Latest news with #ScarletKnights
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Potential 76ers Prospect Comments on Unusual Pre-Draft Approach
Potential 76ers Prospect Comments on Unusual Pre-Draft Approach originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Every potential top prospect hoping to get drafted into the NBA makes time to do pre-draft workouts for teams. However, Rutgers forward Ace Bailey has a different approach, which has affected his draft stock. Initially, Bailey is the rumored potential draft pick of the Philadelphia 76ers as they hold the No. 3 pick. Advertisement Unfortunately for Bailey, his draft stock has gradually plummeted since he has refused to do pre-draft workouts with any organization. The 6-foot-10 forward was scheduled to visit Philly last week to do a private workout with the franchise. However, he canceled the visit and is the only top prospect in the U.S. who has not done a workout. Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Ace Bailey slaps hands with fans after the game against the Minnesota Golden Carchietta-Imagn Images His pre-draft approach has drawn criticism from experts, former players and fans. Many are curious to know the reason why he didn't work out with any team. On Tuesday, a day before the 2025 NBA draft, Bailey broke his silence. 'I'm just working on basketball,' Bailey said. 'That's all I'm focused on.' Advertisement 'I feel like I can only control what I can control,' he added. 'You can think what you think, but I can control what I can control. [I can only control] me playing basketball.' He didn't specify why he didn't want to do any workout with any of the teams that are interested in him. In recent mock drafts, the 76ers are predicted to draft V.J. Edgecombe, despite not having the best workout. It was reported by ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo that Edgecombe showed a bit of "nervousness" during his private workout. However, he still left a strong impression on the 76ers. But drafting Bailey hasn't left the minds of Philly's front office. They're still considering using the No. 3 pick to draft the scoring forward. However, experts believe that Edgecombe is in pole position to be selected by the 76ers. Advertisement Related: 76ers Predicted to Land Award-Winning Playmaker This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
All About Dylan Harper's Parents, Mom Maria and Dad Ron Harper (Who Played for the Lakers!)
NEED TO KNOW Former Rutgers star Dylan Harper is a top prospect going into the 2025 NBA draft His parents, Ron and Maria Harper, have their own basketball careers Dylan's dad played in the NBA, and his mom has been a basketball coach for nearly 30 years For Dylan Harper, basketball is in the blood. Soobum Im/Getty; Harry How /Allsport Dylan Harper. ; Ron Harper. Dylan Harper. ; Ron Harper. Dylan, who is part of the 2025 NBA Draft on June 25, has been lighting up the court by playing for Rutgers University's Scarlet Knights — following in the footsteps of his older brother, Ron Harper Jr. Advertisement Dylan is about to embark on his own professional basketball career, but his family is already comfortable on the court. His dad is Ron Harper Sr., who played for the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, among other teams. Meanwhile, his mom, Maria Harper, has been his basketball coach since elementary school. "We're playing the sport we love. They're playing it, I'm coaching it. It's a family affair, and that's how pure it is in our family," Maria told Jersey Sports Zone in April 2023. Here's everything to know about Dylan Harper's parents, Ron and Maria Harper. Ron played in the NBA Sporting News via Getty Ron Harper of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game against the Houston Rockets on January 30, 2000 in Houston, Texas. Ron Harper of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game against the Houston Rockets on January 30, 2000 in Houston, Texas. Ron played for the L.A. Lakers from 1999 to 2001. He was a point guard and shooting guard who helped lead the team to win two back-to-back NBA Championships in 2000 and 2001. Advertisement Before joining the Lakers, he played for the Chicago Bulls from 1994 to 1999 — alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen — winning three championships during his time on the team. Prior to the Bulls and the Lakers, Ron bounced the ball for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1986 to 1989 and then the L.A. Clippers from 1989 to 1994. His NBA career ultimately spanned over a dozen seasons, from 1986 to 2001. Maria is a former basketball player for the University of New Orleans Maria cut up the court herself, as a Division I basketball player for the University of New Orleans from 1993 to 1996, per the Rutgers University website. Advertisement According to The Springfield Student, Maria's love for basketball began in fifth grade when she first started playing after school. She continued to play through high school, eventually scoring a scholarship to the University of New Orleans. In a July 2023 interview with The Athletic, Maria said she "was super scrappy" during her time as a college basketball player. "I defended the hell out of the ball. I created offense through defense," she shared. "I wasn't a knockdown shooter. I looked to get my teammates involved. And I just loved it so much." Ron and Maria were married from 2005 to 2012 Ron Harper and Maria Pizarro. Ron Harper and Maria Pizarro. Ron and Maria met in 1998, and they welcomed their first child, son Ron Jr., in April 2000. He now plays for the Detroit Pistons. Advertisement According to The Athletic, Ron and Maria married on New Year's Eve in 2005. Later that spring, Dylan was born in March 2006. Mia, their youngest, followed in 2010, before the couple called it quits two years later, in 2012. 'Those years were very tough for me,' Maria told The Athletic. 'My kids' lives are not fairy tales, like people would assume.' Maria taught Dylan how to play basketball Sarah Stier/Getty Dylan Harper #2 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights dribbles during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans at Madison Square Garden on January 25, 2025 in New York City. Dylan Harper #2 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights dribbles during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans at Madison Square Garden on January 25, 2025 in New York City. Maria was Dylan's basketball coach from elementary school all the way through senior year of high school. In a December 2024 interview with Swish Cultures, Dylan opened up about how his mom helped him become the basketball star he is today, saying, "She's been there from the jump." Advertisement "She was my first ever coach. She's everything to me," he continued. "She does everything for me. She's always a provider, no matter what, hard times, good times, she's been there for me through thick and thin." Maria is a basketball coach, with almost 30 years of experience After her college basketball days, Maria took her love of basketball to the sidelines and started her coaching career, which has lasted nearly 30 years, according to The Springfield Student. 'Always being passionate about the sports I played, I wanted to continue being involved in the game (specifically basketball) as an adult,' Maria told the outlet. 'Coaching was the natural progression for me to stay connected to the game I love.' Advertisement Her first coaching job was as an assistant coach in Chicago, before becoming the head coach of the girls' varsity team at DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, N.J. Maria later stopped coaching for a few years so she could attend Ron Jr.'s basketball games. In 2019, she returned to the court, becoming the assistant coach of the boys' basketball team at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J., where both her sons played. "She's been terrific," Don Bosco Prep coach Kevin Diverio told The Athletic. "She really commands the respect of the kids. She's no-nonsense, all business, but at the same time, she brings a little bit of the motherly factor to the team that I certainly can't provide." Dylan credits his dad for his strong work ethic Luther Schlaifer/NBAE via Getty Ron Harper and son Dylan Harper at a basketball game on December 6, 2023 in White Plains, New York. Ron Harper and son Dylan Harper at a basketball game on December 6, 2023 in White Plains, New York. As a former professional basketball player, Ron knows how much sweat it takes to be good enough to play for the NBA. He instilled that in Dylan, who told Hoops Hype that his dad taught him "just how hard you gotta work to really make it." Advertisement "He has stories for days about work ethic, Michael Jordan work ethic, Kobe [Bryant] work ethic," he recalled. "It could just be what they did, and how they carry themselves every day. It's definitely that." Dylan's dad might be an NBA legend, but that doesn't stop him from wanting to take him on the court. When asked in November 2024 which player from NBA history he would like to go up against, Dylan told Bleacher Report, "My dad." "He talks a lot. Starting to get tired of it," he joked. "So any NBA player, I'm playing my dad one-on-one." As for Dylan's basketball skills, Ron recognized them early on. Advertisement "When Dylan was 5 years old, I told people he was going to be really good," he told The Athletic. "He reminded me of me. I was the youngest in a family of five boys. I watched them practice, and then I tried to go out there and do the same things." Dylan said being in the NBA draft means "a lot" to his family Sarah Stier/Getty Dylan Harper before the 2025 NBA Draft on June 24, 2025 in New York City. Dylan Harper before the 2025 NBA Draft on June 24, 2025 in New York City. As Dylan awaits his fate at the 2025 NBA draft on June 25 — with many, like ESPN, projecting him to be the likely No. 2 pick — his family continues to be a strong support system for him. At a press conference ahead of the event, when asked what getting drafted would mean for him and his dad, Dylan told reporters, "It's definitely going to mean, just a lot to him, but a lot to everyone else like my mom, my brother, my grandparents and everyone else who's there." Advertisement "Just because they kind of see me through the journey, and watch me go about my days," he added. "Even when I was high and low, they still stuck with me no matter what." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Everyone Had Same Reaction To Dylan Harper's Mom Tonight
Everyone Had Same Reaction To Dylan Harper's Mom Tonight originally appeared on The Spun. Everyone had the same reaction to seeing Dylan Harper's mom at the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday evening. Advertisement Harper, who starred for one season at Rutgers, was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The former five-star recruit is the son of former NBA player Ron Harper. His older brother starred at Rutgers. Dylan Harper played alongside Ace Bailey, a fellow top-five prospect, for one season in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The former Rutgers Scarlet Knights star went No. 2 overall to the San Antonio Spurs. He'll team up with former No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio. Meanwhile, moments after getting drafted, Harper's mom immediately went viral on X, formerly known as Twitter. Dylan Harper's Harper's mom, Maria, is currently trending on X, formerly known as Twitter, for her NBA Draft appearance. Advertisement It's easy to see why. Everyone had the same reaction to seeing his mom on ABC on Wednesday night. "Dylan Harper mom about to gain a million new followers on Instagram," one fan wrote. "Dylan Harper mom!????? Yeah run that. She's so beautiful," one fan added. "Damn I'm seeing more tweets about Dylan Harper's mom than Dylan Harper himself 😂," one fan added. "First person that says something disrespectful about Dylan Harper's beautiful mom has to deal with me!!!!" one fan added. "Dylan Harper's mom…I mean Dylan Harper was taken with the 2nd pick in the NBA Draft," one fan added. Advertisement "Dylan Harper mom. That's it, that's the tweet," one fan added. Harper's dad, Ron Harper, played in the NBA for several seasons, making $35 million. His son just earned an NBA rookie contract worth $56 million. The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft is continuing to air live on ABC on Wednesday evening. Harper's teammate, Ace Bailey, just went No. 5 overall to Utah. Everyone Had Same Reaction To Dylan Harper's Mom Tonight first appeared on The Spun on Jun 26, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Why Ace Bailey may slide in the 2025 NBA Draft
The idea that Ace Bailey may slide in the 2025 NBA Draft would've sounded ridiculous just a month or two ago. As a Rutgers freshman, Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists with 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steal per game. He was must-see TV alongside Dylan Harper, and though the Scarlet Knights missed the NCAA Tournament, help prove the program could still develop talent. Things change fast in this league — even before you're officially part of it. In his final mock draft, For The Win senior NBA writer Bryan Kalbrosky had Bailey sliding to the Brooklyn Nets at No. 8 overall. 2025 NBA Mock Draft 8.0: Final predictions and updated intel for all 59 picks Come Wednesday, it'll be anyone's guess where Bailey falls in the draft after some alarming intel came out during the pre-draft process. Most notably, Bailey refused to work outs for NBA teams and reportedly canceled on the Philadelphia 76ers after agreeing to get on the court for them. That came after he measured much lower than anticipated (6-foot-7) at the NBA Combine. More, per Sam Vecenie via The Athletic: The intel that NBA teams have on Bailey, from having spoken with over a dozen sources throughout the season and pre-draft process, is that his teammates enjoyed being around him. He has a lot of infectious energy. But he's a bit immature and can struggle with focus, those sources said. His pre-draft interviews with teams at the NBA Draft Combine did not go particularly well, as it seemed like he went into them a bit ill-prepared for what was being asked of him, according to sources. Taken together, even Bailey's undeniable talents may not be enough to get him back into Top 3 pick territory. We'll find out soon enough.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
76ers Dealt Concerning News Ahead of NBA Draft
76ers Dealt Concerning News Ahead of NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia 76ers are focused on utilizing the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA draft. The 76ers' top prospect is Rutgers forward Ace Bailey. Initially, the forward is scheduled to do a workout with the franchise by the end of the week. Unfortunately for the Philly team, Bailey has reportedly canceled his meeting. Advertisement ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported on Wednesday that the youngster won't be visiting Philly for a workout. Out of all the U.S.-based prospects, Bailey remains the only one who hasn't done a workout with any organization. However, Givony reported that the 76ers are still interested in considering drafting him later this month. Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Ace Bailey looks up during overtime against the Minnesota Golden Carchietta-Imagn Images The draft expert reported that the prospect was scheduled to fly to Philly for a private workout on Friday. Bailey was also scheduled to meet the organization's front office for dinner on the same day. "Bailey, the No. 3 prospect on ESPN's big board, was slated to fly to Philadelphia, owners of the No. 3 pick in the draft, Friday for dinner with the team's front office and a private workout, but elected to cancel Wednesday, sources told ESPN," Givony wrote. Advertisement Bailey's strategy isn't new to the 76ers, as he's refused to do workouts with other franchises as well. However, it has perplexed many teams that want to see his talent up close. "The Sixers have not ruled out selecting Bailey despite his refusal to visit, sources told ESPN. The team has scouted him extensively throughout the season since he plays at nearby Rutgers in Piscataway, New Jersey, and interviewed him in Chicago at the NBA draft combine," Givony added. Aside from Bailey, the 76ers are considering drafting VJ Edgecombe from Baylor. According to an earlier report from Givony, the 6-foot-4 shooting guard is a current favorite within the organization. Related: 76ers Targeting Award Winner as New Favorite Over Ace Bailey in NBA Draft: Report This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
