Basketball
Dylan Harper’s rise is built on hard work, focus and community
Dylan Harper’s rise to the NBA is powered by discipline, family, and purpose - on the court and in his community, with the focus to keep pushing forward.
Soon after San Antonio Spurs’ guard Dylan Harper was born, his family moved from New Jersey to Detroit because his father - five-time NBA champion Ron Harper - had joined the coaching staff of the Detroit Pistons.
Harper not only grew up with basketball in his bones, he literally grew up on the court.
Dylan Harper’s basketball pedigree led him to Rutgers history
© Josh Huskin / Red Bull Content Pool
I’ve been around the game since I was a toddler. Hearing the stories, watching my brother workout, watching my mom coach, and having my dad take me to games - it all helped me cultivate a love for basketball.
Here’s a look at how the 6’6, second overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft is making his mark on the league, following a formula of hard work and surrounding himself with people who help him grow.
Quick facts: Dylan Harper
Category
Detail
Position
Guard
Height
6'6"
Draft
2025, No. 2 overall
NBA Team
San Antonio Spurs
College
Rutgers
Hometown
New Jersey
Key Trait
Work ethic + composure
01
Early life and basketball roots
Young Dylan Harper stretching his arms against Kevin Durant poster
© Dylan Harper
For many, the journey to the NBA is an enigma - a far away dream lacking any sort of tangibility. Many kids today look at their basketball heroes with a combination of awe and improbability. But for Dylan Harper, the path was normalized because he was able to learn firsthand of its existence.
Beyond Harper’s father, his mother Maria Harper played college basketball and is part of the coaching staff at Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey, the high school where both he and his brother Ron Harper Jr. - currently signed to a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics - honed their on-the-court skills.
“It definitely helps to have someone in the household who’s there and has done it,” Harper said. “The path felt a lot closer than it might have initially seemed.”
02
High school stardom and accolades
Dylan Harper averaged 23 points per game his senior year at Don Bosco
© Koury Angelo / Red Bull Content Pool
It wasn’t until high school that Harper began to fully actualize his potential.
“As a kid, I was always good, but I wasn’t the best,” he said. “Until I got around the high school level. Then it was working hard every day and staying in the gym all day. No matter what anyone else was doing, I was in the gym all day, and that definitely helped.”
Harper figured if he could focus on what he could control - outworking his competition - and do it well, perhaps everything else would fall into place.
And sure enough, the hard work paid off.
Harper averaged 23 points per game his senior year, leading his team to a 26-3 record and a NJSIAA Non-Public A state championship. He was named a McDonald’s All-American Co-MVP, a Gatorade Player of the Year finalist, and a member of the Nike Hoop Summit team.
“I knew I could work harder than anyone else and eventually, I’d catch up and would surpass people,” Harper said. “All we can control is what we can control. Even at the level I’m at now, you need to take care of what you need to take care of first, and then whatever happens, happens. That’s how I’ve always looked at the game of basketball, so having that mindset was great for me.”
03
College level impact
Dylan Harper commits to Rutgers as top-rated recruit in school history ever
© Koury Angelo / Red Bull Content Pool
When it came time for college, Harper’s efforts spoke for themselves. As a five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2024 high school class, Harper committed to Rutgers and became the highest rated recruit in the university’s history.
“I had a great time at Rutgers,” he said. “I got to play college basketball in my home state with my best friend [Ace Bailey]. It’s not how I planned it to go, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Preparing with someone else who’s going through the same thing is a cheat-sheet in a sense.”
What Harper and Bailey were both preparing for at Rutgers was the NBA draft - hard work and preparation that helped push them to give their all. The work led Harper to average over 19 points and become the second overall selection in the 2025 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs, with Bailey becoming the 5th overall selection by the Utah Jazz.
“Everyday we competed and worked out together all day,” Harper said. “At Rutgers, I was always told ‘be where your feet are.’ Yes, the dream of being in the NBA will happen, but first you have to take care of where you’re at. My biggest thing was staying in the moment and focusing on the other stuff later.”
04
Draft Day and NBA beginnings
When Draft Day arrived for Harper, the dream of the NBA was finally happening. All the prep work, time in the gym, focus on outworking the competition - it all paved the way for him to stand at the precipice of entering the league. And only in that moment did he feel his dreams were finally coming true.
“Draft Day was the culmination of hard work and who I chose to be in my circle,” Harper said. “Your circle resembles who you are, what you dream to be, and everything you stand for. I have a very tight circle that helped me, and walking that stage being drafted was the best day of my life.”
By surrounding himself with people who want what’s best for him, Harper is better able to make informed decisions on his career, lifestyle, habits and everything in between - even when those conversations may not be the most comfortable.
“I like being around people who work hard, aren’t really in the scene as much, and are just themselves,” Harper said. “The biggest thing is having people around me who are real with me, who tell me what
Career highlights:
- McDonald’s All-American Co-MVP
- Gatorade Player of the Year finalist
- Nike Hoop Summit selection
- Averaged 23 PPG in senior year (high school)
- Averaged 19+ PPG at Rutgers
- No. 2 pick in 2025 NBA Draft
05
Giving back: Community and volunteer work
Off the court, giving back to the community is a priority for Harper. Having grown up with NBA players coming around and going to events with NBA players' names on them, Harper knows the difference it can make to kids and what an inspiration it can be.
It’s why Harper runs an annual coat drive during winters in New Jersey and why he launched Harper U with his mother and brother - a Nike AAU basketball program that helps prepare kids for their next level of basketball and hopefully makes their dreams of the NBA more tangible.
“It feels good just to see a smile on people’s faces,” Harper said. “Knowing I have the ability to do something nice and make a kid or family’s day - that’s the best part about it.”
06
Beyond basketball
Dylan Harper and family founded Harper University, an AAU youth program
© Josh Huskin / Red Bull Content Pool
Outside of basketball, Harper enjoys spending time at home. On his off days, you might find him playing video games or bowling - two activities that help him keep his competitive edge firing.
“Bowling and video games allow me to stay competitive,” he said. “With bowling, you need to be consistent every time if you want to bowl strikes - consistency which transfers over to basketball in how on point you have to be if you want to excel.”
Whether it’s playing video games, bowling or being on the court, Harper will reach for a Red Bull to meet the physical and mental challenges of being a competitor.
“You drink a nice little can of Red Bull and your focus goes up, your energy goes up, and my competitive spirit goes up,” Harper said. “Once my focus and energy are elevated, all I want to do is win against whoever is in front of me.”
The path ahead
When it comes to Harper’s winning ways, one main intangible that’s aided his success both on and off the court is listening.
“I think listening is very underrated,” Harper said. “I’m a young guy in this league, and the art of listening and not having to be told something twice is something I’ve prided myself on.”
Listening and, of course, hard work.
“You don’t get here just by being gifted,” he said. “Hard work definitely plays a large part of it.”
With the Spurs having now secured a playoff berth for the first time in seven years, Harper’s focus is on taking the hard work methodology that helped him get to the NBA and channeling it outwardly to help his team win.
“I’m looking forward to finishing the season strong,” he said. “That’s my main goal and my main focus right now. That, and how I can get better each day on the court.”
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