SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Five-Star Recruit Harper Commits to Rutgers, Signs Fanatics NIL Deal
Dylan Harper of Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) started his Wednesday like any other high school senior - attending class - but the normalcy ended there for the 17-year-old. After his morning classes, Harper left school early to watch his older brother Ron Jr. and the G-League's Toronto 905 take on the Westchester Knicks, before making some major news of his own.
The son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper was the last remaining five-star in the 2024 class to make his college commitment, but certainly did so in style.
During a live stream hosted at Fanatics headquarters in New York City and viewed on Overtime's app and Instagram - Harper announced his commitment to Rutgers - becoming the highest rated recruit in the Scarlet Knights' history.
"Staying home was the biggest thing to me," Harper shared with Sports Illustrated. "Just to be able to play my next level of basketball at home in my backyard - with all of my family, friends and everyone who has seen me grown up and supported me - that was the main factor."
Concurrently, he also announced a multiyear NIL deal with Fanatics - his first brand partnership - who will feature him in trading cards and collectibles. Not a bad hump day for Harper…