Rutgers Star Dylan Harper Talks Exclusively With BSO To Discuss His Freshman Year, Growing Up With An NBA Dad, & Partnership With Kinder Bueno

It was a heartbreaking end to the college season and likely the college career of Rutgers star Dylan Harper who made a strong case to be the top pick in the upcoming NBA draft. After an overtime loss to USC in the Big 10 tournament, Rutgers season ended with no NCAA Tournament bid but it was a phenomenal year for Harper.

Averaging 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4 assists, Harper made sure to put on a show every single night for the abundant of scouts in the gym every single game.

“It’s been a great experience” Harper says about his freshman year.

“Great group of guys around me. Great coaching staff. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Obviously, went through a lot of ups and downs but I’m just grateful to be where I’m at.”

It was truly a year of ups and downs for the Scarlet Knights who finished the season 15-17. They had two of the best freshman in the country with Harper and Ace Bailey but out wasn’t really enough around them to truly compete in a very tough Big 10. They were one of the best duos in college basketball combining for 37 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists, they made a case for both being the first pair of teammates to go in the top five of the NBA Draft since Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett in 2019.

“It’s obviously been great playing with him” Harper says about playing with Bailey 

With Bailey, the season may have not resulted in the amount of wins they wanted but there were certainly benefits with playing with each other. The biggest being how it will help them both get ready for the next level.

“It enhances my game.”

“My game enhances his game. Pride in this role going at it [each other] and teaching each other new things. He’s a great teammate and just the everyday grind with him has just been great.”

The NBA won’t be easy but it has without a doubt helped playing with another high level talent in Bailey to try and prepare for something similar at the next level.

Another thing that will likely be a big advantage for the future top 3 pick is growing up with a NBA dad.

“I definite did live a normal life. I feel like people think that NBA kid life is different from regular kid life but it was rally the same.” Harper when asked about what it was like growing up with a dad who was in the NBA. 

Sometimes though, when you’re so young with a parent that was/is a star it’s hard to realize just how big of a star they were. For someone like Ron Harper who sometimes gets forgotten, he had to remind his kids just how good he was and the old tapes certainly came out says Harper.

“He definitely showed us the film. On the little tv we used to have, always showing us like ‘yeah I was with them guys too before all of the knee injury stuff.’ 

“So he definitely showed me a lot of him growing up.”

Although the life was normal growing up, Harper knows he has benefited big time from the experiences of his dad. From going to NBA Allstar Weekends, NBA events, and all of the other perks that come with it. Seeing how he conducts himself around other guys in the league, current and former, was huge also. That part is one of the more special parts for Harper who said it great seeing the love his dad gets.

“Just getting to see the love he [Ron Harper] gets and seeing everyone that truly supported and still supports him is great.” Harper says. 

It isn’t always a guarantee that a NBA player with a son will make it to the NBA but Dylan Harper has done all of the work to not only get to the next level but also be one of the leagues future stars for a long time.

Before he gets to the next level though, he is debuting his new partnership with Kinder Bueno. Harper and the premier chocolate brand is giving fans a chance to win big during the March Madness season with their Bueno Buckets program.

“I’m thrilled to team up with Kinder Bueno to make following the action on the court even sweeter through Bueno Buckets,” said Dylan Harper. “Just as thrilling as scoring a game-high, Kinder Bueno makes every moment feel like a victory. I’m looking forward to giving some lucky fans a chance to win a year’s supply of what’s become my favorite post-game chocolate bar.” Harper says.

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The partnership is a perfect match for Harper and Kinder Bueno because of the great people with the brand and Harper’s desire to surround himself with great people. It also helps that all of his family loves the chocolate also.

It was Harper’s sister, Mia, who introduced him to Kinder Bueno years ago and he hasn’t put it down since. Whether it’s just sitting around and enjoying one or earring one after a game, Harper always finds himself with a Kinder Bueno bar.

With the partnership, Harper and Kinder Bueno will be rewarding some lucky fans with a year’s supply of Kinder Bueno chocolate bars. How it works is, on the first day of the NCAA Tournament, March 20th, the team that scores the most points in a game will be how many fans will win. So if a team scores 105 then 105 fans will win big.

In order to enter to win, fans can go to Dylan Harper’s instagram here and comment #BuenoBuckets and tagging @KinderBueno on the post that announces the promotion.

“March basketball is all about those captivating moments, much like trying a Kinder Bueno for the first time,” said Shalini Stansberry, Vice President of Marketing, Kinder Snacking. “We’re delighted to partner with Dylan to give fans a chance to enjoy our signature chocolate bars during these exciting matchups.”

The post Rutgers Star Dylan Harper Talks Exclusively With BSO To Discuss His Freshman Year, Growing Up With An NBA Dad, & Partnership With Kinder Bueno appeared first on BlackSportsOnline.