Dylan Harper’s step-back 3-pointer in the fourth quarter all but guaranteed that San Antonio was headed to the NBA Finals to battle the red-hot New York Knicks.
The 20-year-old Don Bosco graduate has enjoyed an impressive rookie season, and he was right in the thick of it as the Spurs defeated defending-champion Oklahoma City, 111-103, in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on May 30.
“It’s really impressive to see what he’s been able to do just two years removed from high school,” said Kevin Diverio, Don Bosco’s longtime basketball coach and an alum.
The entire metropolitan area will be abuzz when Harper and the Spurs face the Knicks, who are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 – when they lost to the Spurs – and seek their first title since 1973. Game 1 of the best-of-seven series is June 3 in San Antonio.
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Count Don Bosco president Joe Azzolino among the Knicks fans who have waited more than a quarter century to see the franchise reach the NBA finals and gone more than a half century since the last title. The Don Bosco alumnus sees himself as a winner either way, but said he’s rooting for Harper and the Spurs.
“One, personally, I can’t lose,” said Azzolino, who watched Game 7 at an event that included Don Bosco alumni. “Two, I will always, always, always root for the Bosco guy first. So as much as I love the Knicks, and they are playing incredibly well – they are a joy to watch – Bosco always comes first in my heart.”
The Harper family and North Jersey basketball
Harper comes from a renowned basketball family. His father, Ron, played 15 seasons in the NBA and won five titles. His older brother, Ronald Jr., plays for the Celtics. His mom, Maria, grew up in North Jersey and is a former assistant coach at Don Bosco. (His younger sister, Mia, might be the best athlete in the family.)
While Bergen and Passaic county high schools have produced plenty of Super Bowl football players, it’s rare to see a graduate in the NBA Finals.
That very short (and inexact) list includes former Teaneck star Tony Campbell, who won a title in 1988 as a reserve with the Los Angeles Lakers. In 1981, former Dwight Morrow star Bill Willoughby reached the Finals with the Houston Rockets.
“It doesn’t happen too often, and we are lucky when we get somebody,” said Paul Puglise, co-chairman of the Bergen County Jamboree who has been involved in North Jersey basketball since 1972. “It’s great for us, fabulous for those of us who have been involved with Bergen County and North Jersey basketball all these years.”
Dylan Harper in the playoffs
Harper’s dagger 3-pointer in Game 7 gave the Spurs a 107-95 lead over the Thunder. It came after the 6-foot-5 guard scored on a putback to provide a 104-93 lead.
“That 3-pointer he hit down the stretch, I’ve seen him make that move probably 100 times,” said Brady Loughlin, Harper’s former teammate at Don Bosco and a rising sophomore at Brown. “I knew it was going in as soon as he shot it.”
Loughlin, a Knicks fan, said seeing Harper reach the Finals “is a little conflicting for me.”
Harper had a very productive Game 7. In 27 minutes, he scored 12 points, shooting 5 for 8 including a pair of 3-pointers. His seven rebounds tied for the team lead with Victor Wembanyama, and he added three assists. He played good defense and his plus-9 was second on the team only to Julian Champagnie’s plus-16.
“It just feels as though not only [Game 7], but throughout the playoffs, it’s impressive in how the stage doesn’t seem too big for him,” said Diverio, who stayed home with his wife to watch Game 7. “He doesn’t get rattled, and he plays at his own speed, and he looks somewhat like a veteran.”
Harper, a left, averaged 12.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists against Oklahoma City. The No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft after one season at Rutgers, he was named to the All-Rookie first team after averaging 11.8 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.4 rebounds.
“To have him now playing at the highest level, and really contributing – it’s not as if he’s sitting on the bench and getting two minutes at the end of the game – he’s a major contributor on a team that’s going to the finals, and that’s truly remarkable,” Azzolino said.
The Harper family steps up
It’s been a very memorable NBA season for the Harper brothers.
Ronald Jr., 26, who also won Bergen County and state titles for Don Bosco and starred at Rutgers, was on Boston’s playoff roster after seeing action in 29 regular-season games and averaging 4.2 points and 1.7 rebounds.
Harper Jr. began the season with Boston’s G-League team in Maine, and he has since signed a two-year NBA contract with the Celtics. It’s a big step up after an injury-slowed start to his pro career in which the 6-5 swingman combined for only 11 NBA games over three previous seasons with Toronto and Detroit.
“We always talk about how every kid’s journey is different,” Diverio said. “Ronald’s journey to the NBA was a much longer, hard-fought, put-your-time-in grind, which he did, and it’s paying dividends now. And Dylan, after one season at Rutgers, he’s off to the NBA, and he’s now playing at a very high level and into the NBA championship.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Dylan Harper brings Don Bosco NJ basketball to NBA Finals stage
