Robert Rose
July 23, 2020
James Harper
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 1/1/74
- Place of Birth: Jacksonville, Florida (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 204
- Weight (KG): 103
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Central Florida (1992-1993) / University of South Florida (1994-1997)
- NBL DEBUT: 10/10/98
- AGE AT DEBUT: 24
- LAST NBL GAME: 13/03/99
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 25
- NBL History: Townsville 1999
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: James Harper was born in Jacksonville, Florida (USA) where he attended Jacksonville Fletcher High.
NBL EXPERIENCE
James Harper made his NBL debut with the Townsville Crocodiles at 24 years of age. He scored 15 points in his first game.
The NBL’s switch to a summer calendar coincided with a total reset in Townsville. Inaugural coach Mark Bragg was replaced by Ian Stacker (ex–South East Melbourne), and a trademark dispute prompted the club to retire “Suns” in favour of the region-first “Crocodiles”—echoing Stacker’s under-22 outfit that won FIBA gold in 1997. Sam Mackinnon followed Stacker north, a move that ruffled mentor Brian Goorjian and instantly gave the Crocs a franchise centrepiece. Only Simon Kerle, Brad Davidson, David Pennisi and Jason Cameron returned from the prior season, with new faces Robert Rose (via Canberra), Andrew Goodwin (via North Melbourne) and American forward James Harper (via South Florida) filling the roster. Additionally, Michael Pennisi returned to the club after playing overseas.
Townsville’s debut as the Crocodiles brought a 91–84 win over Brisbane. Harper (15 points, 12 rebounds) was solid in debut, complementing Mackinnon (18 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists) and Rose (16 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists). David Pennisi (18 points, 5 rebounds) exploded for a career-best scoring night as the Crocs outlasted Bullets star Steve Woodberry (31 points, 8 rebounds).
A six-game stumble followed before the reset arrived at home against Wollongong (93–80). There, Mackinnon (26 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists) delivered his best game of the season, with Rose (20 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists) and Kerle (21 points, 7-of-8 FT) also producing solid efforts. Harper (13 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block) continued to produce solid but not spectacular games, going head to head with Hawks’ Clayton Ritter (22 points).
Momentum rolled straight into the team’s best offensive display of the season—120 points against Canberra. Kerle caught fire (33 points, 5 assists) and Harper (19 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks) dominated the paint. Goodwin (19 points, 5 rebounds), and Rose (17 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds) were also impressive, holding off a Cannons side led by Melvin Thomas (21 points, 13 rebounds).
During a mid-season loss to Brisbane (97–105), Rose (33 points, 11 rebounds, six threes) dropped a season high scoring night alongside Harper (11 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks), who produced one of his best defensive games to date.
Across the season, Harper (10.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks) never truly blossomed into the import forward the team had hoped to recruit, going on to lose minutes to Andrew Goodwin (14.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals) by the end of the season.
The Croc’s success was all focused around the Rose–Mackinnon engine. Rose (21.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.8 steals) logged a league-high workload and earned All-NBL Second Team honours, while Mackinnon (16.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.0 blocks) made the All-NBL Third Team. Around them, Kerle (13.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists), Davidson (7.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists), David Pennisi (7.0 points, 3.6 rebounds) were other key contributors as the team finished 12–14 and in seventh place.
James Harper played one season in the NBL. He averaged 10.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 26 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-99 | 25 | Townsville | 12-14 (7) | 26 | 828.0 | 265 | 222 | 13 | 93 | 129 | 17 | 33 | 60 | 85 | 106 | 225 | 47% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 53 | 121 | 44% | 47% | 47% | 19 | Totals | 26 | 828 | 265 | 222 | 13 | 93 | 129 | 17 | 33 | 60 | 85 | 106 | 225 | 47.1% | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 53 | 121 | 43.8% | 48% | 47% | 19 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-99 | 25 | Townsville | 12-14 (7) | 26 | 31.8 | 10.2 | 8.5 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 8.7 | 47% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 2.0 | 4.7 | 44% | 47% | 47% | 19 | Total | 26 | 31.8 | 10.2 | 8.5 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 8.7 | 47.1% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0.0 | 43.8% | 48% | 47% | 19 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 19 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
Played in the NBA development league, the USBL, with the Brevard Blue Ducks in 2000.
COLLEGE
Harper played college basketball at Central Florida during the 1992-93 season before transferring to the University of South Florida, where he competed from 1994 through 1997 and completed his collegiate eligibility prior to 1998.
At Central Florida in 1992-93, Harper appeared in 27 games and averaged 4.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting above 45 percent from the field, contributing primarily in a reserve frontcourt role as the Golden Knights finished 11-17 overall and 6-8 in the Sun Belt Conference.
Following his transfer to South Florida, Harper sat out the 1993-94 season due to NCAA transfer regulations before becoming eligible for the 1994-95 campaign under head coach Bobby Paschal.
In his first season at South Florida in 1994-95, Harper averaged 3.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game while backing up Jerome Robinson at forward, appearing in 28 contests and shooting efficiently around the basket as the Bulls finished 13-15 overall in their final season prior to conference realignment.
USF moved into Conference USA for the 1995-96 season, and with Robinson graduating, Harper stepped into the starting lineup as a junior and emerged as the team’s second-leading scorer alongside Chucky Atkins, averaging 9.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game while leading the team with 1.2 blocks per contest.
During that 1995-96 season, Harper recorded 11 double-doubles, shot 48.7 percent from the field, and ranked among the top rebounders in Conference USA as South Florida finished 19-12 overall and 9-7 in CUSA play, earning a postseason berth in the National Invitation Tournament.
In the NIT, Harper averaged 11.0 points and 9.5 rebounds across two games, including a 14-point, 12-rebound performance in the opening round, further solidifying his role as a primary interior presence for the Bulls.
Harper’s senior season in 1996-97 saw him become the team’s focal point following Chucky Atkins’ departure to the NBA, and he responded by leading the Bulls in scoring at 17.1 points per game while adding 8.8 rebounds per contest and shooting 51.2 percent from the field across 29 games played.
That 1996-97 campaign included 15 games of 20 or more points and six double-doubles, highlighted by a 27-point, 11-rebound outing against Memphis and a 24-point performance versus Cincinnati as South Florida finished fourth in the CUSA Red Division with a 17-12 overall record and 8-8 mark in conference play.
Across his three playing seasons at South Florida from 1994-95 through 1996-97, Harper totaled more than 900 points and 600 rebounds, recorded over 100 career blocks, and developed from a reserve forward into the program’s leading scorer and primary interior option, concluding his collegiate career prior to 1998.
AWARDS
- Conference USA Second Team (1997)
COACHING HISTORY
After retiring from basketball Harper became the assistant coach at Evans High School, which played for the Div 7A State Championship in the 2012-2013 season.
Related
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