ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia) - In a high-energy performance that solidified his arrival on the senior stage, John Harper Jr. shined his debut for Japan's national team during the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers Window 3.
I told coach, 'I'm ready,' and he told me, 'You better be ready.'
Having turned 22 just two weeks prior, the guard played a key role in Japan's 76-64 victory over Mongolia on February 23, contributing 7 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. More importantly, his defensive intensity was a game-changer - something that was expected by head coach Tom Hovasse.
"You saw what Harper did -his energy on the defensive end really changed the flow of the game," Hovasse said in the post-game press conference. "That's what he's been doing in practice. Whenever you can have a player change the pace and the flow of the game on the defensive end, that’s something really important. He was very excited at the beginning, but that’s natural. In the second half, I had him in at the end of the game - for a first time playing his debut, that’s unheard of. He was amazing."
This wasn't Harper's first time representing Japan on the international stage. As a matter of fact, he's already played at a global level at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.
Harper previously competed in the competition in 2021, averaging 5.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game across seven contests. However, stepping up to the senior level is a different challenge - one that Harper embraced with a defensive mindset and unwavering determination.
"I feel great, that's what I do. That's my style," Harper said after the game. "I didn’t go to China [for the first game of the window], but I was watching the game and I was hungry for the next game."
"I told coach, 'I'm ready,' and he told me, 'You better be ready.' When I got in, I just wanted to win. I wasn’t thinking about my debut or anything, I was just hungry."
That hunger is what has defined Harper's journey. Born on February 9, 2003, Harper made history in Japan’s professional B.League as the youngest player to debut at 17 years, 11 months, and 28 days old when he stepped onto the court for the Ryukyu Golden Kings on February 6, 2021.
The following day, he scored his first point at 17 years, 11 months, and 29 days, breaking another record as the youngest scorer in league history. Now, playing for Sunrockers Shibuya, he continues to develop as a key defensive presence.
Harper's debut wasn't just a personal milestone; it was part of Hovasse’s broader strategy to integrate young talent into Japan’s squad ahead of the FIBA Asia Cup. With Japan having already secured their place in the tournament, Hovasse used this window to experiment with fresh faces like Harper.
"I wanted to look at some young players this window and get some players that we haven't seen," Hovasse explained. "Since we had already qualified for the Asia Cup, I really wanted to obviously win, but also get some younger players in and try to see if we can get stronger for the Asia Cup. And I think we found some really good players."
Japan has never won the FIBA Asia Cup, and with the return of experienced veterans for the tournament, the final roster will look different. But for Harper, this experience was a crucial step toward cementing his place in the national team setup.
Despite his strong showing, Harper remains his own toughest critic. "I think I can do better in the first quarter, and in the last possession, I had some bad turnovers. I have to end quarters strong, but I couldn't do that, so I can do better," he admitted. "I gotta be like Kai [Toews] - you can score and pass at the same time. I'm trying to be like that player."
"But I think I did good."
His coach had the final word: "You did great."
With his defensive prowess, high-energy play, and a relentless drive to improve, John Harper Jr. has all the tools to become a key contributor to Japan's national team - not just for this cycle, but for years to come.
FIBA