Ron Harper Jr.

Ronald Harper Jr. (born April 12, 2000) is an American college basketball player for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights of the Big Ten Conference.

Ron Harper Jr.
Harper with Rutgers in 2020
No. 24 – Rutgers Scarlet Knights
PositionShooting guard / Small forward
LeagueBig Ten Conference
Personal information
Born (2000-04-12) April 12, 2000
Paterson, New Jersey
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High schoolDon Bosco Prep
(Ramsey, New Jersey)
CollegeRutgers (2018–present)

Early life and high school career

Harper was born in Paterson, New Jersey while his father was playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He grew up playing basketball under the coaching of his mother, Maria.[1] On the Amateur Athletic Union circuit, Harper competed for Ring City Basketball, a program owned by his parents.[2] Raised in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey & Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, he attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey.[3] As a junior, Harper averaged 10.1 points and 1.5 rebounds per game while shooting 37 percent from 3-point range.[4] He helped his team win its first Non-Public A state title in 47 years.[5] In his senior season, he averaged 20.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, leading his team to its second straight Non-Public A state championship.[6] He scored a career-high 33 points in a loss to Roselle Catholic High School at the Tournament of Champions final. Harper was named North Jersey Player of the Year by The Record.[7] He was considered a four-star recruit by Rivals but his only Power Five scholarship offers were from Nebraska and Rutgers.[8] On August 11, 2017, he committed to play college basketball for Rutgers.[4]

College career

In his collegiate debut against Fairleigh Dickinson, he posted 15 points.[8] On March 2, 2019, Harper scored a freshman season-high 27 points for Rutgers in an 86–72 win over Iowa.[9] As a freshman, he averaged 7.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. In the offseason, Harper improved his strength and conditioning, gaining 15 lbs (6.8 kg).[8] During his sophomore season, he became a regular starter.[10] On January 22, 2020, Harper recorded a season-high 29 points and nine rebounds in an 85–80 loss to Iowa.[11] On February 25, he scored 27 points, shooting 5-of-5 from three-point range, in a 72–57 victory over Illinois.[12] As a sophomore, he averaged 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and was named to the Second Team All-Met.[10] On November 27, Harper scored a career-high 30 points with five-three pointers in a 96–75 win over Fairleigh Dickinson.[13]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Rutgers 311922.3.413.278.6793.11.1.6.57.8
2019–20 Rutgers 313128.1.452.349.7085.81.0.8.812.1
Career 625025.2.436.313.6974.51.1.7.710.0

Personal life

His father, Ron Harper, was an All-American college basketball player at Miami (Ohio) and played in the NBA for 15 seasons, winning five NBA titles.[14][15] His mother, Maria (née Pizarro), is from the Philippines and played college basketball for New Orleans, before becoming a coach.[3][2] Harper's maternal grandfather represented the Philippines in jai alai at the 1968 Summer Olympics.[16]

References
  1. Flojo, Enzo (May 10, 2020). "Son of a Bull". Daily Tribune. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  2. "Rising Fil-Am hoop star is from family of cagers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. September 13, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  3. Cooper, Darren (March 14, 2017). "What's in a name, if it's Harper?". The Record. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  4. Carino, Jerry (August 11, 2017). "Rutgers basketball: Don Bosco wing Ron Harper Jr., son of NBA champ, commits". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  5. Sargeant, Keith (August 12, 2017). "Ron Harper Jr. of Don Bosco, son of NBA champion, commits to Rutgers basketball". NJ.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  6. Cordova, David (April 24, 2018). "Ron Harper, Jr: Rutgers Recruit Is One of New Jersey's Most Versatile Players". Dave's Joint. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  7. Mattura, Greg (December 10, 2019). "North Jersey's All-Decade Boys Basketball Team". The Record. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  8. Tsakonas, Chris (December 2, 2019). "Harper Jr. poised for success in 2nd year with program". The Daily Targum. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  9. "Ron Harper Jr. Scores 27, Rutgers Rolls No. 22 Iowa 86-72". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. March 2, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  10. "Ron Harper Jr.: Hometown Hero". Rutgers University Athletics. June 11, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  11. Lewis, Ray; Valdez, Josh (January 23, 2020). "Rutgers falls to Iowa in close road defeat". The Daily Targum. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  12. Carino, Jerry (February 15, 2020). "Rutgers basketball: Ron Harper Jr. explosion leads romp of 22nd-ranked Illinois". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  13. Kratch, James (November 27, 2020). "Ron Harper Jr. has career night as Rutgers routs Fairleigh Dickinson". NJ.com. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  14. Politi, Steve (March 11, 2018). "Like father, like son? Rutgers can only hope with Ron Harper Jr". NJ.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  15. "Ron Harper Jr". Rutgers University Athletics. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  16. Fonseca, Brian (March 10, 2020). "'Address me by my name': Rutgers' Ron Harper Jr. goes one-on-one with his father's legacy". NJ.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
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