Ex-Rutgers basketball star joins defending NBA champions for Summer League

Ron Harper Jr. is joining the defending NBA champions.

The former Rutgers basketball star is part of the Boston Celtics’ roster for the NBA’s Summer League, the club announced Monday.

“Ron’s a good player. He’s a guy we’ve been interested in for a while,” Celtics Assistant General Manager Austin Ainge said. “He’s looked good in practice. I think he’ll get opportunities and looks [in Summer League].”

Harper Jr. will look to earn a spot on an NBA roster with a good showing this summer, whether that is the Celtics — who have one open roster spot and two open two-way contract slots, according to Spotrac — or another team in the league.

Harper Jr. was waived by the Toronto Raptors last December after sustaining a season-ending injury on his left shoulder. Prior to undergoing surgery, he featured in six games for the Raptors 905 in the G-League last season, averaging 13.8 points on 45.5% shooting (62.7% on twos, 19.2% on threes, 91.7% on free throws), four rebounds, three assists, 1.5 turnovers, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks in 27.2 minutes per game.

Harper appeared in one game with the Toronto Raptors during the 2023-24 season, dishing an assist during his four minutes on the floor.

The 24-year-old was not selected in the 2022 NBA Draft, but signed immediately with the Raptors. During his rookie season, he played in nine NBA games, averaging 2.2 points in 5.3 minutes per game.

Harper is the second former Rutgers star to earn an invite to a Summer League roster this summer.

Caleb McConnell is participating in the Summer League with the Charlotte Hornets, who played in two games in Sacramento over the weekend. McConnell averaged 2.5 points on 40% shooting, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and one steal in 13.5 minutes per game against the San Antonio Spurs and the China national team.

In his rookie season last winter, McConnell helped the Oklahoma City Blue earn the first G-League title in franchise history. He concludes his first professional season averaging 6.3 points on 46.1% shooting (23.5% on threes, 60.8% on free throws), 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks in 19.8 minutes per game across 32 appearances (11 starts).

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Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com.