Dylan Harper - Rutgers guard - 19 y/o

Stats: 19 p/g, 5 r/g, 4 a/g, 33% 3pt

Measurables: 6'4" - 213 lbs - 6'10" wingspan

Harper is a natural scorer who can get buckets in various ways. He excels at driving to the rim, possessing excellent body control, footwork, and the ability to finish through contact with either hand. He was incredibly efficient at the rim in college (around 70%). He can use his strength to bully smaller defenders and get to his spots. He's also adept at drawing fouls. He's a poised ball-handler who plays at his own pace, leveraging change of speed and a slick handle to navigate defenses. He's an advanced pick-and-roll navigator for his age and a good decision-maker, making standard passes like dump-offs and kick-outs. He shows flashes of advanced playmaking, manipulating defenders with his eyes. At 6'4.5" (without shoes) with a 6'10.5" wingspan and 213 pounds, Harper possesses ideal size and a strong frame for a modern NBA guard. This allows him to guard multiple positions on the perimeter and hold his own against bigger forwards. He plays with a calm and controlled demeanor, making smart reads and displaying a high basketball IQ, especially for a freshman. While his defensive effort can fluctuate, he has the tools to be a solid defender. His size, long arms, and spatial awareness contribute to his potential as an engaged defender. He's shown flashes of competitive defense and can be effective guarding various perimeter positions. He also has a knack for jumping passing lanes, averaging 1.4 steals per game. He's shown the ability to hit shots off the catch (36.8%) and has a good sense for movement without the ball, making him capable of playing both on and off-ball. An inconsistent jumper/streaky shooting is Harper's biggest swing skill. While he can get hot, his overall shooting percentages (33.3% from three, 75.0% from free throw line) were subpar in college, especially on dribble-jumpers (29.2% from three). His release point on his jump shot can be low, affecting consistency. He's not an explosive athlete with a quick first step or elite vertical leaping ability. He relies more on craft, strength, and pace than raw athleticism to get to the rim. This raises questions about his ability to consistently create separation against elite NBA defenders if his jumper doesn't significantly improve. While he can be a good passer, he sometimes makes risky reads or overhandles under pressure, leading to turnovers (committing three or more in 13 games). Rebounding isn't a primary strength, as he only pulled down eight or more boards in four contests. His scoring largely revolves around getting to the rim or shooting from beyond the arc. He needs to develop a more consistent mid-range game and floater to complement his rim-centric approach. Harper's ultimate ceiling will depend on the development of his perimeter shooting, particularly his pull-up jumper, and his ability to consistently impact the game on both ends of the floor.

NBA Comps: Cade Cunningham, Ron Harper

Best Fits: New Orleans, Brooklyn, Washington

Ceiling: All-NBA

Floor: Solid piece

Projected Draft Range: 2