Jared Harper, Jerusalem: 'It’s the first time in years I’m having fun playing basketball'

The dynamic guard dishes on MVP calibre season with Jerusalem, life in Israel, aspirations

There’s no player who’s putting on a stronger MVP argument in the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season so far than Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem guard Jared Harper.

Harper is by far the EuroCup's leading scorer with 23.1 points; no one else is averaging more than 19.0. He’s also ranked third in assists (5.8 apg.) and is the only player featured in the top three of the two main offensive categories while spending 29:22 on the floor.

Impressive individual numbers aside, Harper’s performances are the main reason behind Jerusalem's 7-2 record as of Round 9.

“I’m in a good moment personally,” Harper told Eurohoops. “As a collective, as a team, we are in a good moment. We play really good basketball.

“As a team, when we play good defense, then we are able to feed off that defense,” Harper added. Jerusalem has the top defensive rating in the EuroCup with 73.4. “I have a great group of teammates and coaches around me that believes in my abilities and that helps. So I just go out there and make the plays I know I can make.”

The efficient way Harper balances scoring for himself with initiating offense for his teammates is truly impressive. What makes his numbers more special is the fact that he doesn’t need to dominate his squad’s possessions to produce big.

Harper isn’t even the player with the highest usage rate among Jerusalem players, being ranked 13th overall in the EuroCup with 29.8 percent.