Rutgers stars Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey selected in the top 5 of the NBA Draft
The NBA now has not one but two new players from Rutgers University.
The school is in full celebration mode after guard Dylan Harper was selected No. 2 overall by the San Antonio Spurs and forward Ace Bailey was taken three picks later by the Utah Jazz during the first round of the draft on Wednesday night.
CBS News New York's Otis Livingston spoke with Harper and Bailey after the draft.
"You know when you feel a cry in your chest and you're trying not to cry? I definitely felt that," Harper said.
"Emotional. The kid in me, smiling, telling me I'm good. The sacrifices I put in for this game, it paid off," Bailey said.
What to know about Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey
Harper is the son of former NBA star Ron Harper, who played for four teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls, during his 15-year career. Dylan Harper's brother, Ron Harper Jr., currently plays for the Detroit Pistons.
The 6-foot-6-inch guard averaged 19.4, 4.0 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals during his lone season at Rutgers.
Harper grew up in Bergen County and attended Don Bosco Prep, where coach Kevin Diverio saw him grow as an athlete, calling him a generational talent.
"He was always humble, never big-timed anybody. [He] took his God-given talent, his tremendous work ethic, and was willing to put the time in," Diverio said.
Though he stands 6 feet, 10 inches tall, Bailey, who is originally from Tennessee, also played guard for the Scarlet Knights, and averaged 17.6 points. In addition to his scoring, his size was a weapon in other ways, as pulled down 7.6 rebounds per game and finished with 38 blocked shots.
"Great night for Rutgers University"
Harper and Bailey spent only a few months at Rutgers, but their impact will not be forgotten. In fact, Harper is now the highest-drafted player the New Jersey school has ever had.
"Great night for Rutgers University. First, to have these two kids pick us, they could've went anywhere in the country," Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell said.
Pikiell calls Harper and Bailey standout players on and off the court.
"Coaching them was a lot of fun. They did things in games and in practice that just aren't very common, but I loved them more even after the game was over," Pikiell said.
"They are Scarlet Knights for life"
At Rutgers' Livingston campus courts, a mix of current and former students said they are very proud of what Dylan Harper and Bailey have accomplished.
"It's pretty amazing when you hear 'Rutgers University,' and I'm like, 'Oh, that's where I went,'" graduate Christopher Gomez said.
"I hope it doesn't stop here. I hope it keeps going and we get more players that are drafted as high," graduate Josue Checo added.
Despite Harper and Bailey being just 18 and 19 years old, respectively, their coaches and their supporters say they are more than ready to take on the NBA.
"They are Scarlet Knights for life," Pikiell said.
