PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Rutgers fans turned out in force Saturday for what is believed to be the first-ever autograph signing of top recruits before ever putting on their college jerseys.
The Morris County Card Show was packed early for the signings of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, two of the top men's basketball recruits in the country behind Cooper Flagg.
Many people in line for autographs told cllct they were there to get something for themselves. Others, however, were there for the investment.
One person had two balls and four jerseys to be signed, hoping to stockpile while the players were available at an entry-level price. The show charged $70 per autograph or $95 for an autograph and a photo with the player.
Harper, the son of Ron Harper, who won a total of five titles in six seasons with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, said he was appreciative of the turnout.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Harper said. “But it’s great to see how excited the fan base is.”
It surely helped that Harper played his high school ball in New Jersey at Don Bosco Prep. Bailey played at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia.
Morris County Card Show promoter Deb Nexon said she took the risk of paying the price for the two, despite not knowing how it would be received. As luck would have it, she signed Bailey to the show right before Fanatics signed him to a deal.
“The turnout at the show for Dylan and Ace exceeded our expectations,” Nexon said. “The turnout shows the excitement that surrounds these two young men. We hope to work with them again once the season starts.”
After a 30-year drought, Rutgers appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2021 and 2022. College basketball insider Andy Katz currently has Rutgers ranked No. 19 to start the season.
Darren Rovell is the founder of cllct.com and one of the country's leading reporters on the collectible market. He previously worked for ESPN, CNBC and The Action Network.