A Deeper Look at Elite SG Jaden Hardy

Hardy is One of the Most Gifted Scorers in the Country.

Coronado (Henderson, Nev.) shooting guard made national headlines during his junior season when he pumped in 62 points in a game, this highlighting everything that is special about his offensive game.

Hardy has a great build as a scoring guard, standing 6-foot-4 with the ability to fill it up from anywhere on the floor. Hardy is a defense’s worst nightmare because he adds a nonstop motor with his scoring prowess, which translates into dominance.

Last summer, despite playing on a star-studded Vegas Elite (Nev.) squad, Hardy averaged 19.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists a game. He was named Nevada’s Player of the Year this past season after posting 30.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.4 assists a game.

As potent as Hardy is as a scorer on his own, he’s, arguably, equally potent as a playmaker. His ball-handling ability is elite and he’s shifty enough to blow by defenders at-will, draw defenses or get a piece of the paint and kick out. He has the awareness of a seasoned point guard and makes efficient passes to teammates in positions where they’re most impactful. Hardy is quick and fast and uses his long arms to his advantage on both ends of the floor, whether deflecting passes on the defensive end or shooting over the top of smaller guards from the perimeter and mid-range. Hardy thrives in transition and has limitless range on his jump shot. When he gets into the lane, Hardy uses his elite athleticism to finish strong and through contact.

His size allows him the luxury of being able to defend most positions on the floor and his competitive edge allows him to dominate in most facets. Hardy’s scoring ability was on full display during his junior season, even managing a 62-point game despite seeing multiple defensive strategies designed at stopping him. Hardy will excel at the next level and beyond at the two but could potentially run the show from the point part time.

Those attributes have everyone from Kentucky to Arizona to Arizona State, among many others, applying the full-court recruiting press.