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Flames Sign Transfer Harper For 2025-26 Season
4/16/2025 6:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty men's basketball squad and head coach Ritchie McKay have announced the signing of JJ Harper for the 2025-26 school year.
Harper is a 6-5 guard from Orlando, Fla. who will be transferring from West Liberty with one season of eligibility left.
"JJ comes from West Liberty, one of the more successful Division II programs nationally. He has a winning DNA about his game and his person," McKay said. "He really competes, defends at a high level and is complete on the offensive end. Having a transfer that has been to postseason and played a high role in that program makes us really excited about his addition!"
Harper spent this past season at Division II West Liberty, appearing in 23 games with 21 starts. The guard averaged 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while averaging 27.3 minutes. He shot 46.8 percent from the field, 82.6 percent from the free throw line and 34.6 percent from three-point territory for the Hilltoppers. Harper helped lead West Liberty to a 30-5 overall record and NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance. Harper earned All-MEC first team honors as well as D2CCA All-Atlantic Region second team and NABC Atlantic District second team recognition.
Prior to his time at West Liberty, Harper competed for Concord University (Division II) in Athens, W. Va., where he was a two-time all-conference selection. He averaged 13.9 points and 5.0 rebounds over two seasons with the Mountain Lions and scored a career-high 30 points against Wheeling on Feb. 8, 2023. Harper earned All-MEC second team honors during the 2023-24 season and All-MEC honorable mention recognition the year before (2022-23).
Before attending Concord, he spent one year at Redlands Community College in El Reno, Okla. He averaged 13.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest while shooting 48.8 percent from the floor and nearly 40 percent (39.8) from three-point land.
Harper is the second commitment for the Flames in this year's transfer portal, along with Virginia Tech Ryan Jones Jr..
Harper is a 6-5 guard from Orlando, Fla. who will be transferring from West Liberty with one season of eligibility left.
"JJ comes from West Liberty, one of the more successful Division II programs nationally. He has a winning DNA about his game and his person," McKay said. "He really competes, defends at a high level and is complete on the offensive end. Having a transfer that has been to postseason and played a high role in that program makes us really excited about his addition!"
Harper spent this past season at Division II West Liberty, appearing in 23 games with 21 starts. The guard averaged 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while averaging 27.3 minutes. He shot 46.8 percent from the field, 82.6 percent from the free throw line and 34.6 percent from three-point territory for the Hilltoppers. Harper helped lead West Liberty to a 30-5 overall record and NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance. Harper earned All-MEC first team honors as well as D2CCA All-Atlantic Region second team and NABC Atlantic District second team recognition.
Prior to his time at West Liberty, Harper competed for Concord University (Division II) in Athens, W. Va., where he was a two-time all-conference selection. He averaged 13.9 points and 5.0 rebounds over two seasons with the Mountain Lions and scored a career-high 30 points against Wheeling on Feb. 8, 2023. Harper earned All-MEC second team honors during the 2023-24 season and All-MEC honorable mention recognition the year before (2022-23).
Before attending Concord, he spent one year at Redlands Community College in El Reno, Okla. He averaged 13.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest while shooting 48.8 percent from the floor and nearly 40 percent (39.8) from three-point land.
Harper is the second commitment for the Flames in this year's transfer portal, along with Virginia Tech Ryan Jones Jr..
— Liberty Men's Basketball (@LibertyMBB) April 16, 2025
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