Ron Harper Jr. named to Wooden Award Watch List

Rutgers forward Ron Harper Jr. was one of 50 players named to the Wooden Award Watch List on Tuesday, which is given annually to the nation’s top college basketball player.

He has led the no. 24 Scarlet Knights to a 3-0 start to the season. Harper Jr. is averaging 21.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 57.8% from the floor and 37.5% from three-point range. His best performance was in the win over FDU when he finished with a career high 30 points on 11 of 16 shooting, including 5 of 9 from three-point range, as well as 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Last season, Harper Jr. led Rutgers in scoring with 12.1 points per game and registered double-digit scoring performances 18 times. He was second in rebounding with 5.8 rebounds per game. Harper Jr. shot 45.2% from the floor and 34.9% from behind the arc during a season he also emerged as one of the best defenders in the Big Ten. He earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors last season.

Before this season, Harper Jr. was named to the Julius Erving Award Watch List, which is given to the nation’s top small forward. He was also named Lindy’s preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Harper Jr. and Rutgers is scheduled to return to the court on Tuesday, December 8 against Syracuse as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.