{"id":132005,"date":"2025-03-31T16:42:43","date_gmt":"2025-03-31T20:42:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=132005"},"modified":"2025-03-31T16:42:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T20:42:43","slug":"top-lottery-pick-dylan-harper-declares-for-2025-nba-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/03\/31\/top-lottery-pick-dylan-harper-declares-for-2025-nba-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Lottery Pick, Dylan Harper Declares For 2025 NBA Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rutgers freshman Dylan Harper,<\/a> the projected No. 2 pick, announced his decision to enter the 2025 NBA Draft on ESPN’s<\/a> NBA Today<\/em>. Harper, a standout guard, cemented his draft stock with an impressive season despite Rutgers’ struggles. He averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. His performance earned him Third-Team All-Big Ten and a spot on the all-freshman team.<\/p>\n

Top Lottery Pick, Dylan Harper Declares For 2025 NBA Draft<\/h2>\n

Harper reflected on his season, acknowledging the highs and lows. “I’ll remember all the life lessons this season. The ups and downs and good and bad. Staying leveled,” he said<\/a>. His resilience and skill have positioned him as one of the most exciting prospects in the upcoming draft.<\/p>\n

A Record-Breaking Freshman Season<\/h3>\n

Harper shattered Rutgers’ freshman scoring record and finished as the fifth-best scorer in the Big Ten. Early in the season, he looked like a serious challenger for the No. 1 pick, posting 36- and 37-point performances against Notre Dame and Alabama. However, an ankle injury and a bout with the flu slowed his momentum in January. Despite these setbacks, Harper remained a dominant force.<\/p>\n

His final college game, a double-overtime loss to USC in the Big Ten tournament, showcased his all-around game. He posted 27 points, eight assists, eight rebounds, two blocks, and two steals, proving his readiness for the next level.<\/p>\n

Strengths and NBA Comparison<\/h3>\n

At 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Harper possesses the ideal size and length for a modern NBA guard. His game draws<\/a> comparisons to Cade Cunningham<\/a> due to his blend of scoring, playmaking, and versatility.<\/p>\n

Harper<\/a> excels in pick-and-roll situations, using elite footwork, body control, and shiftiness to create scoring opportunities. He blends hop steps, jump shots, floaters, and runners, allowing him to finish efficiently inside the paint. He shot an impressive 57.4% on two-point attempts this season, even without significant offensive support at Rutgers.<\/p>\n

“NBA teams saw I am an all-around player,” Harper said<\/a>. “I can do whatever it takes to win. Whether it’s score, defend, or facilitate.” His ability to impact the game in multiple ways makes him a highly valuable prospect.<\/p>\n

Fit in the NBA<\/h3>\n

Harper’s size, skill set, and basketball IQ make him a strong candidate for an immediate impact in the NBA. He can handle both guard positions, defend multiple positions, and thrive as a primary or secondary playmaker.<\/p>\n

His three-point shooting (33.3% on 5.2 attempts per game) remains a work in progress, but he has shown confidence and effectiveness off the dribble. His ability to navigate screens, use head fakes, and break down defenders makes him a tough cover for opponents.<\/p>\n

Harper also brings defensive versatility. His length and quickness allow him to guard both backcourt spots and some wings. He plays with high energy, disrupts passing lanes, and rebounds well for a guard.<\/p>\n

Projected Landing Spot and Questions About Fit<\/h3>\n

Harper is widely projected as a top-three pick alongside Duke’s Cooper Flagg<\/a> and Rutgers teammate Ace Bailey<\/a>. Many mock<\/a> drafts have him landing with the Washington Wizards<\/a> or Utah Jazz<\/a>, raising questions about his fit alongside other guards present on those teams. For instance, Jordan Poole<\/a> on the Wizards. Poole is a high-volume scorer who thrives with the ball in his hands, while Harper is an efficient playmaker who balances scoring and distribution.<\/p>\n

The Wizards, a rebuilding team, could benefit from Harper\u2019s steady presence, high basketball IQ, and defensive upside. If paired with Poole, Harper may need to adjust to playing off the ball more often. However, his ability to score, facilitate, and defend makes him a promising building block for any franchise.<\/p>\n

Dylan Harper, as Expected, Declares for the 2025 NBA Draft<\/h3>\n

Dylan Harper\u2019s<\/a> decision to enter the NBA Draft solidifies his place as one of the top prospects in 2025. His well-rounded game, size, and scoring ability make him a surefire top-three selection. With the NBA Draft Combine set for May and the draft in June, Harper will spend the next few months fine-tuning his game and preparing for the next level. Wherever he lands, Harper is poised to make an immediate impact in the NBA.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rutgers freshman Dylan Harper, the projected No. 2 pick, announced his decision to enter the 2025 NBA Draft on ESPN’s NBA Today. Harper, a standout guard, cemented his draft stock with an impressive season despite Rutgers’ struggles. He averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. His performance earned him Third-Team […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5018,"featured_media":132009,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,773,556,3],"tags":[49375,49399,2785,48964,49668,979,1858],"class_list":["post-132005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-college-basketball","category-nba-draft","category-news","tag-2025-nba-draft","tag-ace-bailey","tag-big-ten-basketball","tag-cooper-flagg","tag-dylan-harper","tag-espn","tag-rutgers-scarlet-knights"],"modified_by":"Frederick Okocha","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5018"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=132005"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132005\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":132011,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132005\/revisions\/132011"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/132009"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=132005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=132005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=132005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}