Oklahoma State Basketball: Cowboys land three-star point guard Amauri Hardy
The Oklahoma State Cowboys landed their second recruit of the 2017 class with three-star point guard Amauri Hardy from Farmington, MI.
The Oklahoma State Cowboys got their second commit for the 2017 basketball recruiting class. Three-star point guard Amauri Hardy committed to OK State. Hardy is from Farmington, MI, and attends North Farmington High School.
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Hardy is listed on the ESPN 100 as the number 97 player in the 2017 recruiting class. This is the second ESPN 100 player to commit to OK State. Four-star point guard Zack Dawson committed to the Pokes on June 15, 2016.
Head coach Brad Underwood has made a big impact in recruiting so far. He was able to sign a few gems for the Cowboys 2016 recruiting class. Freshman Lindy Waters III and Cameron McGriff are both already playing key roles in the Oklahoma State rotation. Waters was a highly recruited four-star forward, but McGriff went more under the radar.
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The Pokes will look to expand their look outward to other positions. Both Hardy and Dawson are point guards. However, Hardy is a capable combo guard. At 6’2″ Hardy should not be starting at the shooting guard position too often.
Hardy had offers from 10 schools including Georgia Tech, Georgia, Kent State, and Stony Brook. According to 247Sports composite rankings, Hardy is the fourth best points guard from Michigan and the 37th best point guard nationally. ESPN has Hardy rated higher as the 19th best point guard in the nation.
Once Hardy and Dawson arrive on campus, the Pokes will have one of the deepest backcourts they’ve ever had. If sophomore point guard Jawun Evans stays for his junior season, there could be quite a bit of competition for playing time, especially with true freshman Brandon Averette starting to shine.
Hardy brings an elite level of finishing with his game that is unmatched by most point guards in this recruiting class. He has an advanced level of strength for his age and uses it well when driving to the rim. His abilities as a facilitator are also above average making him a good all-around floor general.
It’s easy to get excited about Hardy’s game when watching him on film. He plays a very exciting brand of basketball. Moreover, he could fit into what is becoming an elite line of point guards over the last few seasons for Oklahoma State. Between Evans and Marcus Smart, the Pokes have a knack for recruiting talented point guards.
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One of the best parts of Hardy’s skill set is his quickness off the dribble. There is no doubting his foot speed and agility which also translates to the defensive end of the floor. Hardy could be a polarizing player with Underwood’s direction at OK State.