Dylan Harper injury update: Promising update emerges ahead of matchup with No. 23 Illinois

Rutgers star freshman Dylan Harper has been one of the most electrifying players in college basketball this year. Unfortunately for the Scarlet Knights, he’s been nursing an injury lately. On Wednesday night, Pete Thamel of ESPN reported that Harper is expected to return for their home game against No. 23 Illinois. He’s been dealing with an ankle sprain in the past few weeks and his status was questionable leading up to tonight’s game.

It didn’t take Harper long to return to form. He stuffed the stat sheet with 28 points, six rebounds, five assists, one block, and four steals. Rutgers won 82-73, improving their record to 12-11 overall and 5-7 in the Big Ten. Harper connected on 11 of his 12 free throw attempts. He also had a key bucket, getting a steal and a three-pointer to give the Scarlet Knights a 66-62 lead with 6:34 left.

Games like that are exactly why many people believe Dylan Harper can battle Cooper Flagg for the spot as the potential No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. Harper was ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle, putting him among one of the most celebrated prospects in Scarlet Knights basketball history.

He’s already been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times and at one point, he was second in the NCAA in scoring among freshman, checking in at 19.3 points per game on January 21st. Harper is currently averaging 18.6 points per game, ranking him 45th in the country. He’s also averaging 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, showcasing his skills as one of the most dominant players in America.

Rutgers currently sits at 12-11 overall, ranking them 10th in the Big Ten, but if Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper can stay healthy, this could be one of the most dangerous teams in the country in March. We’ll see what kind of run the Scarlet Knights can go on to end the season.