This week, Ron Harper Jr. declared for the NBA draft, the Rutgers standout forward leaving the Scarlet Knights as one of the most influential players in the program’s history.
Harper, who gained national attention in December for his game-winning shot against then No. 1 Purdue, averaged 15.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game as a senior. He is a tenacious defender with length who has the ability to drive to the basket but also has very good range.
But where does he project in the NBA? Is he a draft pick?
Michael VandeGarde is a former NBA scout who spent 18 years with the Philadelphia 76ers. Now a basketball consultant, one of his projects is CoachTube. An online sports coaching portal, CoachTube is an online platform that gives access to instruction from coaching legends who have been on the sidelines in all college sports as well as the NFL and the NBA.
VandeGarde provided his nearly two decades worth of scouting insight on Harper and where he projects in the NBA:
Athletically: Ron has a strong body…but he is a little too big… a lower level athlete…foot speed and quickness are below average…shows some bounce at times…plays hard and has some intensity about him…
Offensively: He is a shooter and scorer but his numbers are not that impressive…More of a three-point shooter then anything…His three-point percentage has been inconsistent during his career…I like his stroke…he has good balance and rotation…but in two of his four years he shot it poorly…Free throw percentage has improved every year…he has some skills…nothing elite…solid handles…uses his big body very well…gets to his spots…and makes plays…limited facilitator…Not sure what I can count on going forward in the NBA…
Overall: He has some upside if he gets in better shape…or proves he can be an above-average shooter…His pedigree makes me think he will work hard and improve his game…he is a senior already so that limits his upside compared to most draft…
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