Image Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Dylan Harper NBA Draft Projection – Will the Top Prospect Go Top 5 in the 2025 NBA Draft?

Projected to be a top pick, Dylan Harper's name continues to climb draft boards for all the right reasons.

Image Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Dylan Harper featured for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights as a freshman, maintaining his status as a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top-rated prospects from the 2024 class

As a team, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights struggled to make a mark, closing the season with an underwhelming 11-17 record. They finished at the ninth position in the Big 10 Conference, bowing out early. Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey became the first freshman duo in the Knights program history to record an average of 17+ points.

Dylan Harper vs. everybody 😤 pic.twitter.com/RhXNna8Bjm
— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) June 11, 2025

Dylan Harper Scouting Report – Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

At 6-6 frame, Dylan Harper is a dangerous player, especially at the rim. He converts 67.6% of his attempts at the rim, showing great touch and control when attacking inside. With a 6-10 wingspan, Harper has showed proper domination against smaller guards.

Dylan Harper is a pick and roll decision maker, as he seldom forces passes. Working on his strength, Rutgers ran consistent ball screens for him, and it worked as well. He remains patient, waiting for the defense to commit, and then finds the open teammate.

Weaknesses

Dylan Harper’s Free Throw consistency is questionable and requires improvement. He hovers around 75%, but guards usually average above 80%. The issue is still manageable with training.

Harper lacks pace and typically depends on screens to create space near the perimeter, making him vulnerable against quicker guards Quicker players on the court are likely to dominate against him unless he uses a screen.

Dylan Harper Stats and Accomplishments at Rutgers

Dylan Harper played 29 games in the NCAA season, averaging 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He had an incredible field goal percentage at 48.4 but his beyond the arc shooting was at 33.3%.

Harper’s accomplishments (2024-25 season)

Dylan Harper joined Phil Sellers as the only Rutgers player to record 550+ points in his first 30 college basketball games.

The point guard’s average of 19.4 points from his first NCAA season is the highest scoring average by a Scarlet Knights freshman.

Harper led all Big Ten Conference rookies in total scoring, assists, and free-throws made.

He won 4 Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards.

Dylan became the first freshman in Rutgers history to average over 19 points and 4 assists in a single season, an all-around feat that shows his two-way impact.

Dylan Harper’s Draft Projection

The 19-year-old is projected to be the #2 overall pick, just behind Cooper Flagg in the 2025 NBA Draft. The San Antonio Spurs were impressed with Harper in the trials and see him as the perfect candidate for the second spot.

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Akash Vaishnav

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I cover NBA at the Playoffs. I specialize in covering breaking news, Previews, in-depth analysis (breaking down numbers, complex stats, nuances of the game, and converting them into reader-friendly content). Furthermore, I got into the sports media while looking for an entry into the media industry. I love International Relations, and since entry without majoring in the subject was difficult, I got into sports. Now, while majoring in International Relations on one side, I also like covering sports as part of the journey as a young Journalist.