Jared Harper

Harper began playing basketball with a Nerf hoop in his dining room. He also played baseball and the saxophone during his childhood. In basketball, Harper usually faced older opponents despite being undersized.{{cite web |last1=Scarborough |first1=Alex |title=For Auburn's 5-foot-11 Jared Harper, there are no vertical limits |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26228387/for-auburn-5-foot-11-jared-harper-there-no-vertical-limits |publisher=ESPN |access-date=April 5, 2019 |date=March 12, 2019}} He often trained with his younger brother Jalen under the guidance of his father Patrick Harper, former point guard for Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina.{{cite web |last1=Black |first1=Ryan |title='Permanent chip on his shoulder' drives Auburn basketball signee |url=https://247sports.com/college/auburn/Article/permanent-chip-on-his-shoulder-drives-auburn-basketball-signee-45462149/ |publisher=247Sports |access-date=April 5, 2019 |date=May 24, 2016}}

Harper played basketball for Pebblebrook High School in Mableton, Georgia. As a junior in 2014–15, Harper averaged 21 points and seven assists per game and led Pebblebrook to a school-best 27–6 record.{{cite web |title=Four star Jared Harper signs with Auburn Basketball |url=https://auburntigers.com/news/2015/11/13/Four_star_Jared_Harper_signs_with_Auburn_Basketball.aspx |publisher=Auburn University Athletics |access-date=April 5, 2019 |date=November 13, 2015}} Pebblebrook finished the season as Georgia Class 6A runners-up after losing to Joseph Wheeler High School, a team featuring top recruit Jaylen Brown, in the state title game.{{cite web |last1=Purdum |first1=David |title=Class AAAAAA boys: Wheeler 59, Pebblebrook 58 |url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/high-school-sports/class-aaaaaa-boys-wheeler-pebblebrook/oomnfbYcXD9CUA0kCPrTzI/ |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=March 7, 2015}} In July 2015, Harper was named co-most valuable player (MVP) of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) Peach Jam, scoring a 33 points and eight assists to help the Georgia Stars win the championship.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Cam |title=Wendell Carter's Georgia Stars rout Jayson Tatum's St. Louis Eagles to claim tourney EYBL title |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2015/nike-eybl-peach-jam-wendell-carters-georgia-stars-rout-jayson-tatums-st-louis-eagles-to-claim-tourney-eybl-title |publisher=USA Today High School Sports |access-date=April 5, 2019 |date=July 12, 2015}} In his senior season with Pebblebrook, he averaged 27 points, 10.1 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 3.7 steals, guiding his team to a 23–10 record and another Class 6A state championship appearance. Harper left high school as a two-time first-team All-State selection.{{cite web |title=Jared Harper |url=https://auburntigers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3832 |publisher=Auburn University Athletics |access-date=April 5, 2019}} He was a consensus four-star recruit in the 2016 class and committed to Auburn on March 19, 2015. His other NCAA Division I offers included Kansas State and Ole Miss.{{cite web |title=Jared Harper |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/186700/jared-harper |publisher=ESPN |access-date=April 5, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Jared Harper, Pebblebrook, Point Guard |url=https://247sports.com/Player/Jared-Harper-75346/high-school-137907/ |publisher=247Sports |access-date=April 5, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Jared Harper, 2016 Point guard |url=https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2016/jared-harper-475 |publisher=Rivals |access-date=April 5, 2019}}

Harper averaged 11.4 points, 3.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, starting 30 games for Auburn in his freshman season in 2016–17.{{cite web |title=Jared Harper Stats |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4066248/jared-harper |publisher=ESPN |access-date=April 5, 2019}} On January 7, 2017, he scored a season-high 24 points, including 16 of Auburn's final 19 points, in an 88–85 loss to Ole Miss.{{cite web |last1=Goldberg |first1=Charles |title=Mustapha Heron sets Auburn record in tough loss |url=https://auburntigers.com/news/2017/1/7/Mustapha_Heron_sets_Auburn_record_in_tough_loss.aspx |publisher=Auburn University Athletics |access-date=April 5, 2019 |date=January 7, 2017}} Harper was named SEC Freshman of the Week twice during the season.

In 2017–18, through 34 games as a sophomore, he averaged 13.2 points, 5.4 assists (3rd in the conference), and 1.2 steals per game while shooting .822 (5th) from the free throw line. On February 3, 2018, Harper posted a double-double of 14 points and 14 assists in a 93–81 win over Vanderbilt. He was one assist away from matching the school record for assists in a game, set by Eddie Johnson in 1976. One week later, Harper tied his scoring career-high, contributing 24 points and seven assists in a 78–61 victory over Georgia.{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Tom |title=Jared Harper leads shorthanded Auburn basketball past Georgia on road |url=https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2018/02/auburn_vs_georgia_gamer.html |website=The Birmingham News |access-date=April 5, 2019 |date=February 10, 2018}} He was a second-team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press and conference coaches.

Harper made his junior season debut on November 6, 2018, by recording his second career double-double, with 20 points and 13 assists, in a 101–58 win over South Alabama.{{cite web |last1=Shearer |first1=Jeff |title=Auburn routs South Alabama 101-58 in opener |url=https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/6/mens-basketball-auburn-routs-south-alabama-101-58-in-opener.aspx |publisher=Auburn University Athletics |access-date=April 5, 2019 |date=November 6, 2018}} On December 15, 2018, he scored a career-best 31 points in a 75–71 overtime win over UAB.{{cite web |title=Harper drops 31 points in overtime win vs. UAB |url=https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-harper-drops-31-points-in-overtime-win-vs-uab.aspx |publisher=Auburn University Athletics |access-date=April 5, 2019 |date=December 15, 2018}} For the 2018–19 season he averaged 15.3 points (7th in the conference) and 5.8 assists (3rd) per game while shooting .828 (4th) from the free throw line. At the end of the regular season, Harper earned second-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press and conference coaches.{{cite web |last1=King |first1=Nathan |title=Auburn point guard Jared Harper named AP second team All-SEC |url=https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2019/03/qiieoldpxpm49jt |website=The Auburn Plainsman |access-date=April 5, 2019 |date=March 12, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Justin |title=Brown, Harper both named to coaches' All-SEC team |url=https://www.oanow.com/sports/college/auburn/basketball/men/brown-harper-both-named-to-coaches-all-sec-team/article_bdf838b4-44e1-11e9-82f8-3fb3f72b50a1.html |website=Opelika-Auburn News |access-date=April 5, 2019 |date=March 12, 2019}} In the NCAA tournament, Harper helped to lead the Tigers to their first ever Final Four with a team high 26 points in the Tigers Elite Eight win against Kentucky.ge-basketball/game/_/gameId/401123390

After his junior season concluded, Harper declared his entry into the 2019 NBA draft, forgoing his senior year at Auburn.{{cite web|first=Sam|last=Blum|title=Jared Harper declares for NBA Draft, will hire agent and forego senior season|url=https://www.al.com/auburnbasketball/2019/04/jared-harper-declares-for-nba-draft-will-hire-agent-and-forego-senior-season.html|website=AL.com|date=April 9, 2019|access-date=March 23, 2020}} However, he went undrafted by the end of the event. Harper later played for the Phoenix Suns during the 2019 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.{{cite web|title=Phoenix Suns Announce 2019 Summer League Roster|url=https://www.nba.com/suns/press-release/phoenix-suns-announce-2019-summer-league-roster|website=NBA.com|date=July 3, 2019|access-date=March 23, 2020}} Following his performance in the Summer League, he signed a two-way contract with Phoenix.{{cite web|title=Two-Way Tracker: Meet New Suns Guard Jared Harper|url=https://gleague.nba.com/news/two-way-tracker-meet-new-suns-guard-jared-harper/|website=NBA.com|access-date=August 13, 2019}} On October 23, 2019, Harper made his NBA debut coming off the bench in a 124–95 victory over the Sacramento Kings.{{cite web|title=Suns start slow, then blow past Kings 124-95|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401160654|website=ESPN.com|date=October 23, 2019|access-date=October 23, 2019}} On December 20, Harper recorded 25 points and dished out a career-high 13 assists in a 94–99 loss to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.{{cite web|title=Northern Arizona Suns 94 - Fort Wayne Mad Ants 99|url=https://stats.gleague.nba.com/game/2021900684/|website=NBA.com|date=December 20, 2019|access-date=March 22, 2020}} On January 18, 2020, Harper scored 31 points to go with seven assists, four rebounds and two steals in the G League for the Northern Arizona Suns in a 120–109 loss to the Sioux Falls Skyforce.{{cite news|title=Suns' Jared Harper: Game-high scoring tally in G League|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/suns-jared-harper-game-high-scoring-tally-in-g-league/|work=CBS Sports|date=January 19, 2020|access-date=January 20, 2020}} On March 14, Harper was waived by Phoenix.{{cite news|title=Phoenix Suns waive rookie point guard Jared Harper|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2020/03/14/phoenix-suns-waive-rookie-point-guard-jared-harper/5049854002/|work=AZ Central|date=March 14, 2020|access-date=March 22, 2020}}

On June 25, 2020, the New York Knicks announced that they had claimed Harper off waivers.{{cite web|title=New York Knicks Claim Two-Way Player Jared Harper Off Waivers|url=https://www.nba.com/knicks/front-office-news/new-york-knicks-claim-two-way-player-jared-harper-off-waivers|website=NBA.com|date=June 25, 2020|access-date=June 25, 2020}} On November 25, Harper re-signed with the Knicks to a two-way contract with the Westchester Knicks.{{cite web|title=Knicks Sign Jared Harper to Two-Way Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/knicks/front-office-news/knicks-sign-jared-harper-two-way-contract|website=NBA.com|date=November 25, 2020|access-date=November 26, 2020}} He appeared in four games with New York and 12 games with Westchester, averaging 21.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and a team-high 6.9 assists with the latter.{{cite tweet|user=NY_KnicksPR|number=1385719748672040967|date=April 23, 2021|title=.@nyknicks Convert Jared Harper to 10-Day Contract and Sign Myles Powell to a Two-Way|access-date=April 24, 2021}} On April 23, New York converted his two-way contract into a 10-day contract. However, ten days later, the Knicks signed him to another two-way contract.{{cite web|first=Luke|last=Adams|title=Knicks Sign Luca Vildoza To Four-Year Deal|url=https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2021/05/knicks-luca-vildoza-agree-to-four-year-deal.html|website=HoopsRumors.com|date=May 6, 2021|access-date=May 15, 2021}}

On September 24, 2021, Harper signed with the New Orleans Pelicans.{{cite web|title=Pelicans announce 2021 Training Camp information|url=https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/pelicans-announce-2021-training-camp-information|website=NBA.com|date=September 24, 2021|access-date=September 25, 2021}} However, he was waived on October 9.{{cite web|title=Pelicans waive Cheatham and Harper, sign Banks and Hill|url=https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/pelicans-waive-zylan-cheatham-jared-harper-sign-james-banks-malcolm-hill|website=NBA.com|date=October 9, 2021|access-date=October 9, 2021}} On October 25, he signed with the Birmingham Squadron as an affiliate player.{{cite web|title=Birmingham Squadron finalize roster for team’s first training camp in Birmingham|url=https://birmingham.gleague.nba.com/news/birmingham-squadron-announce-2021-training-camp-roster/|work=NBA.com|date=October 25, 2021|access-date=November 2, 2021}} In 14 games, he averaged 21.3 points, 6.9 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 32.7 minutes per game.{{cite web|title=Pelicans sign Jared Harper to two-way contract|url=https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/pelicans-sign-jared-harper-two-way-contract|website=NBA.com|date=December 21, 2021|access-date=December 21, 2021}}

On December 21, 2021, Harper signed a two-way deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. However, he was waived on January 9, 2022{{cite web|title=Pelicans sign Gary Clark to two-way contract|url=https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/pelicans-sign-gary-clark-to-two-way-deal|website=NBA.com|date=January 9, 2022|access-date=January 9, 2022}} and was re-acquired by Birmingham three days later.{{cite web|title=2021-22 NBA G League Transactions|url=https://gleague.nba.com/transactions/|website=gleague.nba.com|access-date=January 12, 2022}} On March 29, he signed a new two-way deal with the Pelicans.{{cite web|title=Pelicans sign Jared Harper to two-way contract|url=https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/pelicans-sign-jared-harper-two-way-contract-3-29-22|website=NBA.com|date=March 29, 2022|access-date=March 29, 2022}} On April 9, Harper scored a career-high 12 points, alongside a career-high three steals, in a 114–141 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.{{Cite web |title=JA MORANT RETURNS TO HELP GRIZZLIES ROUT PELICANS, 141-114 |url=https://www.nba.com/game/0022101213 |access-date=January 22, 2023 |website=NBA.com}} The next day, he logged a career-high nine assists, alongside ten points, in a 107–128 loss to the Golden State Warriors.{{Cite web |title=THOMPSON SCORES 41, WARRIORS TOP PELICANS TO CLINCH 3RD SEED |url=https://www.nba.com/game/0022101225 |access-date=January 22, 2023 |website=NBA.com}}

On September 7, 2022, Harper signed with Valencia Basket of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague.{{Cite web|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/jared-harper-inks-a-one-season-deal-with-valencia-basket/|title=Jared Harper inks a one-season deal with Valencia Basket|last=|first=|date=September 7, 2022|website=|publisher=Sportando|language=En|access-date=September 7, 2022}} In 2022-23 he averaged 10.3 points and 2.80 assists per game, while shooting .849 from the free throw line. On August 1, 2023, Harper renewed his contract for another year. On June 13, 2024, Harper parted ways with the Spanish club after two seasons. In 2023-24 he averaged 7.8 points and 1.8 assists per game, while shooting .844 from the free throw line.[https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Jared-Harper/Summary/85949 "Jared Harper,"] basketball.realgm.com.

In July 2024, Harper signed a two-year contract with Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier League, and was happy to return to playing alongside his close friend Austin Wiley who had also played at Auburn.[https://sportsrabbi.com/en/jared-harper-inks-2-year-deal-with-hapoel-jerusalem/ "Jared Harper inks 2-year deal with Hapoel Jerusalem,"] Sports Rabbi.

Harper was named as MVP of Round five times in the 2024–25 Regular Season of the EuroCup, tying the record for most ever in the EuroCup history.{{cite web |date=30 January 2025 |title=Round 17 MVP: Jared Harper, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem |url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/round-17-mvp-jared-harper-hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/ |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=EuroCup |language=en}} Despite his team not making it to the tournamen's semi finals, he was named EuroCup MVP.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-07 |title=Jerusalem's Jared Harper named BKT EuroCup MVP for 2024-25 {{!}} EuroCup |url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/jerusalem-jared-harper-named-bkt-eurocup-mvp-for-2024-25/ |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Euroleague Basketball |language=en-GB}} He scored 22.8 points per game, which was the most for a player since Milan Gurović in the 2006–07 season, and led the league in index rating with 27.2 per game.

{{Euroleague player statistics legend}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2019}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix

| 3 || 0 || 2.7 || .250 || .000 || {{sort|-|—}} || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2020}}

| style="text-align:left;"| New York

| 8 || 0 || 2.0 || .000 || .000 || .750 || .3 || .1 || .0 || .0 || .4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2021}}

| style="text-align:left;"| New Orleans

| 5 || 0 || 8.6 || .538 || .417 || 1.000 || .4 || 2.8 || .8 || .3 || 7.4

|- class:"sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career

| 16 || 0 || 4.2 || .441 || .333 || .875 || .3 || .9 || .3 || .1 || 2.6

{{s-end}}

{{Euroleague player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Valencia

| 31 || 5 || 17.8 || .384 || .331 || .823 || .8 || 3.3 || .5 || .0 || 10.4 || 8.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24

| 22 || 2 || 16.5 || .367 || .253 || .853 || .8 || 2.2 || .6 || {{sort|-|—}} || 8.5 || 6.5

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career

| 53 || 7 || 17.3 || .377 || .300 || .833 || .8 ||2.8 || .5 || .0 || 9.6 || 7.9

{{S-end}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17

| style="text-align:left;"| Auburn

| 32 || 30 || 24.2 || .385 || .344 || .705 || 1.9 || 3.0 || 1.2 || .1 || 11.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18

| style="text-align:left;"| Auburn

| 34 || 34 || 30.5 || .360 || .355 || .822 || 2.4 || 5.4 || 1.2 || .0 || 13.2

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19

| style="text-align:left;"| Auburn

| style="background:#cfecec;"|40* || style="background:#cfecec;"|40* || 33.0 || .399 || .370 || .828 || 2.5 || 5.8 || 1.1 || .1 || 15.3

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career

| 106 || 104 || 29.5 || .384 || .359 || .792 || 2.3 || 4.8 || 1.2 || .0 || 13.5

{{s-end}}

{{reflist}}

{{basketballstats |nba=1629607 |bbr=h/harpeja01}}

• [https://auburntigers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3832 Auburn Tigers bio]

{{Hapoel Jerusalem BC current roster}}

{{Eurocup MVP Award}}

{{EuroCup Basketball Top Scorer}}

{{Israeli Basketball Super League MVP}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harper, Jared}}

Category:1997 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Spain

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Auburn Tigers men's basketball players

Category:Basketball players from Atlanta

Category:Birmingham Squadron players

Category:Hapoel Jerusalem B.C. players

Category:New Orleans Pelicans players

Category:New York Knicks players

Category:Northern Arizona Suns players

Category:People from Mableton, Georgia

Category:Phoenix Suns players

Category:Point guards

Category:Sportspeople from Cobb County, Georgia

Category:Undrafted NBA players

Category:United States men's national basketball team players

Category:Valencia Basket players

Category:Westchester Knicks players