Although it’s been more than a month since the Johnnies magical season came to a halting stop against Gonzaga, Dwight Hardy continues to work hard, knowing his run is far from over.
Understanding that his life has been anything but easy and having to work for everything, Hardy continues to put in grueling work outs in the offseason, sweating profusely, knowing that he still has critics out there to answer.
Hardy earned his stripes growing up in the projects in the Bronx, something few people truly understand. He was raised in a rough neighborhood, surrounded by drugs, violence, and gangs, vices that often crush those that are susceptible to them. But not Hardy, he has done something truly amazing with his life. He has the opportunity to capitalize on something few dream about, turning playing basketball for fun into a career.
The word quit just does not seem to be in the young man’s vocabulary. You often here a color-commentator rave about a player’s “stick-to-it-ive-ness”, meaning, dogged perseverance and resolute tenacity, according to Dictionary.com. That’s the phrase to describe Dwight Hardy, stick-to-it-ive-ness.
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| Dwight Hardy, Johnny Jungle |
That same attitude could be seen throughout St. John’s basketball season. Hardy, along with his fellow teammates, helped put the St. John’s Red Storm back on the collegiate basketball map this year with upsets over power schools such as Duke, the University of Pittsburgh, UConn, and Georgetown. Many of the so-called experts of college basketball had the Red Storm as a middle of the pack team in the Big East, but Hardy and his fellow Johnnies had other plans. The team put in great work throughout the season, and with the help of stellar play from Hardy, made a run that made New York City proud, evoking images of the glory days of Chris Mullin and Mark Jackson. They too take great pride in what they accomplished as a team, and Hardy reflects on it daily.
“I watch our games from this season ever day, it’s tough not to reflect and see the progress we made. Sometimes I wish I had another year of eligibility, that way I could play with these young guys coming in, but I’m looking forward to the future and am moving on,” said Hardy.
Hardy came into this season as merely a role player but flourished into a star, taking the city by storm. He finished the season averaging 18.3 points per game, hitting big shot after big shot, evident by his tight-rope walk along the baseline to defeat the then ranked fourth in the nation Pitt Panthers. When it was all said and done, Hardy was a First-Team All Big East Player, and was in consideration for Big East Player of the Year. Who saw that coming at the seasons start? But with his never give up attitude, anything is possible with Hardy.
Now that the season has ended, Hardy, on most days can be found inside of Taffner Field House, where he spends his free time in between class fine tuning his game. Coming into this season, few thought that Dwight Hardy would have the season that he had, but it’s that non-complacent attitude that has driven him to success.
“I’m just in here working on becoming a better Point Guard. In college I was relied on to be the scorer but now I have to concentrate on my ball-handling and leading a team, that’s what the scouts say I need to do so I’m doing it,” said Hardy.
Hardy knows about hard work so he’s not going to give in easily. Growing up in the Bronx, he watched many talented players fall by the way side as a result of drugs and gang violence. They were talented but let their opportunities just fall through their fingers, something that Hardy won’t let happen to him. This has kept him driven through his whole life.
“I came from a rough neighborhood, man. The projects are not an easy place to grow up with drugs and gang life around. But my family and friends kept me on good path. The older guys I would ball with would always tell me, ‘Just don’t end up like me man, keep doing what you’re doing and go somewhere.’ I’ve always had that mind set to get out, and make something of myself,” said Hardy.
Hardy learned lessons from every encounter he made in life. “Buckets”, as he’s known on the street-ball court, crashed the boards and hit the blacktop with legends and former All-Americans. He thrived in an environment where many would fall into the shadows, but Hardy shined in this rough and tumble jungle and came out a king. Hardy translated this gritty attitude to his Big East play. He believes the Big East is a lot like the street-ball courts, citing that as a reason why he was able to have success.
When asked what Dwight Hardy will be doing in five years, without hesitation, he replied:
“Basketball, that’s not even a question. Whether it’s oversees or the NBA, its basketball man. That’s what I’m going to be doing, no question,” said Hardy.
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| Hardy, New York Post |
That’s the same attitude that drove Hardy to where he is right now. After averaging 39.0 points per game in high school to then having to go to a prep school for a year because of SAT issues, then bringing his game to Iowa for Indian Hills Community College, and then finally bringing St. John’s back into the spotlight. It was always about basketball because he knew that was his way out.
“I was always taught to focus on school and basketball, so that’s what I did. Going to Iowa really helped me; I left my family and friends behind and really got to focus on the two. I’m on schedule to graduate in May and I’m moving on with basketball,” said Hardy.
Don’t think that Hardy will forget where he came from though. The first thing he plans on doing when he gets settled down is getting a house for his family, because that’s what it’s all about, family first.
“Family First, I like that saying, that might be my next tattoo. I’m running out of room to put things but I’m going to have to find a place to put that. Family First,” said Hardy.
Wherever basketball takes Dwight ‘Buckets’ Hardy, you know one thing for certain, he’s never going to give up and be content in life because the guys got stick-to-it-ive-ness.
