Potential Top Pick Dylan Harper Makes a Statement! Scores 36PTS vs. Notre Dame
Rutgers needed every bit of Dylan Harper’s 36 points in their 85-84 OT win over Notre Dame at the Players Era Festival. Harper flashed his polished scoring ability and showed growth as a floor-general
One of the beauties of Rutgers’ two-headed freshman monster is that either Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey can step up the if the other has an off night. On day one of the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, the spotlight belonged to Dylan Harper. The 6-6 combo guard had one of the most dominant offensive performances you will see all season in college basketball. Harper scored 36 points on 12-22 shooting to go with 6 assists and 6 rebounds. He was the Scarlet Knights’ primary ball-handler down the stretch of the game, and limited himself to just one turnover in 39 minutes of action. Notably, the freshman has now scored at least 20 points in five of his first six college games.
Playing in his first nationally televised game against Notre Dame with countless scouts on hand, Harper put together the most impressive freshman performance of the year thus far. When watching him play, the first thing that jumps out is his pace. Young players often can get sped up, but Dylan does an excellent job of dictating the pace and getting to his spots anywhere on the floor. His size presents a major matchup issue for opposing defenses. At 6-6 220 lbs, Harper is too much for smaller guards to handle but too quick for forwards to keep up with.
Tonight, Harper showed a ton of growth as a facilitator. Late in the second half and in overtime, he was able to sense the defense collapsing on him and make good kicks to open teammates. His vision keeps progressing, and he is able to see skip passes beyond the first level. Coach Steve Pikiell is able to trust the young star with the keys to the offense, giving him the freedom to operate and make plays. Harper embraced the chaotic moments of the game and played well in crunch time. He shot 10-14 on his trips to the free throw line, and did a great job of not settling for bad looks.
Check out a few of Harper’s assists below.
For some time it seemed like Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey held the top spot in the 2025 NBA Draft firmly, but with play like this Dylan Harper’s case to rise up boards will be even stronger. It will be a tough 24 hour turnaround for Rutgers, who take on 9th ranked Alabama at night two of the Players Era Tournament in Las Vegas.
Harper’s full-game highlights below.