Jared Harper's NBA aspirations have been realized.
Harper is headed to the Phoenix Suns after going undrafted in the NBA draft.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound guard was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and was a key part of helping to turn around the Auburn basketball program. He finished his junior season averaging 15.3 points and 5.8 assists.
The Georgia point guard was a three-year starter at Auburn and left a lasting impression during his time on The Plains. Harper was named to the All-SEC Second Team in back-to-back seasons during his sophomore and junior seasons.
During Auburn's run to the 2018-19 Final Four, Harper was named the NCAA Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player after averaging 17.5 points, 6.5 assists on 44 percent from the field.
Harper declared for the NBA draft on April 9, and although he initially did not receive an invite to the NBA Combine, he impressed scouts enough at the NBA G-League Elite Camp to receive a Combine invite.
Harper's biggest knock is his size but in the fast paced NBA of today, his three point shooting and speed will help make up for the size difference that he will face. Harper in three seasons at Auburn averaged 35.9 percent from three and a career best percentage from three in his junior year with 37 percent.
Smaller point guards like the 5-foot-9 Isaiah Thomas and 6-foot J.J. Barea have been successful in the NBA. Barea won a championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 and Thomas was an NBA All-Star in back-to-back seasons from 2016-2017.
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