One-on-one with Dylan Harper: Nation’s top player is intrigued by staying at home, playing for Rutgers basketball
Dylan Harper just made it through the latest round of cuts for the USA Basketball junior national team. The nation’s top recruit, who is being pursued by the likes of Duke, Kansas and Rutgers, has reportedly impressed over the past week at the national team’s training camp in Colorado.
A class of 2024 recruit, Harper is a talented combo guard from Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) and has the potential to be a game-changing recruit for Rutgers, which is already ranked as the second-best recruiting class in the nation.
Rutgers appears to be very much in the mix for Harper, who spoke to Rutgers Wire this week in a phone interview following a practice with USA Basketball. He said that there is certainly an appeal to staying at home and potentially playing for Rutgers.
He is the top player in the nation according to On3 and 247Sports.
“Everyone, when you’re little, you want to be a hometown hero,” Harper told Rutgers Wire. “So that’s a big factor.”
As for checking out other programs, Harper said there is the possibility of making other visits following the summer. He said that the rest of his top five are likely to get visits, notably Auburn and Kansas.
Rumors of a decision this summer don’t seem likely now. A commitment is going to come, he says, “probably during my high school season.”
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A cutdown of his list also isn’t likely.
As for Rutgers, Harper says there is a special bond and connection with the program. It is a connection that likely doesn’t exist among the other candidates in Harper’s top five including Duke and Indiana.
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“It’s a great relationship because my brother went there,” Harper said.
“Every time I am there, it’s always heartwarming.”
Harper spoke following practice at USA Basketball’s junior national team camp this week. After two rounds of cuts, 14 players remain in camp. Harper is in a prime spot to make the roster for the 2023 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup in Hungary later this month.
“It’s a great feeling just because knowing all the hard work I put into the game, I put into myself – all the distractions I put up with just to hoop, Harper said.
“It’s a milestone, but it’s not the end goal. I’m going to put my head down, keep working, that’s really the main goal for me.
“It’s a great representation…I’m not just playing for myself or my family, I’m out here playing for all Jersey and everything I stand for.”
