Search

    Select Website Language

    GDPR Compliance

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

    RAMSEY, N.J. — From her childhood roots in Paterson to coaching on high school sidelines, Maria Harper’s impact on basketball in New Jersey runs deep. But her proudest achievements are her two sons, Ron Harper Jr. and Dylan Harper, both now carving out their own paths at the highest level of the game in the NBA.

    Sitting down during the inaugural Harper U event on the hardwood at Don Bosco Prep, the veteran coach and matriarch reflected on her own 30-year coaching career, the values that shaped her family and what it’s like balancing the travel schedule of two professional athletes.

    Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: How important is it for this camp to take place at Don Bosco?

    Maria Harper: Super important. You come back to where your roots grew. This is where they put their feet down, and this is where they grew up as young men, not just as basketball players. There are so many people here who helped me shape the men they are today.

    Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: When Dylan was at Rutgers, we talked a lot about your influence on his basketball career. What is your own basketball background?

    Maria Harper: I played collegiately at the University of New Orleans and coached right after that in Chicago. I’ve been coaching for about 30 years now. Last year was the first year I wasn’t on a bench, and I miss it dearly.

    I took a little time off, but I’ve got one more itch I’d like to scratch. I don’t know where that will be, but I would love an opportunity to coach the Philippine national team.

    Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Who were your biggest basketball influences growing up?

    Maria Harper: Just local coaches in Paterson. I immigrated from the Philippines when I was seven years old and grew up in Paterson, New Jersey. My mom was working full-time, so I had to find things to do after school, and it just happened to be sports: baseball, basketball, volleyball, track and field. Those were my biggest influences.

    Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Were you an assistant coach at Don Bosco when both of your sons were here, or just Dylan?

    Maria Harper: Just Dylan. Before Ronald went to high school, I was the head girls’ coach at DePaul. I left that job because I would never have seen my son play high school basketball since we played on the same days and times.

    When he was done, Coach DeBerry approached me before Dylan got here to see if I’d be interested in joining the staff. Neither of the boys was highly touted in middle school. It wasn’t like programs were clawing to get them. The reason we came here was for the Salesian foundation, which I wholeheartedly believe in because I grew up in it. It wasn’t just for basketball; it was for the fellowship, service, education and community. This place is sacred to me.

    Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: What were your earliest recollections of Don Bosco, and what do you think seeing it now?

    Maria Harper: Growing up in Paterson, I knew about Don Bosco Tech. I didn’t get up to Ramsey much, but I knew the tradition and excellence of their football program. Watching the transformation of both programs over the years, the one constant is the effort they put in to make sure the right kids and families come here. It’s not just about getting the best athletes.

    Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Do you see similarities between Don Bosco and the San Antonio Spurs?

    Maria Harper: Yes. The family atmosphere that exists with the San Antonio Spurs is equivalent to the family atmosphere I was so blessed to experience here at Don Bosco.

    Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Do you see those same similarities with the Boston Celtics organization?

    Maria Harper: 100%. I feel like the most blessed human to have two sons playing in the NBA for two of the most storied organizations in basketball history.

    The Celtics have that same family environment. They are so inclusive and embraced our family, even when Ronald was on a two-way contract. Even after he left and came back, it was the exact same love. You can’t fake that.

    Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: How was the travel schedule for you balancing both of their runs?

    Maria Harper: Insane! I was really hoping for a Celtics-Spurs Finals, obviously! During the first round, I tried to make more of Boston’s games because they were playing Philly, which was easier for me, while Dylan’s first-round series was out west against Portland. Once Boston was eliminated, I tried to catch Games 2 and 4 of every series Dylan played in, and then I went to every single game of the Finals.

    Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: When Dylan was drafted, were you aware that you were trending on social media?

    Maria Harper: I had no idea until I got back to the table and checked my messages! One of my best friends texted me saying, “Oh my god, girl, you are trending!” I asked her what that even meant, and when she sent me the link, I said, “Oh my god, make them stop!” She told me, “Girl, that’s not how it works!”

    It was very humbling and nice of people, but I really wanted the focus to stay on my kid, not me.

    Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: What was your assessment of Dylan’s season, the world recognizing his talent and him playing locally during the Finals?

    Maria Harper: God doesn’t make mistakes. What Dylan really learned in San Antonio was trusting the process. It’s easy to trust the process when everything goes smoothly, but his situation as a top pick wasn’t traditional. He was used to being the singular focal point at Don Bosco and Rutgers, so being challenged to play alongside top-tier talent and earn every single minute in that system was great for him. Nothing was given; everything was earned.

    Then to cap it off in the postseason, learning how to stay disciplined, returning home to play where he grew up and having the full trust of his teammates on the biggest stage, that was priceless.

    Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: As both a mother and a coach, what is your challenge for both of your sons as they head into this upcoming season?

    Maria Harper: Ronald has had a tougher road in the NBA, and I celebrate his story because it is incredibly hard to do what he’s done. His path represents what most athletes go through far more than Dylan’s trajectory does.

    As for my challenge to them: I realized this past year that giving tactical critiques isn’t my role anymore. I have to trust the foundation I set for them. I know the young men they are, and I trust them, their coaches and their organizations.

    It’s an honor watching them live their dreams and inspire young kids. I’ve taken a step back so I can learn to enjoy the game from the stands. I might still coach a little bit in my head, but I want to be present and enjoy every moment of this journey.

    As both Ron Jr. and Dylan prepare for their respective journeys ahead in the league, Maria Harper’s focus remains rooted in family, faith and perspective. While her coaching instincts will always keep her analyzing X’s and O’s from afar, stepping back to take in their success as a proud parent is her newest play. Ultimately, watching her sons inspire the next generation while staying true to the foundation built back home in New Jersey remains her greatest victory.

    Previous Article
    Could this college athletes’ union finally stick?
    Next Article
    Alexander Bedward: The Jamaican Leader Whose Story Is Coming to the Stage

    Related Sports Updates:

    Are you sure? You want to delete this comment..! Remove Cancel

    Comments (0)

      Leave a comment