, but his aggression, effort, and defensive prowess were all displayed throughout the team’s five games. If he continues to challenge teammates in practice, there is a clear road to him earning a spot on the NBA roster.

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How did Ron Harper Jr. do for the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night?

Ron Harper Jr. had a quiet night in the NBA Summer League.

Former Rutgers basketball star Ron Harper Jr. put in a fine effort for the Toronto Raptors in a 93-83 loss to the Chicago Bulls in Tuesday night’s Summer League action.

Harper, who surprisingly went undrafted, signed a two-way contract with the Raptors that puts him in a solid position to make the roster.

After scoring nine points in the Summer League opener, Harper didn’t take as many shots on Tuesday night. Still, his shooting percentage was up on 2-for-4 shooting including 1-for-3 from three-point range.

On Tuesday, he finished with five points with three rebounds in 22:04 of action. He had the fourth-most minutes of any Toronto player.

This past Saturday, Harper had nine points and five rebounds along with two steals as the Raptors beat the Philadelphia 76ers 97-77. He was 2-for-6 shooting in his NBA Summer League debut.

A standout at Rutgers, Harper was a pivotal piece in the Scarlet Knights making consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time since 1976.

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Harper averaged 15.8 points on 44.2 percent shooting, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game last season as a senior.

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Why are the Toronto Raptors such a good fot for Ron Harper Jr.?

Rutgers basketball star Ron Harper Jr. landed in a good spot with the Toronto Raptors.

Ron Harper Jr. can stick in the NBA and develop with the Toronto Raptors. So says an NBA draft insider in discussing the fit of Harper, a former Rutgers basketball standout, with his new team.

In a recent interview, NBA draft insider Rafael Barlowe told Amit Mann of Yahoo!Sports Canada what he thinks about Harper signing with the Raptors and why he didn’t end up being drafted. Barlowe told Mann that “No I’m not surprised,” in response to a question about Harper not being selected in last week’s NBA draft.

Last season at Rutgers, Harper averaged 15.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He was named an AP All-American.

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The Toronto Raptors signed Harper shortly after the NBA draft.

“The biggest knock against Ron Harper Jr. is that he’s not an athlete,” Barlowe told Mann.

“I watched him at the combine, I sat next to some scouts. They liked him a little a bit but they were like ‘He has no explosiveness, he doesn’t have any lift around the rim’ – they think he’s going to struggle.’ …I think that is why he fell out of the top 58…Obviously, he has some value to be signed so fast.”

Harper was instrumental in helping Rutgers to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time since 1976.

In terms of the Raptors, Mann and Barlowe both agreed that there is a good fit. Harper signed a two-way contract, allowing him to develop and grow but also potentially see minutes in the NBA as a rookie.

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The Raptors have a strong developmental track record which leads Barlowe to think Harper can develop into a role north of the border saying that “They have a pretty good track record of turning nothing into something,”

“He’s a crafty scorer, that is what you know you’re going to get from him, a creative scorer. I think he has to be because he doesn’t have this typical athleticism and elite first step and the natural quick-twich gifts that some of the other guys have that teams value in wings. I think him not being athletic forces him to be a little crafty and creative. I think at the very minimum, he can be a three-point shooter, shot a little under 40 percent from three. I think there can be a role,” Barlowe said.

“I just wonder defensively, the lack of athleticism does it really hurt him more on the defensive end, even though I think he can move his feet.”

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Watch: Toronto Raptors’ Ron Harper Jr. shows his stuff in a pre-NBA draft workout

Former Rutgers star Ron Harper Jr. showed off during a pre-NBA draft workout.

Ron Harper Jr. is a member of the Toronto Raptors, the former Rutgers star having signed as a rookie free agent following Thursday’s NBA draft. Harper is coming off an impressive final season with the Scarlet Knights, where he showed improvement in nearly every aspect of his game.

What Harper showed in the pre-draft workouts isn’t necessarily what will make him stick with an NBA team. Harper is a solid shooter who is clutch and is also a tremendous defender. He has good length, a good handle and some nice range to his game. It is certainly not easy to replicate that skillset in a workout setting.

The production is certainly there, though as he averaged 15.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season. 

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Harper is a good face-up shooter who is also solid from three-point range, with a career-high 39.8 percent in his final season at Rutgers. The Raptors certainly got a solid player after the NBA draft in Harper.

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So this video of Harper working out prior to the NBA draft is intriguing. He shows off his ability to pop-and-shoot along with his explosiveness in getting to the rim:

Rutgers fans certainly know what Harper brings to the table in terms of his teamwork, hustle and solid offensive game. If he can add and refine to his offensive game, then Harper might end up being a steal for the Raptors.

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Harper had several workouts prior to the NBA draft, including with the Charlotte Hornets.

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Next up, Dylan Harper. How is Ron Harper Jr.’s little brother (a four-star) doing in recruiting?

Rutgers basketball is the slight favorite to add Ron Harper Jr.’s not so little brother.

On Thursday night, Ron Harper Jr. didn’t hear his name called in the NBA draft, but the former Rutgers basketball star ended up signing with the Toronto Raptors. And now, all eyes turn towards the next Harper in the pipeline, Dylan Harper.

A 6-foot-5 guard at Don Bosco Prep, Dylan has the potential to step-up and become an even bigger recruit than his older brother. He already holds a number of top offers .

The class of 2024 recruit is already a four-star and ranked the No. 46 player in the nation by Rivals. He pulled in an offer from Auburn in the middle of the month to go along with programs such as Georgetown, Indiana, Missouri and Rutgers.

So where do things stand right now with Harper? Well, the On3 Prediction Machine has Rutgers as a slight favorite to end up at Rutgers, but things are tight in that regard:

  • Rutgers – 22.2%
  • Georgetown – 19.4%
  • Indiana – 16.7%
  • Auburn – 13.9%

Don’t forget to check out this article about big brother signing with the Raptors after the NBA draft and learn more about the two-way contract he signed with the team.

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Ron Harper Jr. signs two-way free agent contract with Toronto Raptors

Former Rutgers Scarlet Knights standout Ron Harper Jr. signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors after the conclusion of the 2022 NBA Draft

Ron Harper Jr. did not hear his name called Thursday night during the 2022 NBA Draft, but that did not stop the Rutgers basketball star from getting closer to making his NBA dreams a reality.

According to a report from ESPN, Harper will be heading out of the country as he signed a two-way deal with the Toronto Raptors. Players on two-way contracts are eligible to play in 50 of their team’s 82 games.

It was a surprise to not hear Harper’s name called on Thursday night. He was pegged as a likely second-round pick.

Harper averaged 15.8 points on 44.2 percent shooting, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game last season as a senior. Fans of the Scarlet Knights know that Harper can be a strong defender and can take over for stretches on both ends of the court.

Harper was also clutch in propelling Rutgers to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time since 1976.

Harper showed continued growth, year-over-year for the Scarlet Knights. Harper could definitely find a permanent spot on the roster if he continues to work as hard as he did during his time at Rutgers.

Raptors fans can look forward to welcoming a young man with a strong sense of leadership as well, as you can hear when he discussed his time at Rutgers after this past season.

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When the two-way contracts were initially introduced, players were limited to 45 days with the team, which included practice and travel days. The change to 50 games has greatly benefitted teams and the development of and opportunities for players.

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Rutgers basketball: Yahoo! Sports has Ron Harper as a second round pick

Ron Harper Jr. is taken in the second round of the latest NBA mock draft.

In the latest NBA mock draft from Yahoo! Sports, Rutgers basketball forward Ron Harper Jr. is off the board late in the second round.

The mock draft has Harper being taken No. 58 overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Krysten Peek writes about Harper and what he brings to Cleveland as a second-round pick:

“He’s not afraid of the big moment and has a decent first step off the wing to get past defenders. Harper averaged 15.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game this past season.”

Harper will go down as one of the best players in Rutgers men’s basketball history. He has been a clutch player almost from the get-go and has grown tremendously into not just a leader but also as a player capable of making big shots in big moments.

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He has good length and is a tremendous defender. Harper brings some positional versatility as he can play at the ‘two’ or the ‘three’ but can also defend some bigger forwards as well.

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Latest USA TODAY NBA mock draft has Ron Harper Jr. gone in the second round

Ron Harper Jr. is off the board in the latest USA TODAY FTW mock draft.

Former Rutgers basketball standout Ron Harper Jr. appears to be heading in the right direction according to most NBA mock drafts. The latest mock draft from USA TODAY’s For the Win has Harper going off the board late in the second round.

Harper gets taken at No. 57 by the Portland Trail Blazers in the FTW NBA mock draft.

Earlier last week, Bleacher Report had Harper going in the second round to the Indiana Pacers.

In his final season at Rutgers, Harper averaged 15.8 points per game and 5.9 rebounds. He garnered national attention for his late-game, heroics including a nearly half-court shot to beat then No. 1 Purdue at the buzzer and then a late-game three-point shot to beat Indiana on the road.

Over the weekend, Harper worked out for the Charlotte Hornets and talked about the workout with the NBA squad:

“I’m trying to showcase my 3-point shooting capability, my consistency and most importantly, I feel like I’m trying to showcase my defensive versatility,” Harper said in a video released by the Hornets via their social media channels.

“The way I can defend multiple positions.”

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Watch: Ron Harper Jr. talks about his workout with the Charlotte Hornets

Former Rutgers basketball standout Ron Harper Jr. discusses his recent workout with the Charlotte Hornets.

Ron Harper Jr. had a workout with the Charlotte Hornets over the weekend, the former Rutgers forward believing that he showcased himself well during the event.

Harper was the only member of the Scarlet Knights basketball team to participate in last month’s NBA combine. He showed well at the event, likely solidifying himself as a second round pick.

Following this weekend’s workout with other NBA hopefuls, Harper called it a “great workout, we competed really hard” with the Hornets.

“I’m trying to showcase my 3-point shooting capability, my consistency and most importantly, I feel like I’m trying to showcase my defensive versatility,” Harper said in a video posted to social media by the Hornets.

“The way I can defend multiple positions.”

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Last season at Rutgers, Harper averaged 15.8 points per game and 5.9 rebounds. The all-Big Ten selection was instrumental in leading Rutgers men’s basketball to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time since 1976.

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Twitter reacts as Rutgers baseball was snubbed from the NCAA Tournament

Rutgers baseball didn’t make the NCAA Tournament, leading to plenty of anger on social media.

Rutgers baseball made the NCAA Tournament on Monday, the selection committee rewarding the Scarlet Knights for a second-place regular-season finish in the Big Ten as well as coming in second in the Big Ten Tournament. That’s some consistency right there.

That was supposed to be the introduction for yesterday’s piece heralding the return of Rutgers baseball to the NCAA Tournament. Instead, Rutgers baseball was left out with just two Big Ten programs being included this year.

It all led to quite a bit of consternation (that’s a polite way to say anger) on social media after Rutgers was left out.  Rutgers finished the season 44-15 (17-7 Big Ten) and with an RPI at No. 42.

It doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense and Rutgers fans on social media reacted as would be expected. Todd Frazier, for instance, made several tweets slamming the decision.

While the conspiracy theories and grassy knolls don’t quite hold up, it was clearly an unusual decision for the NCAA to overlook a strong and consistent regular season from Rutgers.

The Scarlet Knights baseball program has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2007.

A look at how everyone from WFAN’s Craig Carton to Rutgers baseball alum Todd Frazier reacted to yesterday’s news about the baseball team’s snub from the NCAA Tournament!