The NBA Draft takes place on Wednesday and Thursday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. All indications are Duke freshman sensation Cooper Flagg will go to the Dallas Mavericks with the first selection.
Dallas’ cross-state rival, the San Antonio Spurs own the second pick, and they're expected to select Rutgers' combo guard Dylan Harper.
We will break down everything you need to know about Dylan Harper in his 2025 NBA Draft profile, including his draft pick projection, stats, combine performance, strengths, and more.
Harper is another freshmen slated to play alongside 2023 top selection Victor Wembanyama this season. Harper — the son of former longtime NBA guard Ron Harper — is projected to go second to San Antonio by many mock drafts.
In Harper’s lone season with the Scarlet Knights, he averaged 19.4 points per game, which ranked fifth in the Big Ten. Harper pulled down 4.6 rebounds a game, dished out 4.0 assists a contest, and shot 33% from 3-point range.
Let's dive into Dylan Harper’s NBA Draft Scouting Profile.
Dylan Harper College Stats
Harper played one season at Rutgers, leading the Scarlet Knights to a 15-17 record. These are his totals from his freshman season.
- 29 total games
- 564 points
- 133 rebounds
- 117 assists
- 42 steals
- 50 3-pointers made
Harper posted 17 games of at least 20 points last season, including back-to-back games of 36 points or more. He torched Notre Dame for 36 points, followed by a 37-point effort against Alabama.
Dylan Harper Achievements
- 2025 third-team All-Big Ten
- 2025 Big Ten all-freshman team
Dylan Harper Combine Results
Below are Harper’s numbers for the May NBA Combine.
- Height (without shoes): 6 feet, 4 1/2 inches
- Weight: 213 pounds
- Wingspan: 6 feet, 10 1/2 inches
- Hand Length: 9 2/5 inches
- Hand Width: 9 2/5 inches
- Standing Reach: 8 feet, 6 inches
Dylan Harper Game To Watch
November 27, 2024 vs. Alabama
Although Rutgers fell short to an Alabama team that eventually reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, Harper lit up the Crimson Tide for 37 points. Harper hit 11-of-19 shots from the floor and converted 15-of-16 free throw attempts in a 95-90 defeat.
Dylan Harper: Strengths
- Shows great body control and excellent footwork.
- Although he is left-handed, can control the ball well with either hand.
- Isn’t afraid of contact and is willing to take the ball to the rim.
- Solid defensively as he picked up multiple steals in 13 games last season, including eight times in conference play.
Dylan Harper: Weaknesses
- Is a streaky player and seemed to wear down towards the end of Big Ten play.
- Likely not a franchise-changer compared to Flagg, but still has plenty of upside.
- Turnovers were an issue at Rutgers, committing three or more in 13 games.
- Rebounding is also a concern, as he pulled down eight or more boards in only four contests.
Dylan Harper NBA Comparison: Cade Cunningham
Several scouting services have compared Harper to another one-and-done high draft pick in Cade Cunningham. Followed by a terrific freshman season at Oklahoma State, the Pistons selected Cunningham first overall in 2021.
Granted, it took until his fourth season to post a career-high in points per game, Cunningham has proven to be a valuable commodity for Detroit.
Will that same story be written for Harper? If he ends up in San Antonio, he will definitely be in Wembanyama’s shadow, but still has a tremendous opportunity to help build the Spurs back into a contender alongside a young cast of up and comers like Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell.
Harper NBA Draft Projection: Which Pick Will Harper Go?
Flagg is a slam-dunk with the first pick to Dallas, but Harper seems like he is headed to the Lone Star State as well at No. 2 with the Spurs. This is a freshman-heavy first round, as Flagg and Harper stand out as the two best players off the board, but this class is likely to break the record for freshmen drafted in the first round (16).
Lock Into The NBA Draft With PrizePicks
The NBA Draft introduces you to the future superstars of the league, including Dylan Harper, who will step onto a young and up and coming Spurs team looking to make noise in the Western Conference.
When the draft ends, NBA SZN on PrizePicks begins. With NBA SZN, you can make season-long fantasy basketball predictions to win real cash, including on the league's top rookies.
New to PrizePicks? Claim your $50 bonus when you sign up here.
Check out the Playbook daily for more NBA DFS picks and analysis for PrizePicks.
