NBA Comparison: Cade Cunningham/Jalen Brunson

Strengths: Harper is a 6’6 210 PG/SG with good length (reportedly has a 6’10 wingspan), a prototype “big guard” frame and strength, as well as smooth athletic ability on the perimeter … Displays high quality body control and footwork … Southpaw with a really high skill level; has good shot-creation ability and shows the excellent ball-handling skills needed to pressure defense and give himself space to operate … Makes good use of head fakes and misdirection moves when looking to attack the defense, which allows him to draw fouls at a solid rate (nearly 6 FTA on 75 FT% as of writing) … Handles, passes and scores with both hands comfortably, and leaves defenders at his mercy with his ability to score the ball at all 3 levels (currently leads all Fr. with 20.1 PPG) … At his best when he operates off the help of a screen; one of the premier pick and roll guards in the 2025 class … Cerebral player; savvy with his understanding of angles and ability to dictate the flow of the game, particularly for his age … Slippery and able to go “off script” depending on how he reads the floor off the bounce, with a knack for getting into the teeth of the defense … Unselfish player with solid floor vision and timing who always keeps his eyes up when he has the ball; an ever-important trait needed for good lead guard play (4.4/2.1 A/TO) … Generally takes what the defense gives him in terms of his shot selection and ball distribution, consistently making sound reads on the move when it comes to knowing when to create for himself or get his team involved … You have to like what he shows in the mid-range and near the rim; poses a threat pulling up and sticking shots when guarded closely but also can successfully convert amongst the trees with his soft touch and nice physical tools (59 FG% inside the arc currently) … Has the potential to post up smaller guards and would be wise to continue to build on it as he gains experience … Hasn’t been shabby from distance either (35 3FG% on 4.7 attempts/G); seems to prefer shooting off the dribble compared to set shots … Confident utilizing stepbacks to get space and hits enough shots when guys go under screens to keep them honest … Can handle contact and will be able to hold up on both ends at the pro level against either backcourt position and wings on some nights…Promising defensive ability; positional versatility is a plus but he does a good job moving his feet and getting through screens…At his best he is competitive and tough as an on-ball perimeter defender, and has come through with a good amount of nice defensive possessions as a Fr (1 SPG) … Willing rebounder who is capable of jumpstarting transition chances and leading run-outs after missed shots (5.3 RPG)…Has a triple-double skill set and has the ability to fill up a statline on any given night…Not flashy but is just highly efficient in all aspects of the game …. Not afraid to take the important shots and is someone you want with the ball down the stretch of games…High floor prospect who doesn’t have many areas to his game were he isn’t an asset…Good bloodlines; father, Ron, was a lottery pick who went on to win 5 NBA titles with the Bulls and Lakers and his brother, Ron Jr., was an All-American at Rutgers 3 years ago and has played briefly for the Raptors …

Weaknesses: Just average in terms of his explosiveness and speed; much more of a below the rim player than high flyer and some have questions about just how well he’ll finish around the rim or get his shots off against contests against taller and more athletic guys at the NBA level … Uses strength to bully instead of gaining spearation through quickness. Nothing more than OK-to-decent 1st step off the bounce … May have to lean more heavily at the NBA level on pick and roll actions to create separation than he has in HS or at Rutgers … Can be streaky with his jumper at the moment, and should look to work on tightening up his fundamentals … Doesn’t get much elevation on his shot and it shows at times in the line-drive nature of his shooting arc, leading to flat misses … Likes to have the ball in his hands but has his moments when he gets caught overdribbling … Sometimes doesn’t read weak side rotations on time and is a split second late making skip passes/kickouts leading to occasional deflections or turnovers against live defense … For a player with top 3-5 draft pick projection, his ceiling is not as high as some might like, however his floor is extremely solid …

Overall: Harper was a blue chip recruit in the 2024 Class who is coming off a summer were he earned MVP of the McDonalds and Jordan Brand Classic games, establishing himself as a consensus top 3 recruit before signing with Rutgers as part of a coup with fellow blue chip recruit and potential top 3 pick Ace Bailey…While the season started with hype for Rutgers as a team, they have been as big a disappointment as any program in the country thus far, although Harper has done his part in what has been a highly productive 1st half of his Fr season that has continued to build on his momentum from the summer and arguably has exceeded his already lofty preseason expectations…As of the 2nd week of January in 15 games played, Harper has scored 20 or more points in 10 games (including 2 with 30+) and has recorded the 1st triple double by a Rutgers player since 1983…He is a strong all-around player with excellent physical ability to match up at the pro level on both ends, the ability to control games as an equal parts scorer and playmaker, and he is savvy about how he creates and makes things happen on the court as the son of a former NBA player and champ…He will need to be more consistent with his jumper and keep gaining experience to reach his potential, as well as continue to answer some questions about how his scoring could translate at the next level, but Harper is so good at so many things that he will very likely be able to be a valued contributor instantly for a team as shown by his constant projections to be a top 3 pick, with some even seeing him as a dark horse for an earlier selection

Notes: Son of former NBA standout Ron Harper and brother of former Ruters star Ron Harper junior …

Jorrye Nixon 1/12/25

Strengths: 6’6 left-handed combo guard … Good size and length with a 6’10 wingspan. Strong frame, initiates and handles contact well. Still gets his shot off when absorbing contact in the air on layups. Draws fouls at a good rate. Shot 5.5 free throws per game over the Nike EYBL in 2023 … Plays on and off the ball … Good ball-handler and changes speed well with the ball. Good in the pick & roll and solid slashing ability. Makes good decisions, reacting well to the defense with a counter when his initial path gets cut off, whether it’s changing direction himself or finding the open teammate. Balanced and has good body control at the rim … Plays at a good pace and doesn’t get rushed … Sees the floor and passes well. Accurate bounce passes. Distributes very well in the half-court and keeps turnovers low considering his volume/usage with the ball. Averaged a 2nd best 5.3 assists to 2.1 turnovers per game over the Nike EYBL and 3 assists to 0.4 turnovers per game at the U19 World Cup in 2023. Impacts the game without scoring. Good balance of knowing when to score vs facilitate … Scores inside with natural touch around the rim. Always squared up when moving, often finds the bottom of the net after spins and other maneuvers at the rim. Uses glass when appropriate. Averaged 18.9 points per game on 50.4% FG% over the Nike EYBL in 2023 … Very good rebounder for position. Averaged 7.1 rebounds per game over the Nike EYBL in 2023 … Plays with some tenacity while staying under control …

Weaknesses: Isn’t an incredibly explosive leaper or possess high-level quickness. While he scores a lot in the paint, he’s usually not finishing above the rim. May struggle defending quicker players on the perimeter at the next levels. Gets beat on closeouts at times … He has shown improvement in 3PT shooting over his senior year but can continue to improve consistency. Shot 33.3% 3PT% on 4.5 3PT attempts per game over the Nike EYBL and 25% 3PT% on 2.9 3PT attempts per game at the U19 World Cup in 2023 … Can improve as a free throw shooter. Shot 59.1% FT% over the Nike EYBL in 2023 … Needs more consistency on midrange pull-up … Can improve using right hand at the rim. Even when driving right, he looks to come back to finish with his left hand … High floor, but lacks some upside other players in the top 5ish range have …

Outlook: Incoming Rutgers freshman … 2023 Naismith High School All-American 2^nd Team … Played in the 2023 UA Next Elite 24 … Earned MVP of the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game with 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists … Earned MVP of the 2024 Jordan Brand Classic with 30 points and 8 rebounds … Finished with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit … 2024 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year … 2024 Naismith All-American 1^st Team … 2024 Morgan Wootten Player of the Year … Son of Ron Harper and brother of Ron Harper Jr. …

Evan Tomes 8/22/24

Strengths: 6’6 left-handed combo guard … Good size and length with a 6’10 wingspan. Strong frame, initiates and handles contact well. Still gets his shot off when absorbing contact in the air on layups. Draws fouls at a good rate. Shot 5.5 free throws per game over the Nike EYBL in 2023 … Plays on and off the ball … Good ball-handler and changes speed well with the ball. Good in the pick & roll and solid slashing ability. Reacts well to the defense with a counter when his initial path gets cut off, whether it’s changing direction himself or finding the open teammate. Balanced and has good body control at the rim … Plays at a good pace and doesn’t get rushed … Sees the floor and passes well. Accurate bounce passes. Distributes very well in the half-court and keeps turnovers low considering his volume/usage with the ball. Averaged a 2nd best 5.3 assists to 2.1 turnovers per game over the Nike EYBL and 3 assists to 0.4 turnovers per game at the U19 World Cup in 2023. Impacts the game without scoring … Scores inside with natural touch around the rim. Always squared up when moving, often finds the bottom of the net after spins and other maneuvers at the rim. Uses glass when appropriate. Averaged 18.9 points per game on 50.4% FG% over the Nike EYBL in 2023 … Very good rebounder for position. Averaged 7.1 rebounds per game over the Nike EYBL in 2023 … Plays with some tenacity …

Weaknesses: Isn’t an incredibly explosive leaper or possesses high-level quickness. While he scores a lot in the paint, he’s usually not finishing above the rim. May struggle defending quicker players on the perimeter at the next level. Gets beat on closeouts at times … Capable of shooting from distance and shows shooting touch but lacks some arc and can improve 3PT consistency. Shot 33.3% 3PT% on 4.5 3PT attempts per game over the Nike EYBL and 25% 3PT% on 2.9 3PT attempts per game at the U19 World Cup in 2023 … Can improve as a free throw shooter. Shot 59.1% FT% over the Nike EYBL in 2023 … Needs more consistency on midrange pull-up … Can improve using right hand at the rim. Even when driving right, he looks to come back to finish with his left hand. Can improve finishing technique as some drives are forced and gets caught in the crowd …

Outlook: Son of Ron Harper and brother of Ron Harper Jr. … 2023 Naismith High School All-American 2^nd Team … Played in the 2023 UA Next Elite 24 …

Evan Tomes 10/18/23