The Spurs just found its next star to pair with Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs have added another rising star to their young core, selecting Rutgers standout Dylan Harper with the No. 2 overall pick in Wednesday night’s NBA Draft. He’ll now team up with franchise centerpiece Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio.

Harper’s name was already known before college. His dad, Ron Harper, won five NBA titles with the Bulls and Lakers. The younger Harper made a name for himself at Don Bosco Prep and ended up ranked No. 3 in the 2024 class according to 247Sports.

The 6-foot-6 guard wasted no time making an impact at Rutgers. He got on the floor for 29 games as a freshman and missed three with an ankle sprain but still had a strong year. 

He finished with 19.6 points, 4.6 assists, and four boards per game, shooting close to 49% from the floor.

Built on the Banks, bound for San Antonio. Dylan Harper is the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft! Rutgers pride on the biggest stage. 🌆🏀#NBADraft #ProKnights #TheKnighthood pic.twitter.com/A52BnlTHtm

— Rutgers Men’s Basketball 🏀 (@RutgersMBB) June 26, 2025

Harper also made history in the process. The last time a Rutgers player went this high in the draft was 1979, when James Bailey went No.6 overall to the Seattle SuperSonics.

Harper scored 19.6 a night — no Big Ten freshman has averaged that much since Eric Gordon at Indiana in ‘07.

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Scouts liked more than just his scoring. Harper was top five in the Big Ten for points and also cracked the top 15 in assists and steals. His ability to impact the game in different ways is a big reason he’s viewed as one of the conference’s most complete players.

While San Antonio already boasts backcourt depth with De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and veteran Chris Paul, the Spurs opted for Harper based on his star potential, not positional need. Many draft analysts view Harper as the clear-cut No. 2 overall player in this year’s class.

Harper is the first of several Big Ten prospects to hear their names called in the first round, as the conference continues to produce high-level NBA talent.