Fil-Am hooper Dylan Harper among top picks in NBA mock draft
Photo from dylharpp/Instagram
The 2024 NBA draft has already concluded, and Filipino American hooper Boogie Ellis joined the Sacramento Kings despite initially going undrafted.
With the draft wrapped up, experts have now turned their attention to the 2025 edition, releasing early mock drafts.
Among the highly anticipated prospects are Rutgers’ Ace Bailey and another Fil-Am, Dylan Harper, both projected to be top picks.
Just this May, Harper secured his place alongside Cooper Flagg and Bailey in the 247Sports’ final composite rankings for the top men’s basketball recruits of the 2024 class.
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Sons of former professional players often feature prominently in NBA drafts, and Harper is no exception at No. 7. Now, CBS Sports reported that the 6-foot-6 combo guard is projected to be selected by the San Antonio Spurs.
For those unfamiliar with the Harper basketball lineage, it’s noteworthy that Dylan is the younger sibling of Ron Harper Jr., who has left his mark on Rutgers’ basketball program.
Additionally, Dylan is the son of NBA champion Ron Harper, renowned for securing five NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls alongside Michael Jordan and later with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played alongside iconic figures like Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
This family lineage brings a wealth of basketball experience and insight, further enhancing Harper’s appeal to NBA scouts.
Despite not possessing the elite athleticism typically sought in combo guards, Harper’s versatility and positional size make him a valuable asset.
“His ability to play on or off the ball with great positional size nearly ensures he’ll be selected in the top 10 next June,” the CBS Sports report stated.
Recently, Harper stole the spotlight again as he emerged as the shining star of this year’s edition of the Jordan Brand Classic. In the annual showcase of the nation’s top high school hoops talent, he rose above the competition, snagging the MVP title and leading his team to victory with an impressive 30-point display.
As the 2025 NBA Draft approaches, all eyes will be on Rutgers’ dynamic duo, with Dylan projected to join the Spurs and Bailey anticipated to join the Pistons.
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