Hardin Making Most of Dream Opportunity

Growing up in the southern part of Kentucky, Jessica Hardin had the same dream that nearly every child in the Commonwealth has – playing basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Unlike many of those dreamers, Hardin actually had a chance at making that dream a reality. She was a standout basketball player at Wayne County High School, where she averaged 19.6 points and six rebounds per game as a senior. She was named the 12th Region Player of the Year, made the Kentucky All-Star team and finished her career as the third-highest scorer in Wayne County history.

Hardin knew that Kentucky head coach Matthew Mitchell had seen her play, even if he wasn’t necessarily in attendance to watch her.

“Growing up in the state, in AAU (basketball), I would see Coach Mitchell at the events, so it was definitely a dream,” Hardin said of her desire to wear the blue and white. But Kentucky showed little interest in the 5-8 guard, so she looked to continue her career at another institution.

“I had a lot of schools outside of Kentucky (recruiting me), like some Ivy League schools, and a D-II school in Florida, but I wanted to stay in Kentucky,” Hardin said of her recruitment. “I didn’t have many D-I offers in Kentucky. It really came down to Northern Kentucky and Bellarmine. I leaned toward Bellarmine because it was a private school with really good academics.”

During her freshman season at Bellarmine, Hardin played in 26 games with 16 starts. She averaged 9.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, and scored a career-high 19 points, in just 23 minutes of action, against Quincy (Ill.). 

But something didn’t feel right to Hardin while she played for the Division II school located in Louisville. 

“I was injured most of the year,” she said. “Throughout the year, it didn’t seem like it was the right fit for me. By December, I was having those emotions (of wanting to transfer), but I wanted to make sure, so I stayed with it to see if things might start feeling better. But it didn’t feel like that was the place I needed to be.”

Hardin and her family had to make a huge decision about her future. Would she transfer to another school and continue to play basketball? Or would she give up the game and become a regular student.

“It was a really hard decision because I love basketball,” Hardin said. “I had some very stressful talks with my parents. But, ultimately, I wasn’t happy and that’s what made my decision to just go to school.”

When that decision was made, picking a new school came very easy for Hardin. She felt a natural fit at the University of Kentucky.

“I spent a lot of summers here in Lexington, and I had always thought about going to school here,” Hardin said. “I have family here. My grandparents were from here, I have aunts and uncles here and it’s just two hours from home.”

Hardin enrolled at Kentucky and became an everyday student. She attended classes, made friends and joined Delta Delta Delta sorority, where she became a standout for the sorority’s basketball team.

“I did pretty well at intramural basketball,” Hardin said. “It was fun, but it wasn’t very competitive, like I wanted it to be.”

Then, in the summer of 2016, after more than two years away from the game, an opportunity that Hardin never imagined suddenly appeared. She was given the chance to work out with the Kentucky women’s basketball team and ultimately was offered a spot on the squad. She would be forced to decide if she wanted to give up her normal student life to return to a game she hadn’t played competitively since the 2013-14 season at Bellarmine. Hardin definitely experienced some doubts.

“Yeah, there was,” Hardin said when asked if there was any hesitation on her part to return to playing. “I thought basketball was over. I was pretty much retired. You usually play every year and it’s consistent, but that inconsistency (from not playing) made it feel like I was done.”

However, getting back on the court in a competitive situation made Hardin realize something very important.

“I did miss basketball,” Hardin said. “The team atmosphere of it, having a team behind you, always having people there for you. I really did miss being a part of a team.”

It became clear that Hardin could compete on the Division I level. But was she willing to meet the time demands of a Division I student-athlete?

“I had to really think about it because it’s a big time commitment,” Hardin said. “It’s a completely different swing from just going to school to doing school and basketball. I knew what that commitment was, and that’s why I really had to think about it.”

Ultimately, Hardin made the decision to take Mitchell up on his offer and to join the Wildcats, a move that excited her family, especially her father.

“All of my family comes to all of the games,” Hardin said. “They were very happy, especially my dad because he missed watching me play. He’s enjoying watching me play again.”

Hardin, known as “Jess” to her teammates, has not only been a member of the team, she has become a significant contributor, which was not something she was sure she could be.

“I am a little surprised,” she said of her contributions to the team. “I am doing what my role is, doing what I can to contribute to the team. I definitely didn’t think I’d be where I am right now, especially after being off for two years. It’s a really cool feeling to help everybody out.”

Mitchell is extremely pleased with the player that Hardin has become.

“I was hoping she could contribute in some way to the team, but I didn’t know what would happen,” said the UK head coach. “I would say that she has exceeded anyone’s reasonable expectations. She is a major factor for us. When she plays well, it really helps our team and we play well.”

Hardin has played in all 10 of Kentucky’s games and is averaging 3.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. She’s third on the team with nine made three-point baskets. She scored a season-high 11 points in the Wildcats’ win over New Hampshire.

Mitchell hopes that Hardin’s maturity can help the team as the Wildcats head into conference play.

“I just think she has handled herself so well,” Mitchell said of Hardin. “You have to believe her character, her maturity, her life experience has helped her in this. She’s a really great person and she’s done a lot for our team and will continue to be a major factor for our team.”

Hardin is making the most out of her second chance at the game she loves. And in the process, she’s living the dream of nearly every child who has grown up in Kentucky.