Class of 2024 guard Dylan Harper talks upcoming visits, USA Basketball experience

By ADAM ZAGORIA

HOUSTON — As Dylan Harper’s recruitment heats up, the five-star guard from Don Bosco Prep and the NY Rens plans to take several more visits in the coming months.

“Yeah, I’ll probably take two or three more,” the 6-foot-4 guard said Friday after USA Basketball Junior National Team Mini-Camp. “Probably Rutgers, Auburn and Kansas. Probably over the summer.”

A five-star ranked the No. 1 combo guard in his class, Harper announced a top five of Auburn, Duke, Indiana, Kansas and Rutgers in January.

Harper visited Duke in October for Countdown to Craziness with Class of 2023 commits Mackenzie Mgbako of Roselle Catholic (N.J.), Sean Stewart of Montverde (FL) and Caleb Foster of Oak Hill (VA).

Duke coach Jon Scheyer and his staff have made Harper a priority recruit and watched him at Peach Jam in July, where he led the Rens to the U16 semifinals. They also saw him at the John Wall Invitational in December in North Carolina.

He also visited Indiana in November.

Harper has also visited Rutgers several times this season for games, including for the Seton Hall game Dec. 11, and was greeted by chants each time.

A “Dylan Harper” chant breaks out: pic.twitter.com/GxsYHVxAsT

— Brian Fonseca (@briannnnf) December 12, 2022

Harper is the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper Sr. and the younger brother of former Rutgers star Ron Harper Jr.

He broke down several of his top options.

Rutgers: “They said they’re really not recruiting me for my brother and what he did there, they’re really recruiting me for me and what I do.”

And: “I think anywhere I go I’m just going to play how I play and play to win, really.”

He added: “It’s always good to stay home but I think for me I’m really going to make the best decision I can.”

Class of 24 @dy1anharper said he hopes to visit Rutgers, Auburn and Kansas before he decides pic.twitter.com/pp44sDuXa2

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 1, 2023

Duke: “Just The Brotherhood culture they really have, the way they all come together.”

Kansas: “Probably just the winning culture they have really. Every time you turn the TV on , not this year but the past three years, Final Four, national championship.”

Indiana: “It was a great experience, great campus, great area. They told me they have that NBA play style that I could really fit into.”

Auburn: “Just how Bruce Pearl lets his guys play at all times. When you turn the TV on, you always get to see the guards controlling the game at all times.”

He also said Class of 2024 Auburn commit Tahaad Pettiford, who is also here, is trying to recruit him “all the time.” “He’s saying if you come, we can win the natty,” he added.

He said he had no decision on a timetable,

“No, sir,” he said.

Class of 24 @dy1anharper of @NYRhoops and @DBFastBreakClub
scoring on a layup to start and playing against NY guy @22_captainjack Ian Jackson of @CardinalHayes pic.twitter.com/652nrfalRG

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 2, 2023

Harper said he’s paying attention to big NBA guards like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham “and people that really impact the game any way they could.”

He said he wants to improve his defense going forward.

“I’m trying to be a two-way player,” he said. “You can’t only play offense, you gotta play defense, too, so any time I get on the court I just gotta realize I gotta play defense too if I want to play offense.”

Harper and his USA Basketball teammates attended the Final Four games Saturday night at NRG Stadium and then practiced on the court Sunday morning.

“It’s a great experience because not every kid gets to do this,” he said. “I just remain humble and grateful for this opportunity.”

Who knows? In two years he could be in a Final Four himself.

“Hopefully, I get to that stage, get to the highest level when I get on that court because that’s a very special moment.”

He added: “This is really a dream come true because everyone dreams of playing on that court, but everyone also dreams of coming to USA [Basketball], coming to mini-camp and watching the games as well.”

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