Ron Harper Jr. Bio
Ronald Harper Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights of the Big Ten Conference. He is the son of former NBA player Ron Harper, and his younger brother Dylan currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs.
Early Life and Background
Ronald Harper Jr. was born on April 12, 2000, in Paterson, New Jersey. His father, Ron Harper, was playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA at the time of his birth. Harper grew up in a basketball-oriented family, coached by his mother, Maria. He competed in the Amateur Athletic Union circuit for Ring City Basketball, a program owned by his parents. Harper was raised in Upper Saddle River and Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, and attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey. During his junior year, he averaged 10.1 points and 1.5 rebounds per game, shooting 37 percent from three-point range. He played a pivotal role in helping his team win its first Non-Public A state title in 47 years. In his senior season, he averaged 20.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, leading his team to a second consecutive Non-Public A state championship. Harper scored a career-high 33 points in a loss to Roselle Catholic High School at the Tournament of Champions final and was named North Jersey Player of the Year by The Record. He was considered a four-star recruit by Rivals, with scholarship offers from Nebraska and Rutgers. On August 11, 2017, he committed to play college basketball for Rutgers.
Path to Basketball
Harper made an immediate impact in his collegiate debut against Fairleigh Dickinson, scoring 15 points. During his freshman season, he averaged 7.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. He improved his strength and conditioning significantly in the offseason, gaining 15 pounds. By his sophomore season, Harper became a regular starter, recording a season-high of 29 points and nine rebounds in a loss to Iowa. He also scored 27 points against Illinois, shooting 5-of-5 from three-point range, and averaged 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Harper earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and was named to the Second Team All-Met. In his junior year, Harper helped lead Rutgers to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 30 years, averaging 14.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He declared for the 2021 NBA draft but ultimately returned to Rutgers for his senior season. On December 9, 2021, he tied his career high of 30 points against Purdue, making a game-winning buzzer-beater to give Rutgers its first victory over a No. 1 ranked team. Following Rutgers’ loss in the First Four of the 2022 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, Harper announced his intention to forgo his final season of collegiate eligibility and declare for the 2022 NBA draft, where he went undrafted.
Ron Harper Jr. Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Harper signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors on July 14, 2022. He made his NBA debut against the Atlanta Hawks. On July 22, 2023, he signed another two-way contract with the Raptors but was waived on December 8, 2023.
Breakthrough (2024–2025)
Following his time with the Raptors, Harper joined the Boston Celtics on July 14, 2024, after participating in the 2024 NBA Summer League. However, he was waived on October 17, 2024. On October 26, 2024, he joined the Maine Celtics.
Notable Works and Milestones
Harper set a record for the Motor City Cruise on February 1, 2025, making 11 three-pointers in a single game, surpassing the previous record held by two players who made seven three-pointers each.
Ron Harper Jr. Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Ron Harper Jr. has received several notable nominations, including being named an Honorable Mention All-American by the Associated Press in 2022.
Ron Harper Jr. Awards Won
Ron Harper Jr. has achieved several awards during his basketball career, including the Haggerty Award in 2022, and was recognized as a Second-team All-Big Ten selection in the same year. He also earned Third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2021.
Ron Harper Jr. Family
Ron Harper Jr. comes from a basketball family. His father, Ron Harper, was an All-American college basketball player at Miami (Ohio) and played in the NBA for 15 seasons, winning five NBA titles. His mother, Maria, played college basketball for the University of New Orleans and is currently an assistant coach for the boys’ team at Don Bosco, where she coached Ron Jr. and his brother Dylan.
Personal Life
Ron Harper Jr. has expressed interest in playing for the Philippines national basketball team, although he faced challenges in applying for a Filipino passport during high school. His younger brother, Dylan, joined the Rutgers basketball team in 2024 and was later selected second overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2025 NBA Draft.
