Rutgers basketball: Where Ron Harper Jr. ranks among top 2021 NBA Draft prospects – Asbury Park Press

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As the collective basketball community awaits when the NBA will resume its season due to the coronavirus pandemic, many teams used the downtime to familiarize themselves with top prospects from all levels.

With so much uncertainty surrounding this year's draft, teams are also looking ahead to the 2021 NBA Draft. Now that the early entry deadline has passed, there is a better sense of what college basketball will look like next season. Additionally, teams are beginning to get a better idea of where some key prospects will suit up next year with most commitments finalized.

Based on research conducted by USA TODAY Sports Media Group's Rookie Wire, this is the average classification of NBA players selected in the past four drafts: Freshmen (16), sophomores (11.8), juniors (9), seniors (12.3), international (9.3) and others (1.3).

This mock draft includes 16 freshmen, 15 sophomores, eight juniors, nine seniors and nine international prospects. There are also three players we project to go from the G League Select Team into the 2021 NBA Draft.

Jan 28, 2020; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Ron Harper Jr. (24) dribbles the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC).(Photo: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports)

We included more sophomores than usual due to the fact that many freshmen returned to school for another year rather including themselves in the 2020 NBA Draft, which is surrounded by uncertainty due to the coronavirus shutdown.

There are also more players in the "other" category than normal because the G League Select Team is becoming a more viable option for top prospects to play professionally instead of the more traditional path of the NCAA.

Note that all underclassmen who declared early entry for the 2020 NBA Draft (such as Iowa's Luka Garza) were excluded from this list. So, too, was Jonathan Kuminga. The 6-foot-8 forward from The Patrick School in Hillside, New Jersey, likely would be a lottery pick in 2021, but he has not yet officially reclassified to forgo his senior year of high school.

All player projections for the 2020-21 season are from BartTorvik.com.

Guard, 6-foot-6, Freshman

Cade Cunningham is considered one of the best recruits in the country. He committed to Oklahoma State.(Photo: Catalina Fragoso, USA TODAY Sports)

Cade Cunningham was the anchor for Montverde Academy, which was touted as the best high school team of all-time. The point forward averaged 18.0 points and 8.5 assists per 36 minutes at the U19 World Cup in 2019, trailing just one player for total assists (40) during the tournament.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists

Big, 6-foot-11, Freshman

Evan Mobley was 2019s Gatorade Player of the Year in California and came into the summer as the highest-rated player on RSCI, which compiles the rankings from major recruiting sites such as 247 Sports and Rivals. The versatile big boasts a 7-foot-5 wingspan with a 40-inch vertical leap, a rare measurement combination.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 17.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists

Guard, 6-foot-5, G League

Jalen Green is going to be the face of the inaugural G League Select Team. The prospect took home tournament MVP honors during the U17 World Cup in 2018, leading the United States to the gold medal behind 15.7 points per game. He also averaged 7.7 3-pointers per 40 minutes, showing he is a fearless shooter.

Guard, 6-foot-7, Freshman

Terrence Clarke averaged 17.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game for Expressions Elite, his AAU team. Clarke already has participated at the NBPA Top 100 Camp (2018 and 2019), Pangos All-American Camp (2019), CP3 Elite Guard Camp (2019) and the Nike Skills Academy (2019).

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 15.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists

Big, 6-foot-8, Spanish ACB

Usman Garuba led Spain to the gold medal at the U18 tournament in 2019. His points (15.6 ppg), rebounds (12.9 rpg) and blocks (2.1 bpg) were all exciting marks for NBA scouts. He boasted the second-best defensive rating (70.0) and third-best player efficiency rating (33.3) among all participants.

Forward, 6-foot-8, Freshman

Scottie Barnes has a point-forward mentality, which was an especially attractive trait for Team USA in the U19 World Cup, where he was a strong facilitator from the elbow. Barnes assisted on 16.8% of scores for his team when he was on the floor despite never acting as his offense's primary playmaker.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 15.5 points. 7.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists

Forward, 6-foot-5, Junior

Keyontae Johnson was described as one of the most athletic players in the 2018 recruiting class, recording a 41.5-inch vertical even before arriving on campus. He then was introduced to "strong man" workouts during his first offseason with the Gators and added eight pounds of muscle to his 7-foot-2 wingspan. His sophomore season in 2019-20 saw better marks in every possible statistic in terms of output and efficiency.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 15.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists

Big, 6-foot-9, Sophomore

Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (4) shoots over Penn State forward Seth Lundy (1) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Bloomington, Indiana on Feb. 23, 2020.(Photo: Michael Conroy/ AP)

Trayce Jackson-Davis was one of the most underrated players in the nation this past season. He averaged 13.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game as a freshman. His block rate (7.8%) ranked fourth-best among all high-major freshmen. His offensive rebound rate (11.8%), defensive rebound rate (23.2%) and free-throw rate (59.8%) all ranked among the top 10 among all high-major freshmen as well.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 16.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists

Guard, 6-foot-5, Freshman

Jalen Suggs averaged 13.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game on the AAU circuit for Grassroots Sizzle. The guard showcased his elite skills for Team USA during the U19 World Cup where he flashed serious 3-and-D potential, averaging 1.3 threes and 2.4 steals per game.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 11.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists

Guard, 6-foot-5, Freshman

Josh Christopher is a tailor-made scorer capable of getting the ball in the hoop from anywhere on the court. His scoring average (29.4 points) ranked among the top 30 of all high school seniors in the nation. He also has experience with the USA Basketball junior national team minicamp.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 13.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists

Forward, 6-foot-8, Freshman

Jalen Johnson was dominant for Phenom University on the AAU circuit in 2019, averaging team-high marks in points (17.0), rebounds (9.2) and blocks (1.6) per game. As noted by Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, Johnson also averaged 5.8 assists per game at 17 EYBL and Peach Jam games.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 13.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists

Guard, 6-foot-6, Freshman

BJ Boston is more than capable of creating his own shot, which will help him shine when playing at Kentucky. The senior wing exploded during the Hoophall Tournament for a huge dunk over Alex Antetokounmpo, the youngest brother of reigning NBA MVP Giannis. He is also an advanced playmaker for someone his size and should be evaluated as a viable player on both offense and defense.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 10.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists

Guard, 6-foot-5, Sophomore

Louisville's David Johnson passes against Virginia Tech on Mar. 1, 2020.(Photo: Scott Utterback/Courier Journal)

Louisville's David Johnson missed the beginning of his freshman season due to injury but eventually provided a huge boost to his team. He averaged 13.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.7 steals per 36 minutes from the beginning of January to season's end. Johnson had an assist rate (41.7%) that ranked No. 2 overall among all prospects who played at least 10 games against top-100 competition.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 9.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists

Guard, 6-foot-3, Freshman

Caleb Love put up 16.1 points per game for AAU team Brad Beal Elite on the Nike EYBL circuit, leading his team with 22 three-pointers. The guard added 5.6 assists per game, though it is worth noting that turnovers were a problem for him. On the defensive end of the floor, meanwhile, he averaged an impressive 1.9 steals per game.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 12.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists

Big, 6-foot-9, Belgium-Scooore League

Amar Sylla had some NBA interest leading up to the 2020 NBA Draft but has decided to return for one more year of international basketball. He started all 31 games this past season for Belgian pro team Telenet BC Oostende, playing far more competitive minutes than other comparable prospects. Sylla averaged 14.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per 40 minutes at the U19 World Cup in 2019.

Big, 6-foot-9, Croatian A-1 Liga

Roko Prkacin led Croatia to the gold medal at the U16 Euro Championships in 2018, winning MVP at the tournament. He averaged 22.8 points and 13.4 rebounds to go with 2.9 assists and 2.0 steals per 40 minutes during the competition. Prkacin also averaged 20.0 points and 14.9 rebounds per 40 minutes in his four games at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament in Valencia, Spain, earlier this year.

Guard, 6-foot-2, Junior

Marcus Zegarowski, younger brother of former NBA Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams, shot 41.9% on 3-pointers as a sophomore in 2019-20, which ranked fifth-best among all underclassmen with as many opportunities. He shot 45.8% on dribble jumpers, showing he is more than capable of creating his own offense. He played an essential role in helping Creighton secure the third-best offense in Division I this past season.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 15.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists

Guard, 6-foot-2, Sophomore

Miles McBride was an efficient scorer out of the pick-and-roll during his freshman campaign in 2019-20. West Virginia also had the third-best defense in the country, per KenPom, aided by his 1.1 steals per game. His defensive box plus-minus ranked third-best among all high-major freshmen.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 10.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists

Wing, 6-foot-7, Freshman

Ziaire Williams led his AAU team (which also briefly included 2021 projected lottery pick Jalen Green) in points, rebounds and assists per game on the U17 circuit. The Sierra Canyon alum has shown he is an above-average finisher near the rim, which will be important to his continued development considering The Stepien's Ross Homan also believes Williams can become the best shooter in this class.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 10.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists

Guard, 6-foot-5, Senior

Marcus Garrett was a crucial part of the Jayhawks' gritty identity this past season, winning the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award. He averaged 1.8 steals per game but made a bigger impact as a team defender. According to Bart Torvik, his defensive box plus-minus (4.5) and adjusted defensive rating (85.1) ranked among the top five of all players 6-foot-5 or shorter.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 13.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists

Guard, 6-foot-1, Junior

Antoine Davis, who led the NCAA in 3-pointers attempted last season, is one of the biggest sleepers in the nation. The guard scored 7.5 points per game in isolation, according to Synergy, the best mark among all Division I players in 2019-20. He also led all D-I players in points per game (7.7) off the dribble jumper. Meanwhile, his assist rate (32.9%) ranked in the top 10 among mid-major underclassmen. His free-throw percentage (90.1%) was fifth-best among all D-I underclassmen, too, which suggests his accuracy on jump shots could improve as well.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists

Big, 6-foot-11, Spanish LEB Silver

Khalifa Diop exploded for 28.6 points and 20.5 rebounds per 40 minutes in his four games at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament in Valencia, Spain, earlier this year. Diop also put up 20.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per 40 during the U19 World Cup in 2019.

Guard, 6-foot-3, Sophomore

Nah'shon Hyland shot 43.4% from 3-point range this past season, second-best among freshmen who had as many opportunities last year. He averaged 1.3 points per possession on jumpers in a set offense, per Synergy, which ranked in the 98th percentile among all Division I players in 2019-20.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 15.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists

Wing, 6-foot-5, Junior

Will Richardson shot 46.9% from 3-point range as a sophomore, which was the best mark among underclassmen with at least 80 attempts. He also averaged 1.5 points per possession on catch-and-shoot jumpers in a set offense, according to Synergy, which ranked in the 99th percentile among all Division I players. Richardson shot 26-for-51 (50.9%) on his 3-pointers off the catch.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 14.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists

Guard, 6-foot-6, Sophomore

Terrence Shannon was a fantastic one-on-one scorer during his freshman campaign at Texas Tech. He averaged 1.16 points per possession on these opportunities, per Synergy, which ranked in the 95th percentile this past season. His jumper needs improvement, but his free-throw percentage (82.9%) suggests he has the right form to take that leap.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 11.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists

Guard, 6-foot-3, Freshman

Cam Thomas was named EYBL Offensive Player of the Year on the Nike D1 Circuit, scoring 29.5 points per game. He has kept that momentum on the prep circuit for Oak Hill Academy, averaging 33.4 points per game while shooting 44.2% on 43 attempts from three-point range. The guard also has the second-most made 3-pointers (19) among all players on the prep circuit.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 12.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists

Guard, 6-foot-0, Junior

Quade Green, who played at the University of Kentucky before transferring to Washington, was forced to miss significant time last season due to academic ineligibility. When he was on the court, his assist rate (35.2%) ranked eighth-best among all high-major underclassmen. Green also shot 13-for-25 (52.0%) on his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, and he hit all five of those attempts from the corner.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 15.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists

Forward, 6-foot-6, Junior

Rutgers forward Ron Harper Jr. celebrates after defeating Ohio State 64-61 during an NCAA college basketball game,(Photo: Julio Cortez, AP)

Ron Harper Jr., son of the five-time NBA champion guard, averaged 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this past season. Rutgers had a much better offensive rating when he was on the floor (110.1) compared to when he was off (96.4) in 2019-20, via Pivot Analysis. While he mostly played at the four, he finished more than 50 possessions as the ball handler in pick-and-roll sets. Meanwhile, his low turnover rate (10.5%) ranked among the top 10 among underclassmen 6-foot-6 or taller. He also averaged 1.68 points per possession when cutting to the basket, per Synergy, which ranked in the 96th percentile among all Division I players.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 14.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists

Big, 6-foot-10, Sophomore

Drew Timme is an efficient scorer who averaged 1.11 points per possession in a set offense as a freshman, per Synergy, which ranked in the 97th percentile among Division I players. He was 16-for-21 (76.2%) on pick-and-roll opportunities, which should help his game translate to the next level. Timme also shot 33-for-67 (49.3%) from midrange, which was fifth-best among all freshmen with as many opportunities.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 10.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists

Guard, 6-foot-0, Freshman

Sharife Cooper was named the USA TODAY High School Sports All-USA Player of the Year as a junior in April 2019. He became the first non-senior to ever win MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors, leading McEachern High to an undefeated season and a Georgia state title in 2018-19. He also made First Team All-EYBL on the D1 Circuit while playing for the AOT Running Rebels, averaging 25.5 points with 4.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game.

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Rutgers basketball: Where Ron Harper Jr. ranks among top 2021 NBA Draft prospects - Asbury Park Press