Harper is blazing a new trail with his NIL deal with Red Bull. Boardroom catches up with the Rutgers star to learn why he and the company make a perfect fit.
There’s something to being the first.
As Rutgers star point guard Dylan Harper reflects on his newest NIL deal, Red Bull represents not only an alignment in energy and excitement but also the added layer that he is the very first male college basketball player to sign with the company.
“It’s crazy to know that I’ve gotten this opportunity to be in the position to be the first college player,” said Harper. “Looking back on all of the hard work I’ve done, it’s really starting to pay off, and I’m going to keep on going.”
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Harper’s hoops lineage is longstanding, as his father, Ron, is a five-time NBA champion, while his older brother, Ron Jr., currently plays for the Boston Celtics. His mother, Maria, was an assistant coach on his powerhouse Don Bosco High School squad, now helping to guide and advise Harper through the amateur landscape ahead of his inevitable entrance to the 2025 NBA Draft.
With plans to be integrated into brand campaigns, sights on community activations ahead, and a roadmap towards a long-term partnership, Boardroom recently caught up with Harper to discuss his newest deal, how he’s navigated the NIL space, and what he’s most looking forward to with Red Bull.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Nick DePaula: What’s it like being officially part of the Red Bull brand and what’s your experience been like with the company?
Dylan Harper: It’s honestly been a blessing getting this opportunity, first and foremost. For any kid, to have this opportunity is amazing. Being with the company, they’re great people, and I’ve already gotten time to hang out with everyone and get a feel for each other. They’re a great company.
NDP: What kind of activations are you looking forward to doing with Red Bull?
DH: I want to do stuff for the community to give back. That’s the biggest thing for me — being that figure that people could look to in the community. I want to give back to the people who gave a lot to me. People that always looked out for me, no matter where I was at the time. Whether I was unranked or who I am now, there’s people that always kept it real and genuine with me. I want to give back to them and to the community.
NDP: How would you describe your personality and the traits that fit Red Bull?
DH: I’m very outgoing once you get to know me, and through media, I’ve shown that. We group together very well because I like to have fun, but obviously, do my job day to day. I like to have fun and be a part of the community, just like Red Bull is.
NDP: What’s your familiarity and experience with the brand over the years?
DH: The one campaign that hopefully everyone has seen is the Blake Griffin one — “Red Bull gives you wings” and him jumping over the car. That’s one of the greatest commercials that I’ve ever seen. Knowing that I’m a part of this company now is insane.
NDP: How many NIL deals have you already done so far?
DH: I’ve done a few. I’ve done the ones that I’ve done my research on and know will be good for me. Honestly, it’s a blessing just having all types of companies reach out to me. Knowing that all your hard work is starting to pay off, but you still have to go out and grind in the gym, like you were before all of these deals.
NDP: You have a bit of a unique background, with your dad being an NBA player and your older brother recently entering the league, too. How have you relied on your family for feedback throughout this process?
DH: My mom, my dad, and brother all tell me the same thing: “Put one foot ahead and keep grinding and keep working.” Taking every day as a blessing, and knowing that it all can go away just as fast as it came. I always have that in the back of my head every day as I’m going through stuff, whether that’s class, practice, or working out.
They also always told me, “Never sell yourself short.” You want to bet on yourself in everything you do, but you really want to treat it with however you view yourself. If you think something isn’t right, don’t just sign it because of the name and really evaluate it.
I have to give a lot of props to my mom for everything that she’s done for me. She’s the one that’s been there with me through thick and thin. She’s the first one to look at any deal, and if she thinks a deal is not good for me, we’ll talk about it, and most times, she’s right.
NDP: You were just coming up in high school then, but what was your first reaction when the NIL laws were enacted?
DH: For me, when it first came out, I only had a little bit of buzz. It was like, “Damn, now people can get money for playing their sport in high school. You can get paid like you made it already!”
From the outside looking in, it was really cool, but once you start to get into it, you realize how much of a blessing it really is and how much it can really change how you look at things.
NDP: How did that change how you thought about things like building your own brand and your approach to social media?
DH: I’ve always thought about keeping the main thing the main thing, which has been basketball. Now, with all of these NIL deals, you have to create a brand and support it. I’ve been trying to stick with it, and I’ve got great people behind me. My agent, Drew, and my mom have been helping me navigate everything the right way and showing me the outskirts of everything.
NDP: How have you and Ace Bailey helped each other to navigate this NIL space together?
DH: It’s great because we’re honestly so close that we’re ok having a private conversation and talking about things that most people wouldn’t talk to each other about. We know how close we are and the bond we have. We’re not going to get that information from each other and give it to anyone else. We’re trying to each navigate that and not only know what’s best for us, but what’s best for the team.
NDP: What are you most excited about as this Red Bull deal gets announced?
DH: Hopefully, there’s going to be a lot of great feedback, and it’s just showing that in the new space of NIL, how awesome is it that you can have opportunities like this if you work hard and put your head down? I’m just trying to be an inspiration.
The main thing for me was putting my people in the right position. Having my trainer, Kenny Miller, that I’ve been working with since the eighth grade, being there with me. Along the grind, he’s really been there from the start with me when I wasn’t highly touted. Whether it was 4 a.m. workouts or late-night workouts, to have him now alongside me [in the campaign] is a blessing.
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