Senior high school basketball star
Jaden Hardy of
Coronado (Henderson, Nev.) is expected to join the NBA G League Ignite team, according to a Saturday report from Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The 6-foot-4 guard is the No. 3 prospect in the Class of 2021 according to 247Sports. Hardy will be following in the footsteps of Class of 2020 prospects Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga and Isaiah Todd among others in selecting the G League path over the traditional collegiate route.
Hardy missed his entire senior season after the Nevada Interscholastic Athletics Association canceled the 2020-21 winter sports season because of COVID-19.
In 2019-20, Hardy earned first team MaxPreps Junior All-America honors after averaging 30.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game. His junior season was highlighted by a 62-point game in which he led his team back from a 21-point deficit. He also recorded 11 rebounds, six assists, five blocks and four steals in the comeback victory.
The McDonald's All-American selection chose the professional path over his final list of college options including Arizona, Arizona State, Kentucky and UCLA.
Hardy is considered one of the most lethal and versatile scorers in the
Class of 2021 and is projected to be a lottery pick in the 2022 NBA
Draft.
Coronado guard Jaden Hardy drives to the basket.
Photo by: Darin Sicurello
