Rutgers Men’s Basketball: Ron Harper Jr. Injury Update
The latest Rutgers news is that leading scorer Ron Harper Jr. is day-to-day with an injury to his hand. He is envisioned as a three-and-D role player in the NBA like Scotty Pippen Jr. or a Robert Covington. A non-shooting hand injury is a concern, but Harper envisions himself as a two-way player with the ability to play all three positions.
Rutgers leading scorer ron harper jr is day-to-day with a non-contact injury to his hand
Rutgers’ leading scorer Ron Harper Jr. is out for at least one more game after injuring his hand during Wednesday night’s win over Illinois. The team is evaluating Harper’s injury, which occurred in the non-shooting hand. Harper will be evaluated and likely will not play on Sunday against Purdue. The scare is understandable, as Rutgers is making a run in the NCAA Tournament. With an injury like this, the Wolfpack needs any win, and without the top-scoring player, this might be a blow.
The news is encouraging for Rutgers, which is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2009-10 season. Indiana, ranked No. 1 after the season, will face No. 2 Virginia Tech. Rutgers finished 10-8 in the Big East, but the Wolfpack was able to get their first victory in the tournament in three years.
Despite Harper Jr.’s injury, Rutgers’ leading scorer remains a day-to-day player. The senior guard had injured his left hand during the team’s victory over Illinois. Although the team’s other stars, like forward Payton Willis and guard Kyle Aguado, were out in the last few games, the injury is expected to affect Harper’s game plans.
Harper passed Jeff Greer to claim 16th place in the Rutgers scoring record. He is one of four players in double figures and leads the team with 15.7 points per game. Rutgers are 11-6, 5-2 in Big Ten play. Harper’s hand injury could make the difference between the team’s win and its loss this weekend.
Rutgers has won four straight vs ranked teams
Rutgers has won four straight versus ranked teams, and it is the first unranked team to do so since Michigan State in 2019. The Scarlet Knights are 5-2 against rated teams this season, including a win over No. 1 Purdue on Sunday. Rutgers’ three losses to ranked teams came on the road, with losses to Michigan State and Purdue in Bloomington. However, the Scarlet Knights finished the year with back-to-back victories over Indiana and Penn State.
One reason Rutgers has beaten ranked teams is their defense. The Scarlet Knights lead the Big Ten in scoring defense, allowing only 65.6 points per game. This is impressive considering that Rutgers has played every ranked team in the league in succession. However, the Scarlet Knights can also have cold shooting nights, as they finished third in the conference in three-point percentage last season.
Rutgers also has a rich tradition of producing NFL talent. Some of its most notable players were drafted in the NFL draft. In 2010, two defensive backs, Jamison and Greene, were chosen first overall. In 2012, Rutgers picked fourth-round pick Khaseem Greene and second-round pick Logan Ryan. Both players contributed to Rutgers’ winning streak.
On Jan. 26, Rutgers defeated No. 13 Pittsburgh. Senior guard Ron Harper Jr. scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds. This game was notable in that Rutgers shot 51% from the floor and hit 7 of 12 three-point attempts. Despite the loss, Rutgers stayed unbeaten against ranked teams. It was important for Rutgers to bounce back from the crushing defeat suffered by Illinois three weeks ago.
ron harper jr envisions himself as a Robert Covington-esque three-and-D role player in the NBA
While he was considered a second-round pick in the 2020 NBA draft, Ron Harper Jr. has boosted his draft stock exponentially through six games. In the first six games, Harper has solidified himself as a first-round pick in the 2021 draft. He is one of the top scorers in the country and has earned All-American honors. His father also played in the NBA and his family have connections with the NBA.
With his size and athleticism, Harper can guard threes in the NBA. He has a solid three-point range and can shoot the three. His length is also an asset, and it is a selling point. In addition to that, he has solid defensive skills. In college, Harper made a career-best 84 percent of his three-point attempts.
In college, Harper played for the University of Miami RedHawks, where he averaged 24.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Despite his size, he was a prolific scorer. His three-point percentage was over 50%, and he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the eighth round. He was a great player and is now envisioning himself as a Robert Covington-esque three-and-D role player in the NBA.
Although he isn’t the most athletic player in the draft, Harper has improved over three seasons and has a very high ceiling. He has average size, good length, and average athleticism. He still has a lot of room to improve his game and his overall athleticism. So if you are a college basketball fan, watch for him to see if he can improve.
Scotty Pippen Jr.
Vanderbilt sophomore Scotty Pippen Jr. is deciding to turn pro and forgo his third consecutive All-SEC season. In his career, Pippen averaged 20.8 points, 4.9 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.77 steals per game. The guard earned All-SEC first team honors and was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association State Player of the Year. He scored 36 points in his final game, a 20-point outburst against Mississippi State.
Both Pippen and Harper Jr. were born after his father retired. They grew up watching basketball with their father, who was part of a legendary duo that won six NBA championships. Their fathers would encourage them to play against one another, which Scotty Pippen Jr. did, and the two of them became friends. Despite their differences in athleticism, Pippen Jr. is one of the most gifted young players in the NBA.
After a stellar sophomore season, Pippen set the Vanderbilt record for points scored per game. He earned All-SEC honors in 2020-21 and was declared for the NBA draft. However, he maintained his collegiate eligibility. He signed a professional agent and spent the summer competing in a G League Elite Camp. He returned to Vanderbilt for his junior year. The next step will depend on the outcome of the draft.
After a great freshman season, Pippen decided to enter the NBA Draft in the 2021. He played for Jerry Stackhouse and didn’t receive enough attention from NBA teams to be picked in the first round. The Bulls’ general manager, Jerry Krause, engineered a trade to acquire Pippen’s rights. He went on to win six NBA championships and was named one of the league’s 50 greatest players. He has already been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Scotty Pippen Jr.’s relationship with ron harper
If you’re wondering about Scotty Pippen Jr.’s relationship with Ron Harper, you’re not alone. Many other NBA players are struggling with the same issue. Former Rutgers guard Ron Harper recently announced his separation from his wife of five years, Lisa Harper. Whether or not this is true is another matter altogether. However, the relationship between Pippen and Harper is still very much public and remains a subject of intense speculation and rumor.
Ron Harper was a borderline all-star during his prime. After earning three NBA championships with the Bulls and two with the Lakers, he also helped develop the Kobe-Shaq tandem. Whether Pippen Jr. and Harper can emulate the great father-son duo remains to be seen, but both men exude confidence and charisma.
Despite Pippen’s record-breaking athletic ability, he was a big-time player in his college days. He averaged 15.8 points per game and shot 39.8 percent from beyond the three-point line. This shooting ability should translate to the next level, and Pippen’s relationship with Harper was public. Despite the scandal, Pippen is expected to receive a new contract in 2020.
Despite his past struggles, Pippen is still one of the best-known NBA players. His father, Scotty, is a Hall of Famer. He was married to Lisa Jackson until 1992, and was divorced in 1996. During the 1995 season in Chicago, he and Harper became acquainted and became friends. They reportedly had a good relationship for a few years, but soon after the divorce, Pippen decided to test his draft status.
