He's incredible. Can use either hand well on both floaters and shots off the glass and his body control to prevent charges, while freeing up open seams, and his use of his long arms to keep his layups from being blocked are superb. And he's also not bad at rebounding, passing, jump shots and defense, as well as being a very heady player. Certainly the best freshman I've seen at RU (didn't see Sellers or Bailey more than a few times as frosh) and so far, at least, he's the lottery pick on this team. Not sure what this team is going to accomplish this year, but he's going to be awesome to watch the rest of this season - too bad it'll only be one year. 36/6/6 tonight with only 1 TO. Wow, just wow.
Harper is the best RU player driving to the basket I've ever seen (and more)
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Sellers was different. Smooth and powerful. But Harper is impressive. He's in elite Air.
Not just RU, he’s one of the best downhill players I’ve seen in college maybe since Kyrie..
I agree, but I didn't want to get too far ahead of myself yet, lol.
NBA front offices are drooling over the idea of Harper running PG for 10+ seasons.
It’s his size with those skills that makes him special. He can shoot over perimeter defenders, see open guys and score inside.
He’s a bigger stronger version of Brunson and definitely has some kyrie in him
Size, strength, quickness, wingspan, fluidity, handle, body control, jumping ability, and accuracy. I'm sure I left something out, lol.
Shelby doesn’t agree with all of that (ie quickness), but you’re close enough. You left out ‘confidence’ and ‘poise’,
Dylan plays within the flow of the game and rarely forces his shot. Doesn't play like a freshman at all.
Funny, usually when we see praise for how great our players are, it's just our fans being Fanatical.
But with Harper - sh!ts legit - he's that good
But with Harper - sh!ts legit - he's that good
I wanted him to drive at the end of regulation, not settle for a 3. Maybe he was a little tired? He is amazing.
Same here - even said it before the last possession in the game thread. No idea why we settled for a three. The drive gives us the chance to win from his incredible skills or by getting fouled.
He looked tired. I think his focus was off for a moment. He got it back
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Agree and that was probably the only “bad” shot of his the entire game.
He just made it look way too easy all night.
He is the best player I’ve ever seen wear a Rutgers uniform the past 20 years and I’m hoping he keeps taking games over the way he did tonight for the rest of the season.
Yeah, that was his one bad decision. Derkack had a poor decision to drive at the end of regulation when we had the lead and there were 20+ seconds on the clock. As soon as he started. I yelled NO!!! at the TV. Lol
At least he made the fts. But ND got it back with over 20 seconds left and set up Allocco's first of 3 straight clutch 3s.
He’s a generational player and it’s obvious.
The truly great one’s adapt to the speed and skill jump at every level without an issue.
One in a million
The truly great one’s adapt to the speed and skill jump at every level without an issue.
One in a million
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never gets sped up. We've been saying it and Grant Hill was saying it last night. He always gets to his spot and changes speeds so well that he can get anywhere at anytime and when he gets there, his body control, strength, and variety of finishes makes him so tough to guard.
There will be an adjustment period for him. Some teams will have shot blockers that will make it tougher and others will make it very difficult for him to even get the ball. Teams are going to make him work harder than ND did. It won't be this easy every game.
Almost a lock for him to be the best player at RU through the 70s. Not locking it until I see how he adjusts to how the defenses will adjust. In addition, so far his outside shot has been pedestrian.
Almost a lock for him to be the best player at RU through the 70s. Not locking it until I see how he adjusts to how the defenses will adjust. In addition, so far his outside shot has been pedestrian.
Good comment about adjusting to each level. He’s already thriving in college, almost to the point of dominating.
Biggest asset might be his perception of space. He instinctually knows how to exploit every opening.
Upon reflection, Harper reminds me of Mike Dabney more than anyone. Smooth as silk. In today's world Dabney would have had a fine NBA career. Jordan, Copeland, and Bailey, that whole 75-76 team were nonpareil and ask could drive at will in any given game. Sellers of course. What's different about Harper and Sellers, they were doing it from Day 1.
I've said even before the season, I think I'd prefer Harper over Ace/Flagg on the Nets.
(Note - I hadn't seen either of them really play. This was just based on their profiles.)
As you say, just slot in an elite PG with size for (hopefully) 10+ years and move on.
That'll attract elite wings/front court players.
Shelby expects to be slammed for this very early comparison, but he sees parallels between Bailey's early struggles and Griffiths' last year.
Both good athletes and skilled players (am not suggesting equal talent), but being stationed on the perimeter to open up the lane for ball dominant PGs to drive, score and rarely distribute squashes wing production. Not just last night, but in other games. Last year Simpson, Williams and Davis were score-first guards and lousy distributors.
Obviously Harper dominated offensively, but against a small team (which allowed us to go small in the second half too). He doesn't seem to be helping Ace's game very much, if at all.
Both good athletes and skilled players (am not suggesting equal talent), but being stationed on the perimeter to open up the lane for ball dominant PGs to drive, score and rarely distribute squashes wing production. Not just last night, but in other games. Last year Simpson, Williams and Davis were score-first guards and lousy distributors.
Obviously Harper dominated offensively, but against a small team (which allowed us to go small in the second half too). He doesn't seem to be helping Ace's game very much, if at all.
a little early for that, don't you think? we can hope, but the schedule (and opposing players) has been weak so far.
What’s too early? Breaking down my comment:
1) he’s already adjusted to this level
2) he’s thriving in college
3) ALMOST to the point of dominating
And:
4) Biggest asset might be his perception of space, instinctually exploiting every opening.
Exactly where am I jumping the gun here?
I meant at this age
Obviously Brunson is a grown man. But all things being equal the comparison is there
the opposition has been weak so far. it's too early to know how he'll do in conference against better teams, or tonight for that matter. but yeah, so far so good.
Its been a long time, but Phil Sellers had his moments taking it to the basket
The most memorable game in that regard was against St Johns at the garden, undefeated season
In the waning seconds we put the ball in his hands and pretty much cleared out the middle.... Two forceful layups later cemented the game
He hasn't seen the shot blocker he may encounter most nights. Defenses will adjust to what they saw on film last night. How Dylan adjusts to other team's adjustments will really tell us what we have.