Dylan Hasper has had himself a week to remember. A few days ago, the 18-year-old made history by becoming the first men’s collegiate athlete to sign an NIL deal with a leading energy drink brand. Fast-forward to today, and Harper is making headlines again. This time on the court. It seems that the number 20 has become the Rutgers freshman’s lucky charm.

On Wednesday, No. 25 Rutgers claimed a blowout 75-52 victory over Wagner in Piscataway, New Jersey, thanks to Dylan Harper’s impressive collegiate debut. Playing his first game without fellow freshman Ace Bailey, Harper shot 9-for-14 from the field.

To highlight Harper’s commendable performance, Jeff Borzello took to his official Twitter account, writing, “Dylan Harper’s debut for Rutgers: 20 points, 9-for-14 shooting, 4 assists, 3 steals. Outside shots (and FTs) weren’t falling after he hit one to open the game, but he got into the paint consistently and made plays in transition.”  

Bailey suffered an injury during Monday’s practice and is currently day-to-day. However, Harper didn’t let his friend’s absence affect his play. He contributed four assists, three rebounds, and three steals alongside his 20 points. He wasn’t alone in the effort, though, as he received solid support from Lathan Sommerville, who scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds in today’s showdown.

The Rutgers standout made his first two shots — an impressive three-pointer and a layup off a baseline out-of-bounds play. Yet, it wasn’t enough, as the Scarlet Knights still needed more. At that point, Wagner was already up 10-5. That’s when Sommerville stepped in, scoring seven straight points.

Harper then took over a stretch in the second half, helping No. 25 Rutgers build its first 20-point advantage. Overall, Harper delivered an outstanding performance once again. This only added to his memorable week.

Dylan Harper’s historic deal with Red Bull

When thinking about Red Bull, the drink that gives you wings, you immediately think of an energy boost. That’s exactly what Harper delivered with his debut. Earlier this week, Red Bull announced that it has signed Harper to a Name, Image, and Likeness deal, the first ever for a men’s college basketball star with the brand.

“It’s crazy to know that I’ve gotten this opportunity to be the first collegiate player… Looking back on all the hard work I’ve done, it’s really paying off, and I’m going to keep going,” Harper shared after signing with the $20 billion worth brand. Well, all this success isn’t just hard work.

For the 18-year-old with a 6’6″ frame, excellence runs deep in his blood. While his father, Ron Harper, is a 5x NBA champion, his brother, Ron Jr., plays for the Boston Celtics. For sure, his family ties have set high expectations for the freshman entering his first season with the Scarlet Knights.

As evident, he’s living up to those expectations. Ranked as the third-best recruit in the country by 247 Sports, Harper had impressive offers during his recruitment. But for him, Rutgers was truly where he wanted to be. His NIL deal and debut performance are just testaments to that choice.