Top 2024 prospect fan of the UNC Basketball program

A top-rated prospect from the Class of 2024 recently admitted that he was a fan of the UNC basketball program growing up.  

Could prior fandom lead one of the top recruits in the Class of 2024 to Chapel Hill?

In a recent interview with Jamie Shaw of On3, New Jersey native Dylan Harper went in-depth on his current recruitment. As a rising junior, Harper is considered one of the best prospects in his class, and already is drawing interest from a handful of programs across the country.

Although there hasn’t been reported dialogue between the two sides, Harper did confirm that he did, in fact, grow up a fan of the UNC basketball program.

"“At one point, when I was younger, I was a UNC fan. But that faded away now that I’m getting recruited.”"

The last name may sound familiar to basketball fans, as he comes from a family line that has been successful on the basketball court.

For starters, the 6-foot-5 guard is the son of five-time NBA Champion Ron Harper. Additionally, his brother, Ron Harper Jr., most recently starred for the Rutgers men’s basketball program and is currently awaiting to see if he’ll be selected in this year’s NBA Draft.

This past season, Harper played a pivotal role in helping lead Don Bosco Prep to a 23-5 season. His success for the Ironmen helped him draw college interest, as he should continue to rise up the rankings as he progresses in his high school career.

Currently, On3 ranks Harper as their No. 22 overall prospect in the Class of 2024. He’s a bit lower on 247Sports Composite’s most recent rankings (No. 33 overall nationally), but is also viewed as the third-best prospect coming out of the state of New Jersey.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, there hasn’t been any reported contact between Harper and the Tar Heels up to this point. However, given his prior fandom, if Hubert Davis and North Carolina come calling, they may have a leg up on the competition in this recruitment battle.

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