With the NBA Draft only a few months away, Dylan Harper is one of the top prospects expected to be selected in the first round. The 19-year-old combo guard is one of the best players on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
While Cooper Flagg has undoubtedly received the most attention from the media, NBA scouts have also observed Harper’s rise and increased draft value. His talent and skill set will determine his overall success in the league. However, Harper does have a rare advantage thanks to his lineage.
Ron Harper Inspired Dylan Harper by Playing Alongside NBA Legends
Since Harper is a relatively common surname, fans may not have realized that Harper is the son of former NBA star Ron Harper. Although he retired in 2001, the 61-year-old won five NBA championships during his professional hoops career by playing for the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.
Getting to play alongside future Hall of Famers such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal certainly didn’t hurt. Harper was a key role player on those championship teams and wound up winning more championships than even LeBron James.
While the Rutgers star wasn’t born in time to witness his father play in the Association, he undoubtedly knew about his legacy growing up and was exposed to arenas, former players, and the sport itself from a very young age.
Maria Harper Played College Hoops at New Orleans
Maria Harper is also no stranger to the sport. She played Division 1 college basketball at the University of New Orleans and is currently an assistant coach at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey.
Harper’s older brother, Ron Harper Jr., also played for Rutgers University and even had a brief stint with the Toronto Raptors. However, he was not kept on by the team. He averaged just 2.0 points, 0.5 assists, and 0.7 rebounds in his short NBA career.
Things are expected to be quite different for his younger brother. Dylan Harper averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 29 games last season for the Scarlet Knights. Needless to say, the future is bright for the Rutgers standout, filled with limitless potential.
Rutgers guard Dylan Harper announced on NBA Today that he will declare for the 2025 NBA draft.
(via @malika_andrews) pic.twitter.com/g0RNrvOYrz
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 31, 2025
This is what makes the draft a very interesting aspect of the league. It is very rare to see a rookie make any difference to a team, and one could argue that the majority of hyped-up top draft picks are letdowns. However, there is no denying that a few rare talents emerge in every draft class and end up changing the very landscape of the NBA.
After all, Giannis Antetokounmpo was selected with the 15th pick, and Nikola Jokić was selected with the 41st pick in their respective drafts. That shows that every single player has to work on their game and continue to develop after making it to the NBA. Having parents with a background in basketball may not be enough for Harper if he hopes to become a star in the league.