re: #tAuburnBasketball Thread

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AUBURN, Ala. – The arena was new. The uniform was different. The opponent was one of the most iconic teams in the NBA. But it was the same Jared Harper, carving up the New York Knicks in Las Vegas en route to 19 points and four assists in his NBA summer league debut. 

"That being my first NBA game against NBA players and to be against the Knicks, a very storied organization, and then to be able to play the way I did and be able to start in the first game – that was all big for me," Harper said. "It was great."

Harper never heard his name called on draft night. Maybe it was because he was deemed "too small" to play in the NBA. Maybe teams weren't paying enough attention to Auburn's Final Four run this past season. Regardless, the two-time All-SEC selection still earned a spot on the Phoenix Suns' summer league roster, and that's all he needed – an opportunity. 

The former Auburn point guard averaged 10.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in four games with the Suns while shooting 38 percent from the field. 

"It was another showing for me to be able to point to, to show why I feel like I belong," Harper said. "I was able to do the same thing I did in college. To do it against NBA players, it was definitely a great experience."

Harper's summer league performance certainly caught the attention of the Suns, who offered him a two-way contract for the upcoming season. The deal guarantees him a roster spot on the Northern Arizona Suns, the team's NBA G League affiliate, and it also gives him the ability to play in the NBA for 45 days. 

That's always been the dream for Harper. Now he's on the cusp of turning that dream into reality. What will that moment be like when he makes his NBA debut? 

"It's definitely going to be a surreal feeling just knowing how far I've come and how long I've been waiting for that time," Harper said. "But I just want to control what I can control and continue to get better and just be ready when my number is called."

The only downside to Harper chasing his NBA dream is the void it leaves in Auburn's backcourt this coming season. It's never easy to replace your starting point guard, but it's even more difficult trying to replace a player that finished as one of only three players in program history to score 1,000 points and dish out 500 assists. 

Not to worry, Auburn fans. Harper is confident that the point guard position is in good hands with seniors J'Von McCormick and Samir Doughty, as well as incoming freshman Tyrell "Turbo" Jones, all in the mix to take over. 

"I feel like they're all going to contribute to the team," Harper said. "I think BP (Bruce Pearl) does a good job of having his program stay right and stay ready. It doesn't matter if you start. You might not start, you might finish. It's just being ready when your number is called. 

"I know Samir has a lot of experience coming from last year and being a leader on this team. J'Von has experience from last year. 'Turbo' coming in as a freshman and learning. I did a lot of learning my freshman year, and I know he's going to do a lot of learning this year. It's going to be a great experience for all of them."

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