Harper to Play for Philadelphia 76ers in 2026 NBA Summer League
7/6/2026 10:28:00 AM | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Former Liberty Flames guard JJ Harper has agreed to join the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2026 NBA Summer League.
The news comes following the conclusion of last week's NBA draft. In addition to Harper joining the 76ers for Summer League, he had pre-draft workouts with the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies.
Harper is one of three Flames who will play in 2026 NBA Summer League, along with Zach Cleveland (Memphis Grizzlies) and Taelon Peter (Indiana Pacers). The 2026 Summer League takes place from July 3-19 in three main locations: the main event in Las Vegas including all 30 teams (July 9-19), the California Classic (San Francisco and Sacramento, July 3-6) and the Salt Lake City Summer League (July 4-7).
Harper and the Sixers will begin their Summer League campaign against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Eastern on Prime Video. For the full NBA Summer League schedule, visit https://www.nba.com/2026-summer-league-vegas-schedule.
Liberty has now featured at least one player in NBA Summer League in five of the past six years. This year, Harper, Cleveland and Peter will compete in the NBA Summer League. This will be Peter's second straight year playing in the NBA Summer League. In 2023, Darius McGhee suited up for the Indiana Pacers. Caleb Homesley played in the NBA Summer League twice, competing for the Utah Jazz in 2022 and the Washington Wizards in 2021.
Harper is looking to become the fifth Liberty Flame to make an active NBA roster during the regular season and join Peter, Seth Curry, Julius Nwosu and Peter Aluma. Peter was the 54th overall pick by the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Draft and appeared in 38 games during his rookie season. Peter was the third first Liberty player in the Division I era to be taken in the NBA Draft and the first Flame selected in the draft in 40 years.
Harper enjoyed a strong 2025-26 campaign for the Liberty Flames. The guard from Orlando, Fla. became the second CUSA All-Defensive team member in program history. Additionally, he was named a finalist for the 2025-26 Lefty Driesell Award. The award is presented annually to the top defensive player in Division I college basketball, and Harper was one of only 25 finalists.
Harper averaged 10.8 points (No. 5 on team), 2.7 rebounds (No. 5 on team), 1.5 assists (No. 4 on team), 1.4 steals (No. 2 on team) and 1.0 blocks (No. 2 on team) per game while appearing in and starting all 34 games. He shot 59.2 percent from the field, 37.7 percent from three-point range and 76 percent from the free throw line.
Harper tied for the team lead with 46 steals and finished eighth in Conference USA in steals per game (1.4). His 35 blocks were second most on the squad, with his 1.0 blocks per contest ranking 12th best in the league.
Harper helped the Flames to a 26-win campaign this past year, with Liberty posting a 17-3 Conference USA record to claim the outright regular season crown for a second straight year. Harper and the Flames won a new program-record 17 straight games during the regular season before receiving their second berth into the NIT and advancing to the second round for a second time.
The news comes following the conclusion of last week's NBA draft. In addition to Harper joining the 76ers for Summer League, he had pre-draft workouts with the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies.
Harper is one of three Flames who will play in 2026 NBA Summer League, along with Zach Cleveland (Memphis Grizzlies) and Taelon Peter (Indiana Pacers). The 2026 Summer League takes place from July 3-19 in three main locations: the main event in Las Vegas including all 30 teams (July 9-19), the California Classic (San Francisco and Sacramento, July 3-6) and the Salt Lake City Summer League (July 4-7).
Harper and the Sixers will begin their Summer League campaign against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Eastern on Prime Video. For the full NBA Summer League schedule, visit https://www.nba.com/2026-summer-league-vegas-schedule.
Liberty has now featured at least one player in NBA Summer League in five of the past six years. This year, Harper, Cleveland and Peter will compete in the NBA Summer League. This will be Peter's second straight year playing in the NBA Summer League. In 2023, Darius McGhee suited up for the Indiana Pacers. Caleb Homesley played in the NBA Summer League twice, competing for the Utah Jazz in 2022 and the Washington Wizards in 2021.
Harper is looking to become the fifth Liberty Flame to make an active NBA roster during the regular season and join Peter, Seth Curry, Julius Nwosu and Peter Aluma. Peter was the 54th overall pick by the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Draft and appeared in 38 games during his rookie season. Peter was the third first Liberty player in the Division I era to be taken in the NBA Draft and the first Flame selected in the draft in 40 years.
Harper enjoyed a strong 2025-26 campaign for the Liberty Flames. The guard from Orlando, Fla. became the second CUSA All-Defensive team member in program history. Additionally, he was named a finalist for the 2025-26 Lefty Driesell Award. The award is presented annually to the top defensive player in Division I college basketball, and Harper was one of only 25 finalists.
Harper averaged 10.8 points (No. 5 on team), 2.7 rebounds (No. 5 on team), 1.5 assists (No. 4 on team), 1.4 steals (No. 2 on team) and 1.0 blocks (No. 2 on team) per game while appearing in and starting all 34 games. He shot 59.2 percent from the field, 37.7 percent from three-point range and 76 percent from the free throw line.
Harper tied for the team lead with 46 steals and finished eighth in Conference USA in steals per game (1.4). His 35 blocks were second most on the squad, with his 1.0 blocks per contest ranking 12th best in the league.
Harper helped the Flames to a 26-win campaign this past year, with Liberty posting a 17-3 Conference USA record to claim the outright regular season crown for a second straight year. Harper and the Flames won a new program-record 17 straight games during the regular season before receiving their second berth into the NIT and advancing to the second round for a second time.
JJ's got his first professional opportunity with the @sixers! pic.twitter.com/jCCBalwnx6
— Liberty Men's Basketball (@LibertyMBB) July 6, 2026
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