Rutgers lands five-star recruit Dylan Harper to complete historic top-three class
There have been a number of firsts at Rutgers since the hiring of Steve Pikiell seven seasons ago.
First NCAA Tournament bid in 31 years. First tournament win since 1983. First time Rutgers has reached the postseason three seasons in a row.
This, it can be argued, is his greatest accomplishment at the Big Ten school: A top-three recruiting class.
With the commitment of five-star guard Dylan Harper on Wednesday afternoon, the Scarlet Knights now have two of the top-three ranked players in the country for next year, according to 247Sports, with Harper (No. 2) and Ace Bailey (No. 3), a 6-foot-8 freak athlete from Chattanooga, Tenn.
Piscataway, N.J., will be a popular spot for NBA scouts and media members.
Next year, Rutgers will be a national program.
Theres Duke, Kentucky, UConn all the big programs but why not be a trailblazer and stay home? Harper said after his public announcement at Fanatics headquarters in downtown Manhattan.
5Dylan Harper opted to stay close to him in choosing Rutgers. Daniel FritzHarper signed a name, image and likeness (NIL) contract with Fanatics across its collectibles business, the company said Wednesday afternoon.
His goal is simple, although extremely challenging, at Rutgers: Win a national championship.
Were gonna be better than the Fab 5, Harper boldly predicted.
5Harper is the No. 2 ranked recruit in the 2024 class. Daniel FritzThe two coveted recruits, Harper and Bailey, are the highest-rated prospects to pick Rutgers in program history. They are joined by three-star recruits Lathan Sommerville, Bryce Dortch and Dylan Grant in a blockbuster class.
Bailey and Harper will likely both be selected to play in the McDonalds All-American Game. The last Rutgers recruit to do so was Mike Rosario in 2008.
After the announcement, Harper FaceTimed an ecstatic Bailey, who he has become close friends with over the past year.
5JaMichael Davis’ presence at Rutgers likely helped sway Harper to commit. APThe two will be the faces of the program moving forward.
Its a pretty remarkable class theyve put together, said Travis Branham, a national recruiting analyst for 247Sports. Obviously getting one of the best players in the country in Dylan Harper and getting absolutely one of the best long-term prospects in all of high school in Ace Bailey. Its one of those classes, the stars kind of aligned for them.
An NBA scout, speaking on condition of anonymity, considers Bailey more likely to be a one-and-done lottery pick than Harper, although both are projected by many experts as having that possibility.
5Steve Pikiell now has commitments from two of the top three recruits next year. AP
5Harper isn’t projected to be a one-and-done collegian, but it wouldn’t be surprising to scouts, either. Daniel FritzHarper, the scout said, has improved as a facilitator and has a high basketball IQ. He makes others around him better, but still needs to work on his jump shot and defense.
Ace is the much more intriguing prospect due to his physical and athletic tools along with budding skill and defensive potential, the scout said.
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Steve Pikiell’s recruiting coup is more than a win for Rutgers
The 6-5 Harper, the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, chose Rutgers over a whos who of elite suitors, from Duke to Kansas and Indiana to Auburn.
The school, through booster and sneaker company connections, was able to field a competitive NIL number, although it is believed Harper couldve landed more money at one of the aforementioned programs.
Asked about that, Harper said NIL wasnt something that concerned him. He wanted to stay close to home and play for the same school as his older brother, Ron Harper Jr.
Money was never the main thing, he said.
Pikiell and his coaching staff went everywhere to watch Harper, even going to Hungary to see him play in the FIBA U19 World Cup. There was already a connection between the family and Rutgers, trust in Pikiell the person and coach. The elder Harper brother was an unheralded, three-star recruit who developed into one of the best players in the Big Ten under Pikiell. The younger brother saw that development up close, frequently attending his games. He believes that Pikiell is the coach to get him to the next level.
Rutgers basketball I think its safe to say it runs through the family blood now, Harper Jr. joked.
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