Ron Harper attended Miami University where he played college basketball from 1983 to 1986. He was a standout player for the RedHawks, earning MAC Freshman of the Year honors in his first season and being named to the All-MAC First Team in each of his four years.
During his college career, Harper became Miami's all-time leading scorer with 2,377 points and was also the school's all-time leader in rebounds with 1,119. He helped lead the RedHawks to two NCAA tournament appearances in 1984 and 1985, and was named the MAC Player of the Year in 1985 & 1986.
Harper's success at Miami University led to him being drafted in the first round of the 1986 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he began his professional basketball career. His jersey number, 34, was the first number retired by the University in recognition of his outstanding achievements on the basketball court.
Harper played for several NBA teams during his career, including the Cleveland Cavaliers (1986-1989), Los Angeles Clippers (1989-1994), Chicago Bulls (1994-1999), Los Angeles Lakers (1999-2001), and Detroit Pistons (2001-2004). He won five NBA championships during his career, three with the Chicago Bulls (1996-1998) and two with the Los Angeles Lakers (2000-2001).
Harper was known for his versatile playing style, as he could play both guard positions and small forward. He was also known for his defensive skills, as he was a four-time NBA All-Defensive team selection. Harper was also a skilled scorer and averaged 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game over the course of his career.
After retiring from the NBA, Harper served as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons (2005-2007). Harper currently resides in New Jersey with his family.
