Rutgers senior forward Ron Harper Jr. is declaring for the 2022 NBA Draft and will go pro rather than taking advantage of his final year of NCAA eligibility, writes Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
“I’m ready to put myself out there to get myself in the best position possible to be drafted,” Harper said. “I’m going all-in.”
Harper projects as a potential second-round pick, according to Givony, who has the 6-foot-6 wing ranked 65th on ESPN’s big board. Harper Jr., the son of former NBA guard and five-time champion Ron Harper Sr., tells ESPN that he envisions himself becoming a Robert Covington-esque three-and-D role player in the NBA.
“The NBA is more spaced-out basketball; there are different defensive rules,” he said. “I had to take a lot of contested 3-pointers this year. Those will be open ones in the NBA. The biggest thing NBA teams will see is I’m more athletic than a lot of people realize. I’m going to get my body in the best shape possible to help with that, including improving my eating habits.”
Here are a few more updates on players entering the 2022 NBA draft:
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