Former St. John’s star Dwight Hardy is the latest Big East standout to sign with a European club.
Hardy has signed with Pistoia Basket, located 25 minutes outside of Florence, Italy.
The 6-foot-2 Hardy averaged 18.3 points last season and was a first-team All-Big East selection for a St. John’s team that reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002.
Hardy is the latest Big East star to sign overseas. Ben Hansbrough, who beat Hardy out for Big East Player of the Year honors, and former Notre Dame teammate Tyrone Nash both signed to play in Germany. Former Syracuse forward Rick Jackson will play in France.
Hardy has a 4-year-old daughter, Aniyh, and a mother, Stephanie, he’d like to move out of the projects. Last month during a workout with the Nets he said his first priority will be to take care of them.
“I live in the projects,” he said. “The first thing I want to do is get my moms out of the projects, you know. I’m sure y’all know where I grew up is very rough and dangerous, so that will be my first option to get my family away from there.
“That’s all I think about when I’m working out or doing anything with basketball, just provide a better life for my family.”
ST. JOHN’S ALUMS TO PLAY IN MALONE MULHALL GAME
St. John’s alums Justin Burrell, Malik Boothe and Paris Horne will be among the host of former NCAA Division I players participating in the Malone Mulhall Benefit Game on Saturday at 1 p.m.
The trio join former UNC star, 2009 national champion and Long Island native Danny Green, NYC native and Notre Dame standout Ty Nash and Richmond’s Dan Geriot, among others, for the event, held on campus at Carnesecca Arena.
The Malone Mulhall Benefit Basketball Game is being held to honor the loss of three college students, Michael Mulhall, Jamie and Paige Malone. On July 15, 2010, while traveling to work at a recreational summer camp for individuals with special needs, their daily commute turned into a fatal accident. The Malone Mulhall Benefit Game was established to do charitable work in the memory of those students, by providing a high-talent basketball exhibition to raise money for the foundations and scholarships established in their names.
