The long wait is finally over for Mesa Junior College 6-foot-10, 250-pound graduated sophomore post Ed Hardt. After re-opening his college recruitment this spring, Hardt waited a long time to find a new college program for himself. After taking an official recruiting visit this week to a program in the Southland Conference, on Saturday evening Hardt decided to end his college recruitment and give a verbal commitment.
With an official recruiting visit still set for Cal-State Northridge on Monday, Hardt decided to pull the trigger on Saturday evening with Houston Baptist University.
Hardt became available this spring after receiving his release from his national letter of intent from Seattle University. Hardt signed with Seattle before the start to the 2016-2017 junior college season. Projected as the top overall true low-post prospect in the conference before the season, Hardt would see limited playing time this junior college season.
Hardt decided to re-open his college recruitment this spring after the Seattle staff was released from their duties by the school at the end to the season.
Congratulations to Hardt on his commitment and future signing with the program. Hardt will sign a national letter of intent with HBU this summer.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Hardt is a wide-body post player with broad shoulders, excellent physical girth and a strong motor on both ends of the floor. An excellent rebounder and physical post player, Hardt is a true post player - one that uses his big body to his advantage and competes hard on both ends of the floor. He gets very good inside position and is a space-eater - an asset to any team. He enjoys physical contact and uses his body to position himself nicely for rebounds, which he then starts the fastbreak with nice outlet passes. He is very vocal defensively and a good team defender. A capable shotblocker. Runs the floor hard. Has a good overall skill level and can step outside and shoot the basketball out to three-point distance, but he does his work primarily inside the paint - a nice attribute. A good passer. Has solid low-post footwork and good hands. A good sleeper prospect.