Go ahead and consult any NBA 2025 simulation project, and there is a good chance that you will see Dylan Harper, outside the first-year competition of Rutgers, among the first five choices.
Fox Sports College basketball writer, John Fanta, who recently projected Harper to go n ° 2 in the whole of Utah Jazz, described Harper as a “great guardian and a player who is wired to be a shooter and a playmaker”.
But while Harper is expected to shine at the next level, it is no secret that his first year season, despite the showing offensive figures, did not completely unwind according to the plan. The Scarlet Knights had a campaign from top to bottom, sporting a record of 15-16 and an 8-12 brand in game Big Ten.
However, Harper and his team have the chance to make a sensation this weekend at the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis. This is an elimination tournament in a single match with the winner rewarded with an automatic offer at the NCAA tournament.
Fox Sports has caught up with Harper for an exclusive interview to discuss the Big Ten tournament, playing alongside his first-year colleagues, Ace Bailey, the university basketball scene in New York and New Jersey this season, and more.
Dylan Harper Burzzer Beater and 24 points raise Rutgers on Seton Hall
You are ready to play in your very first Big Ten tournament. What are you and your team looking forward to showing Indianapolis?
“It is a blessing to get there because the big ten is a really difficult league. The 18 teams are really good, so it’s difficult to get there. It’s going to be a good time, and we are trying to go to class. We are going to go there and play Rutgers basketball. I am certainly very excited. It is a big scene and when all the lights become brilliant, I just want to go and play and play and play and play and play and play and play it team.”
You and Ace Bailey are the first first year duo of Big Ten with each 500 -point score in a season since Chris Webber and Jalen Rose did with the Fab Five. What does your name mentioned in this elite company mean?
“It’s crazy to be compared to this Fab Five team. We have one thing here where we have five first -year students who all arrived at the same time, and we play great minutes, so we have somewhat our own thing that happens. Ace and I work so hard every day, and the accessories to help us.”
The university basketball scene in New York and New Jersey really came to life this year with what St. John’s is and you and Ace being such a big headliners at Rutgers. Do you think New York basketball has returned to the university scene?
“You definitely feel all the pressure and all the energy that accompanies it, but that’s a bit what we asked for when Ace and I registered for it, to come to Rutgers and play for an excellent coach like Steve Pikiell. We both knew that we were just going to play basketball and do what we do, what we do, what we are going to do and work.”
Big ten was really good this year. What was the most difficult match you confronted all year round, a team or a person you faced?
“Every match that we have to play a difficult match. It seems that each team we play has a big goalkeeper. There is Braden Smith in Purdue, Brice Williams in Nebraska. Not many people talk about him, but he is a hard match. He is physical and arrives at his places. There are also a lot of big big issues. I could go with Ace Baldwin or (Dawson).
When it comes to playing university basketball, what is the biggest difference to which you had to adapt to the lycée game to the university game?
“Physicality. I like to stick guys and things like that, but when you arrive at university, you play against adult men. They are 23 or 24 years old, so what really helped me is just trying to kiss her … Kissing the physicity and the speed of the game, and just learn day after day.”
There was a lot of chatter on your NBA potential and how good you could be at the next level. Who do you model your game afterwards and is there a current or old NBA player that you consider a comparison for yourself?
“I try to model my game of people who are of my size, my size and play my position. Guys like Cade Cunningham, Shai Gilgeous-Aalexander or Luka Dončić … Large guards who can really go to their place, and they know when to attack and when not. watch.”
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