Dylan Harper

[Hal14]

Didn't see a thread for him yet - apologies if there is already one.

But Harper is in the mid for a top 5 pick so should probably have his own thread.

I just wrote an article explaining why I actually have Harper ranked no. 1 on my board as of now:

https://the-center-hub.com/2024/11/20/prospect-breakdown-dylan-harper/

[The-Power]

I think he's a lottery pick but I have a very hard time buying him as a top 5 pick (much less the #1 pick). I love his size and strength but the rest of his game raises a lot of questions for me. Can he shoot and score efficiently? Can he even reliably get contested shots off with his release? Can he create easy shots for himself with the ball in his hands? Can he be a primary playmaker for his team? I'm not so sure, and I wouldn't want to be the team betting on it with a top 5 pick right now.

[Hal14]

Can he create easy shots for himself with the ball in his hands?

Huh? Harper is literally the best player in this draft class at doing that.

I'd suggest reading the article I posted and watching the vids in it..in the article is a chart that shows Harper had the highest amount of rim attempts per game last season among top 20 rated prospects. And of course, since he's a high usage guard, a large % of those attempts were self created.

One of the vids in the article has Harper nailing a 3 off the dribble right in Cooper Flagg's eye. A game where he dropped 30 points and was the best player on the floor..Flagg had 19 that game..

[The-Power]

Can he create easy shots for himself with the ball in his hands?

Huh? Harper is literally the best player in this draft class at doing that.

I'd suggest reading the article I posted and watching the vids in it..in the article is a chart that shows Harper had the highest amount of rim attempts per game last season among top 20 rated prospects. And of course, since he's a high usage guard, a large % of those attempts were self created.

One of the vids in the article has Harper nailing a 3 off the dribble right in Cooper Flagg's eye. A game where he dropped 30 points and was the best player on the floor..Flagg had 19 that game..

We'll see. Self-creation is certainly something I can see him becoming strong at but I don't see it as a given yet.

[FarBeyondDriven]

I like what I see. I think 3rd is his ceiling in this class but he would have gone higher in many drafts of the past. He's like a very poor man's Harden with all the pros and cons.

[XTC]

With guys like Harper you don't overthink it.

He's got a good handle, size, crafty, got a bag, knows how to get to the rim, can finish with either hand, and knows how to draw fouls.

His shooting mechanics need work (Very flat), but his jumper is not broken by any means. He has bits and pieces of Derozan, Pierce, and Harden in his game. He has a scorers mindset. He's also showing the ability to be a playmaker. Low turnovers with his usage is a very good sign.

I like him as a prospect, if I'm a team like the Raptors, I draft him no question.

[Braggins]

With guys like Harper you don't overthink it.

He's got a good handle, size, crafty, got a bag, knows how to get to the rim, can finish with either hand, and knows how to draw fouls... He's also showing the ability to be a playmaker. Low turnovers with his usage is a very good sign.

His dad being Ron Harper is another big plus. I don't know much about Dylan tbh, but I know having an NBA dad has a lot of correlation with NBA success.

[HadAnEffectHere]

He looked like a Harden clone on offense last night, one of the best prospect games I can remember.

[azcatz11]

On now. This kid is a beast and Rutgers is so fun to watch

[JustBuzzin]

On now. This kid is a beast and Rutgers is so fun to watch

Are you sure he's not the #1 pick?

Keep playing like this he's gonna get heavy consideration. Reminds me of James Harden a little bit.

[EmpireFalls]

Harper > Flagg

Would you rather have Harden or Scottie Barnes?

[FarBeyondDriven]

Harper > Flagg

Would you rather have Harden or Scottie Barnes?

Harper isn't Harden and Flagg isn't Barnes.

[EmpireFalls]

It’s at least a conversation now, despite what the Duke-riding media would have you believe. We’ve had it shoved down our throats for over a year now. Flagg this, Flagg that, the Flagg draft, Olympic scrimmages, the whole 9 yards.

It never entered into anyone’s consciousness that the golden boy could possibly be anything less that the best freshman in the country. Everyone just pencilled him in at #1 and told you to forget about it. Flagg hype reached consensus before he even got to college. Very rare to see that. Anyone who didn’t have Flagg #1 was ostracized.

Harper rocked the world tonight. Flipped the draft on its head with that performance. Cooper is good, but he isn’t doing THAT. Time to raise the level Coop.

[HadAnEffectHere]

Bro, it's 7 games in. "Flipped the draft world on its head because the #3 preseason guy had a fantastic game less than a month into the season"

[JustBuzzin]

Bro, it's 7 games in. "Flipped the draft world on its head because the #3 preseason guy had a fantastic game less than a month into the season"

Bro he's been the clear cut best freshman in basketball.

Flagg has looked decent, but he's struggling to create his own offense in crunch time.

This is no longer the tank for Flagg draft unless he starts playing like the hype.

[peZt]

Flagg's ceiling is an elite #2 option. Harper's ceiling is an elite #1 option.
It really depends on what kind of team and players you already have. You already have a franchise player and need a complimenting piece? Take Flagg.
You don't have a franchise player? Take Harper. If Harper keeps his level of play up, I just don't see how you can take someone who hasn't shown that he can carry an offense by himself above someone who looks like he could be an elite franchise player and #1 option in the league

I know it takes a very long time for people to let go off their bias that they formed in HS, but at some point you gotta reavuale the players and not look at the hype.

I still remember Wiggins, how he was the 2nd coming of LeBron but by his first couple games in College he made it obvious he wasn't, yet it took ages for people to realize he is not as good as they thought he would be. RJ Barrett the same thing.

I'm not downplaying Flagg, but even if you thought that he was a generational player in HS, don't let that bias cloud your judgement

[JustBuzzin]

Long season, but if the draft was today I'm taking Harper with the #1 pick.

Flagg gotta prove he still deserves that top spot. Harper is out here making a name for himself with his play.

[Braggins]

Flagg is nearly a full year younger and is probably still the better player right now.

Cooper Flagg ~ PF/SF
6'9" 205 ~ 17.9 yrs
per75: 22.9 pts ~ 11.3 reb ~ 5.0 ast ~ 2.3 stl ~ 2.3 blk
52.5% 2pt ~ 29.2% 3pt ~ 70.4% ft ~ 53.2% ts
+26.8 net ~ +11.3 bpm

Dylan Harper ~ SG/PG
6'6" 215 ~ 18.8 yrs
per75: 31.1 pts ~ 6.0 reb ~ 6.2 ast ~ 1.3 stl ~ 0.4 blk
64.6% 2pt ~ 27.6% 3pt ~ 77.8% ft ~ 62.9% ts
+20.4 net ~ +9.4 bpm

[azcatz11]

Long season, but if the draft was today I'm taking Harper with the #1 pick.

Flagg gotta prove he still deserves that too spot. Harper is out here making a name for himself with his play.

I’m going to get killed but I get Luka vibes from him. He’s #1 for me rn

[azcatz11]

Bro, it's 7 games in. "Flipped the draft world on its head because the #3 preseason guy had a fantastic game less than a month into the season"

Can you list the true freshman who have gone 35 and 37 in back to back games? He has