Why Dylan Harper is proving to be one of the best true freshman in college basketball

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When it comes to college basketball, the hottest name in town is Duke Blue Devils star freshman Cooper Flagg, who has opened the season strong and is the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

But, right next to him is fellow five-star freshman Dylan Harper, who has immediately sprung on the scene for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights after being the No. 3 overall recruit in the 2024 class.

Harper, a native of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, elected to stay with the hometown team, committing to Rutgers and attracting fellow five-star freshman Ace Bailey , who was the No. 2 overall recruit in the cycle.

Bailey caught headlines early on with a 25-point performance in an exhibition game against St. John’s, but the 6’9” wing missed the first two games of the season, paving the way for Harper to take advantage of the spotlight early for Rutgers.

And the 6’3”, 215-pound point guard did exactly that. Harper opened his college career with three consecutive 20-point outings, shooting 57.5 percent from the field and dishing out 3.7 assists per contest over Rutgers’ first three wins.

With Bailey back in the fold, the two stars have found a way to coexist well, as Harper hasn’t let his foot off the gas, leading up to Tuesday’s thriller in the Players Era Tournament, featuring Rutgers, Notre Dame, Alabama and Houston.

Facing a feisty Fighting Irish team, it was the Harper show for the Scarlet Knights on Tuesday, as the point guard exploded for 36 points on 12 of 22 shooting, marking the most that any freshman has scored in a single game this year.

It was a dominant performance from the freshman, as Harper got to the free throw line 14 times, navigating his way smoothly inside the arc, leading to a highly efficient performance. The five-star filled up the stat sheet, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out six assists, while turning the ball over just once and was a calm presence in Rutgers’s backcourt.

With Bailey struggling with his shot, hitting just 4 of 12 of his attempts, Harper took over in the 85-84 overtime victory , scoring eight of Rutgers’s 16 points in overtime, including the game-winning free throw as he got to the line with 11 seconds remaining to … Read More