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    RAMSEY, N.J. — Returning to the hardwood where their legendary prep careers began, Ron Harper Jr. of the Boston Celtics and Dylan Harper of the San Antonio Spurs held their first annual ProCamps Harper U basketball camp this week at their high school alma mater, Don Bosco Prep.

    The inaugural two-day youth co-ed camp brought together top local talent across middle school and high school ranks to sharpen their skills, embrace high-level instruction and absorb invaluable advice on what it takes to navigate the journey from elite prospect to the professional ranks. Designed to challenge, motivate and inspire athletes of all ages and experience levels, the event offered campers hands-on training from two New Jersey athletes currently living their dream.

    Adding an extra layer of NBA star power and leadership to the inaugural event, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla made a special stop in Ramsey during his offseason cross-country run visiting players before training camp.

    The Power of Second-Generation Pedigree

    For Ron Harper Jr. and Dylan Harper, sons of five-time NBA Champion Ron Harper and former collegiate standout and program director Maria Harper, basketball has never been just a game. It has always been a family tradition built on relentless competition, everyday grind and unwavering accountability. Growing up in a household where high-level execution was standard practice, both brothers were exposed to the inner workings of elite athletic performance long before stepping onto a college or professional floor.

    The Harper Family is coming off a remarkable year. Dylan was selected No. 2 overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2025 NBA Draft and made an immediate impact on the league’s biggest stage, helping lead the Spurs to an NBA Finals appearance during his rookie season. Widely regarded as one of the NBA’s brightest young stars, Dylan is quickly becoming one of the faces of the league’s next generation.

    Meanwhile, Ron Harper Jr. has firmly established himself as an important piece of the Boston Celtics. After stepping into a starting role during the NBA Playoffs, Ron has continued to elevate his game and recently secured a new contract with the Celtics, positioning him as a key contributor for one of the NBA’s premier franchises. Together, the Harper brothers represent one of basketball’s most exciting success stories, built on hard work, family, resilience and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

    Ron Jr. initially established the foundation for the family’s modern prep legacy at Don Bosco Prep, guiding the Ironmen to back-to-back NJSIAA Non-Public A State Championships in 2017 and 2018. He took that championship pedigree to Rutgers University, where he became a defining figure in modern Scarlet Knights history. Across 121 career games at Rutgers, Ron Jr. averaged 12.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, capping his collegiate career in 2021–22 with 15.8 points per game while shooting nearly 40% from three-point range. His heroics, highlighted by a half-court buzzer-beater to defeat No. 1 ranked Purdue, led Rutgers back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 30 years and earned him consensus All-American Honorable Mention honors before he transitioned to the NBA ranks.

    Dylan carried the torch at Don Bosco Prep as one of the most dominant high school guards in New Jersey history, finishing with over 2,000 career points and leading the Ironmen to another state title in 2024. Ranked as a consensus top-two prospect nationally in the Class of 2024, Dylan earned 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game Co-MVP honours (22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists), the Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year award and Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year. His success translated internationally as well, capturing gold medals with USA Basketball at the FIBA U17 Americas Championship and FIBA U19 World Cup before entering the college and NBA pipeline with elite pick-and-roll pacing, positional size and pro pedigree.

    When asked about the distinct advantage second-generation athletes possess when making the leap to college and the NBA, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla emphasized that the benefits extend far beyond raw physical gifts or genetic talent.

    “I think it’s priceless,” Mazzulla told ScoopB.com during an interactive session with the young campers. “It’s like getting a college education in middle school. So I think it’s priceless not just on the physical, but like the professionalism, the mentality… handling family, balancing successes and failures. I think that’s probably one of the most important things… you have the opportunity to give it to your family, and you do… Obviously, you don’t want to take away anything from their individual talent, but there’s a direct correlation to their family environment.”

    Mazzulla added how impressed he was after spending time around the Harper family unit inside the Don Bosco Prep gym, noting that the culture at home directly translates to professional success on the court:

    “Being here for 30 minutes, I see why their family is so successful,” he said. “I see why Ron has been successful in the organization that we have, it’s because of the foundation and the environment that he has.”

    Iron Sharpens Iron: The Harper Family Formula

    The relentless drive that fuels both Harper brothers comes directly from the household culture established by their mother, Maria Harper, and was constantly tested in daily battles against each other and close family friend Sy Davis.

    In the Harper household, competition was not an occasional event. It was a daily lifestyle that shaped their approach to training, performance and self-improvement long before either brother made a name for himself on the national stage.

    For Dylan, growing up as the younger brother meant having a front-row seat to high-level dedication, absorbing the habits and work ethic required to succeed at every stage.

    “I think it’s like the mindset… for me, I’m the youngest, so I got to see everyone in their own kind of work environment,” Dylan Harper tells ScoopB.com. “I just took things that I liked, and that made me want more. I think I was just inspired by both of them to put in the work. The biggest outcome for me was just the formula of work… My work ethic, I think that’s where that comes from. And I’m very competitive, so for me, it’s just wanting to be better than him, wanting to be better than her… I always wanted to one-up them.”

    That fierce competitive edge was non-negotiable under the family roof. Whether it was on the court or around the kitchen table, the standard for intensity remained high, as Maria Harper fondly confirmed to the gym with a smile:

    “No one can play a game at my house without wanting to win. It always ends up in a fight. Doesn’t matter what it is.”

    Sy Davis, a longtime friend of the family who witnessed their development firsthand, recounted the unforgiving yet nurturing environment that molded Dylan from a young age:

    “Dylan was always in a basketball environment,” he tells ScoopB.com. “No matter if we were downstairs in the basement, if we were in the car… I’m talking about listening to basketball, watching it, and playing it. And we never gave him a good time… I don’t care how small he was, we never took it easy on him. We really didn’t take it easy on each other—none of us did. We really used to beat each other up and come upstairs crying… And having that competitive spirit… it was always basketball and it was always a healthy, rough environment.”

    Building Culture with HarperU & Nike Jr. EYBL

    At the center of it all is Maria Harper, founder and Executive Director of HarperU. A former college basketball player, longtime coach and driving force behind the family’s basketball journey, Maria launched HarperU with the mission of developing complete athletes both on and off the court.

    As a Nike-sponsored youth basketball program (Jr. EYBL), HarperU trains middle school athletes in skill, IQ and character to ensure they are ready for the next level. Under Maria’s leadership, all HarperU teams qualified for the Junior EYBL in the program’s inaugural season, quickly establishing HarperU as one of the premier grassroots programs in the region.

    “It’s our first year on the Jr. EYBL circuit,” she shared with ScoopB.com. “I did it once before with all girls. Now I’m doing it with girls and boys. And I’ve always wanted to start with middle school because I want to make sure we implement culture into our organization.”

    Throughout camp, Dylan, Ron Jr., Maria and the HarperU team remain fully hands-on, sharing the exact lessons, habits and experiences that propelled them from New Jersey gyms to the NBA. Participants receive personalized instruction through skill development stations, competitive drills, contests and live gameplay, maintaining a low camper-to-coach ratio with support from experienced local coaches.

    For Coach Mazzulla, seeing that grass-roots culture firsthand reinforces why programs like Harper U and coaches like the Harpers are so critical to the ecosystem of the sport:

    “I got into coaching because I only had great coaching experiences in my life,” Mazzulla said. “If you can get into a good environment, you can be around great coaches, great people, great teammates… these people who, when you look back and you reflect, they’re usually the reason why you made it.”

    Join the Harper Family: Camp Details & Information

    Every participant registered for the HarperU Basketball Camp receives an exclusive package of official gear, memorabilia and event access designed to celebrate their time on the court with the Harper family.

    Each athlete takes home a souvenir autograph provided on-site from both Dylan Harper and Ron Harper Jr., along with an official camp team photo featuring both NBA players. To ensure a smooth and organized experience for all participants, outside items brought in for signing are strictly prohibited.

    In addition to memorabilia, campers are outfitted in a limited-edition HarperU Basketball Camp t-shirt and granted full access to interactive contests and unique camp experiences throughout the two-day event. For families looking to enhance their experience, additional VIP package upgrades are available during registration checkout.

    To learn more about upcoming events, register for future sessions or get additional information on the program, visit ProCamps.com and harperu.com.

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