Inside The Wizards

Wizards Could Take Rutgers Star in Draft

The Washington Wizards could look towards New Jersey for their next NBA Draft prospect.

Jeremy Brener

Dec 10, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard D'Marco Dunn (2) drives to the basket against Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Dylan Harper (2) during the first half at Jersey Mike's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Dec 10, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard D'Marco Dunn (2) drives to the basket against Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Dylan Harper (2) during the first half at Jersey Mike's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
In this story:

The Washington Wizards have their eyes on the prize when it comes to Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, but there are other prospects that the team should look at with the top of the 2025 NBA Draft.

Among the top prospects the Wizards could take is Rutgers guard Dylan Harper, who could challenge Flagg to become the No. 1 overall pick.

"At this stage of the season, Harper has the most legitimate case to challenge Flagg atop draft boards, profiling as the type of shot-creation player that lottery teams prioritize in the draft," ESPN draft analyst Jeremy Woo writes. "Harper has earned plaudits from scouts for his aggressive scoring mindset and competitiveness to get into the paint whenever he wants at the college level and finish there at a strong rate. He is viewed as more NBA-ready than Ace Bailey, his star teammate, because of his level of polish and consistency."

While there is a lot to like about Harper's game, there are some flaws that come into play that could make the Wizards hesitant to take a player like him.

"Teams still have questions about what caliber of shooter Harper is (81% from the foul line, but just 31% from 3,as well as how much of his tough finishing diet will translate against bigger, faster and smarter competition. They also want to see him get teammates involved more frequently, as a player who is going to have the ball in his hand a lot," Woo writes.

While there is a mixed bag of tricks with Harper, his upside could make him the best player on the Wizards for the long haul. It would likely put into question where Jordan Poole and Bub Carrington fit, but Harper's ceiling exceeds both of them, and the Wizards would prioritize him as the team's cornerstone moving forward.

Make sure you bookmark Washington Wizards on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

Published
Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

Home/Washington Wizards News