PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men's basketball junior Ron Harper Jr. was named to the Watch List for the Wooden Award. Harper Jr. is one of fifty players in the nation on the initial listing for the nation's player of the year award.
 
Harper Jr. has had a fast start to the 2020-21 season as the team's leading scorer and rebounder through three games. The Franklin Lakes, N.J. native is pacing the team with 21.0 points and 7.7 rebounds. He posted double-figures in each of the first three games, including a career-high 30 points on a career-high five three-pointers against Fairleigh Dickinson. He is shooting 57.8 percent from the field and 37.5 from behind the three-point line.
 
Harper Jr. was Rutgers' leading returning scorer, averaging 12.1 points as a sophomore. The product of Don Bosco Prep excelled versus nationally-ranked foes last season, averaging 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in those games, and shooting 50 percent. Harper Jr. was named the MET Player of the Week after scoring a game-high 18 points in the win over No. 22 Seton Hall, earning Joe Calabrese Game MVP Honors.

Entering his third season as a Scarlet Knight, Harper Jr. has started 52 of 65 career games, averaging 10.5 points and 4.6 rebounds. He has also dished 75 assists, blocked 43 shots and compiled 45 steals. 
 
Harper Jr. was recognized in the preseason on the Watch List for the Julius Erving Award, which honors the nation's top small forward. He was also named the top defensive player in the Big Ten preseason by Lindy's Sports.

The players on the Watch List are considered strong candidates for the 2021 John R. Wooden Award Men's Player of the Year presented by Wendy's. Players not chosen to the preseason list are still eligible for the Wooden Award™ midseason list, late season list, and the National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Nearly 1,000 voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games. The Wooden Award All American Team™ will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2021 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy's following the NCAA Tournament in April.

About the John R. Wooden Award
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award Program hosts the most prestigious honors in college basketball recognizing The Wooden Award Most Outstanding Player for men and women, The Wooden Award All American Teams for men and women and the annual selection of the Wooden Award Legend of Coaching recipient. Honorees have proven to their university that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the John R. Wooden Award as set forth by Coach Wooden and the Wooden Award Steering Committee, including making progress towards graduation and maintaining at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Previous winners include Larry Bird ('79), Michael Jordan ('84), Tim Duncan ('97), Kevin Durant ('07), Candace Parker ('07; '08), Maya Moore ('09; '11), Chiney Ogwumike ('14), Breanna Stewart ('15 and '16) and last year's recipients, Sabrina Ionescu of Oregon and Obi Toppin of Dayton.
 
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