With his back-to-back standout performances in Las Vegas, Rutgers star Dylan Harper is causing some experts to reexamine who should be the No. 1 overall pick in next summer’s NBA Draft.

Star freshman Dylan Harper put on a show in Las Vegas as Rutgers pushed the Alabama Crimson Tide to their limit on Wednesday night

Mark Sears scored 24 points and No. 9 Alabama hung on for a 95-90 victory over Rutgers on Wednesday night at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas.

“Dylan Harper IS the best freshman in the country. On back to back nights, Harper scored 36 and 37 points. Notre Dame and Alabama had no answers. When he’s going downhill, left or right, he’s unstoppable.” -- Bryan DeNovellis, Tri-State College Basketball Podcast.

Rutgers basketball lost its second game of the 2024-25 campaign, but Dylan Harper is transcending himself with another sensational outing.

Dylan Harper dropped a career-high 36 points and Rutgers fended off Matt Allocco and Notre Dame 85-84 in overtime to conclude a wild first day of the Players Era Festival on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

The Rutgers basketball team has had an up and down start to its highly-anticipated season, but its two freshmen have not disappointed. Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper — two projected top-five picks in the 2025 NBA Draft — have carried a massive burden for the Scarlet Knights as they navigate a very difficult non-conference schedule.