Hapoel Jerusalem Guard Harper Aims for EuroLeague Final Four
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Hapoel Jerusalem guard Harper declared his ambition to win the EuroCup, reach the EuroLeague, and compete in the EuroLeague Final Four. He stated he rejected offers from other EuroLeague teams to stay with Jerusalem, prioritizing a system that suits his playing style. Harper took responsibility for a past painful loss to Turk Telekom Ankara, citing his own fouls and the team's disrupted preparation due to conflict. He believes this year presents an opportunity for the team to achieve its goals.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Guard Harper aims to win the EuroCup, reach the EuroLeague, and make the EuroLeague Final Four with Hapoel Jerusalem.
- Harper rejected EuroLeague offers, prioritizing a suitable system over higher pay.
- He took responsibility for a past EuroCup loss to Turk Telekom Ankara.
- Harper cited disrupted team preparation due to conflict as a factor in the loss.
- He believes Hapoel Jerusalem has an opportunity to achieve its goals this year.
Guard Harper of Hapoel Jerusalem expressed his commitment to the club, stating his ambition to achieve historical success with them. He aims to win the EuroCup, reach the EuroLeague, secure an Israeli league championship, and ultimately make it to the EuroLeague Final Four. Harper emphasized his gratitude to the club, noting that after two years in Valencia, he sought a situation where he could play at a high level and be himself, which he found in Jerusalem.
Harper explained his playing philosophy, stating that he performs best when playing significant minutes, allowing him to impact the game offensively by creating plays for himself and teammates. He acknowledged working on his defense but identified himself primarily as an offensive player who needs the ball in his hands. He also mentioned receiving offers from EuroLeague teams but prioritized finding the right fit with a coach and system that suits him, rather than chasing lucrative contracts with larger clubs where he might not get his desired role.
Reflecting on his role within the team, Harper described himself as a "soldier" who doesn't see himself as superior to any teammate, regardless of their position on the bench. He strives to help his teammates in any way possible and adapts his leadership style to their needs, whether it's offering encouragement or direct instruction.
Looking back at a painful EuroCup loss to Turk Telekom Ankara last year, Harper took significant responsibility, citing his fouling out with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, including four offensive fouls. He noted that the team's preparation was disrupted by a nearly month-long break from games due to the ongoing conflict, impacting their readiness. Despite the setback, he views such experiences as part of a process, recalling a game-winning shot he made against Hapoel Tel Aviv in a previous season and a quarterfinal loss to Kyle Allman's team the following year, underscoring his belief that this year could be different.
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