Since stepping onto campus in 2016, Jared Harper has been a regular on the court for Auburn.
The 5-11 point guard averaged 24.2 minutes per game during his freshman season, and added even more a year ago in averaging 30.5 minutes for the co-regular season champions.
And now as he enters his junior campaign, Harper will be relied upon for major contributions both on and off the court.
Based on how he’s embraced the leadership role in his first two seasons, there’s little doubt that he’ll be ready for the challenge.
Inside the Numbers
Harper averaged 13.2 points and 5.4 assists per game last season while also adding a team-high 40 steals.
He was excellent from the free-throw line in shooting 82.2 percent for a team that drastically improved its effectiveness in that aspect.
Harper had trouble finding that same type of consistency from the floor, as he shot just 36.0 percent on 308 attempts.
More than half of his shots came from beyond the arc, but he shot a respectable percentage in finishing at 35.5 percent.
2018-19 Season Outlook
I’ve often called Harper one of the most impactful players in the country.
He’s been masterful in Auburn’s transition game, and even with the return of Austin Wiley, the Tigers are still going to play their signature up-tempo style.
Harper earned All-SEC Second Team honors in the preseason, but I think you could easily make the case for Harper as a first-team candidate.
The Tigers have all the pieces in place to stay at the top of the SEC, and Harper’s versatility will once again be invaluable for Bruce Pearl and company.