What you see is what you get with Jermaine Harper, and then
some... He's a prolific perimeter scorer with a shooter's mentality
that he will always hit his next shot... From NBA range... Not so
obvious was the progress he made last year at the defensive end...
Despite his slim build, he became a tenacious perimeter defender...
He grew up in Southern California but moved to Virginia for his
high school career, where he was one of the state's top
players.
CSF IN 2004-05: Played in all 32 games,
starting 27 of them including the last 19... Averaged 9.7 points,
3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists... Had 72 assists vs. 52 turnovers...
Beat Eastern Washington with a 3-pointer with 4 seconds to go in
overtime... Four times he scored 20 or more points but he also had
nine games of four points or less... His performances against Utah
State were particularly dissimilar -- in Logan he hit 2 of 9 from
3-point range (8 points) as the Titans lost by 24 points... In
Titan Gym he was 0-for-7 (0 points) as the Titans won by 4 ... In
the Big West Tournament's second round, he made 7-of-11 (20 points)
but the Titans lost by 7 points... His 70 3-point field goals made
tie for fifth best in CSF single-season history.
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: Played in 56 of a
possible 61 games in his two seasons in Charlottesville... Averaged
3.9 points and 1.4 rebounds in the 2002-03 season... Shared team's
defensive player of the year award... Started against Duke on Feb.
15, 2003, (8 points) and against St. John's on Mar. 24, 2003 in
second round of NIT (5 points, 2 assists)... Had season-high 12
points vs. Liberty on Dec. 30, 2002, and 11 points vs. Wofford on
Jan. 2, 2003... Had 9 points and 4 assists vs. Brown in NIT opening
round on Mar. 19, 2003... As a freshman averaged 5.8 points and 1.6
rebounds... Had a Virginia career-high 13 points against VMI on
Jan. 24, 2002... Won team's Mr. Hustle Award.
BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL: Highly decorated prep player
at Blue Ridge School in St. George, Virginia... Twice selected
Virginia's Div. I Independent Schools player of the year...
Three-time Div. I Independent Schools all-state pick and three-time
All-Prep League selection... Three-time member of the All-Central
Virginia team and named 2001 Central Virginia player of the year by
the Charlottesville Daily Progress as a senior, when he averaged
21.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals... Led Blue
Ridge to a 25-7 record and the Virginia Independent Schools Div. I
Championship in 2001... As a junior averaged 17.4 points, 7.2
rebounds and 5.3 assists as Blue Ridge went 21-6 and won another
state championship... Finished as the Blue Ridge career leader in
points (1,658), rebounds (551), assists (433) and 3-point field
goals (102).
PERSONAL: Born on June 10, 1981, in Long Beach,
California... Parents are Sam and Tanya Harper of Gardena... Has
two older sisters, Toyea and Monique... Credits Bill Ramsey with
having the most influence on his basketball career and giving him a
better chance to make it to the college level... Most memorable
sports thrill was hitting a pair of 3-point baskets to help the
Cavaliers beat Maryland in a nationally televised game..
Afro-Ethnic studies major.