Excell Hardy, a standout basketball player from Homewood, Ill., has signed a national letter of intent to attend Augustana College and play basketball for the Vikings, men's basketball head coach
Tom Billeter announced today.
Hardy is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound guard from Homewood Flossmoor High School, which is located just south of Chicago. As a senior, he averaged 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals per game in leading his team to a 31-3 overall record and a runner-up finish at the Illinois Class AA state tournament. He also shot 41 percent from 3-point range and 82 percent from the free throw line.
Hardy, who averaged 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists per game as a junior, is a two-time All-Sica East Conference performer and a two-time all-area selection by both the Daily Southtown and The Star News. He was named the Daily Southtown 2003-04 Player of the Year. In addition, the Chicago Sun Times named him to its All-Area Third Team.
An Associated Press All-State Fourth Team selection this past season, Hardy was also named his team's Most Valuable Player for the second straight year. He received the award ahead of teammates Cyrus Tate, who signed with Northern Illinois, and Julian Wright, rated one of the top 20 juniors in the nation.
"The signing of Excell completes what I feel is an outstanding recruiting class," Billeter said. "Excell comes from one of the top high school programs in the state of Illinois. He had several Division I offers, but he really liked the combination of our athletic and academic programs here at Augustana College."
Hardy joins a stellar recruiting class that includes
Tom VerDouw, a 6-8 forward from Bismarck, N.D., who signed with the Vikings in November, and
Mike Klepatz, a 6-7 forward from New Berlin, Wis. Klepatz is a two-sport athlete who signed with the Vikings' football team in February. Five other players signed with the Vikings two weeks ago. Those players are
Ray Taken Alive of McLaughlin, S.D.,
Kenny Hartzell of Sibley, Iowa,
Travis Person of Tipton, Iowa,
Jimmy Keller of Oostburg, Wis., and
Marques Blank of Holmen, Wis.
Augustana was 6-21 last season and 2-12 in the North Central Conference. The Vikings lose eight players this offseason to graduation. Only five letterwinners will return for the 2004-05 season.
