AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn junior guard Jared Harper has announced he will leave school at the end of the spring semester and declare for the 2019 NBA Draft.
"First, I would like to thank God for providing me with the talent to play the game that I love and giving me the opportunity to share lifetime memories of our historic run," Harper said. "My dream coming out of high school was to lead Auburn to a national championship and we were close.
"There are so many people to thank for my success at Auburn. First, I would like to thank Coach Pearl for believing in me, the entire coaching staff, our managers, our fans, my teammates and the best strength coach and athletic trainer Coach Damon (Davis) and Clark (Pearson). They were key for me never missing a game at Auburn and always having me prepared to compete at the highest level every game.
"With the support from our coaching staff and my family, I have decided to chase my lifelong dream of playing in the NBA. I have decided to forego my senior year and declare for the 2019 NBA Draft and sign with an agent."
"Jared Harper has been the quarterback of this basketball program for the last three years," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl. "He came here on a promise that together we could help make Auburn basketball relevant. Promises made. Promises kept.
"I have always been a believer in Jared. He is a special player with speed, quickness, power and a skill level that is unmatched by virtually any player his size. He will make it in the NBA."
Harper will go down as one of the best point guards to ever put on an Auburn uniform.
He is fifth in Auburn history with 511 career assists highlighted by two single-season assist marks that rank in the top five all-time. Harper dished out a program-best 231 dimes during the 2018-19 season. He also had 185 assists in 2017-18, tied for fifth with Gerald White (1984-85).
The Mableton, Ga. native is 14th on the all-time scoring list with 1,427 points. He is one of just three players in program history to amass 1,000 points and 500 assists in a career.
Harper is sixth in the Auburn record books with 213 makes from downtown. In 2018-19, he hit 98 3-pointers which ties KT Harrell (2014-15) for the fifth-most in a season on The Plains.
Harper made a living from the foul line as he is second in Auburn history with 418 free throws.
The floor general is one of just five players in Southeastern Conference history with 1,400 points, 500 assists and 200 3-pointers in a career.
Harper is a two-time All-SEC performer and was named the 2019 Midwest Regional Most Valuable Player en route to leading Auburn to its first Final Four in program history.