There was a time I watched him walk upstairs a half a step at a time. With less than a minute on the clock, Hardy dribbled to the basket, exchanged a knowing smile with Chicagos Bryce Hopkins and scored his last basket. The scene at St. Charles East on June 3 probably would have pleased former basketball star Justin Hardy. ': Battling stage 4 stomach cancer, WashU's Justin Hardy inspires on senior night. Justin Hardy at his December 2021 graduation. Justin Hardy is Washington University's second-leading scorer this season despite battling stage 4 stomach cancer. His distraction that day was WashU baseballs trip to the College World Series. Back in March, when teammate David Windley looked up the street to an ambulance whizzing past him, he hoped that the loud sirens were a bad coincidence. ST. CHARLES, Ill.. Justins love for the game of basketball, competition and his teammates made him truly special. Two months after Hardy couldnt reach the rim, the team played Illinois Wesleyan and Hardy took possession of the ball at the top of the key. At some point I had to come to terms, Hardy told Stu Durando, basketball reporter for theSt. Louis Post-Dispatch. (We're) still competing for state. Justin's story was previously documented on ESPN'sSportsCenter Featured. Bucknor for rejecting handshake: Zero class, Suspect charged in fatal shooting in downtown St. Louis, Man shot and killed after fight in downtown St. Louis, Is Kim Gardner right? Juckem hadnt considered the possibility, but still, the news didnt really surprise him. Hes relentlessly supportive of his friends in their successes like his former roommate Caleb Durbin. Still, under the hot Chicago sun in the weeks after the late July appointment, he went from power walks to unweighted squats, in constant pain with every exercise. His diagnosis was so unlikely in the first place that he has hope that he can also defy the odds with his outcome. It was growing pains for him, but by the fourth game of the season, he had a mental switch flip. With less than a minute on the clock, Hardy dribbled to the basket, exchanged a knowing smile with Chicagos Bryce Hopkins and scored his last basket. A Warner Bros. COVID was not a trivial matter to Justin Hardy, but he already had been dealt a tougher opponent. Juckem was present for all three events. The Sun-Times is counting down the 50 high school basketball programs with the most wins during the decade. This is all mind over matter, Hardy typed. She said the experience has made her think about working with cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. At the beginning of the season, Hardys teammates thought that best-case scenario, he might practice with the team. "I can't control the spread of cancer inside of me, that portion is going to do what it does," he said. Justin Hardy, a 2018 St. Charles East graduate and former Kane County Chronicle Player of the Year, has gone public about his Stage IV stomach cancer diagnosis. 3 Bears early-season, 13-game winning streak. The 22-year-old college basketball player from St. Charles, Illinois, who passed away . From a mental standpoint, it was the best thing that could have happened for me, he said. Hardy wasnt a stranger to waking up a little sore after workouts. = Plus, he said he doesnt really believe in miracles: Theres no reason for me to think that Im an outside exception. Still, there are a lot of unique factors in his diagnosis. "Justin decided to attack this diagnosis like he would attack a defender on the court," the campaign's description read, adding that the student athlete continued his studies as well as his work as a "major contributor to the Men's Basketball Team at Wash U" amid cancer treatments. Hardy died on Sunday morning following a long battle with stomach cancer. 9:49 AM EDT, Wed June 1, 2022. The Bears and Maroons hugged each other as finalseconds ticked away. His family doesnt doubt that hell be ready for whatever is next. "You have to live your life. I am fearless. I dont think I can be content and accept that this is happening. The college sports star was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer in April 2021, according to a statement shared on his GoFundMe page. His compromised immune system would be susceptible to COVID. Justin decided to attack this diagnosis like he would attack a defender on the court. I know how well they are doing and what an important piece he is. He was 22. Justin Hardy was diagnosed with stomach cancer in April 2021 and completed a summer internship at the time, tutored students in the fall, and graduated in December 2021. Incredible. Hardy was diagnosed with stage four terminal cancer in April 2021 but continued to play for the school after undergoing treatment. Hardy then went on to play at Washington University in St. Louis, where he stayed even following his graduation last December. And at Commencement, Andrew E. Newman, chair of Washington Universitys Board of Trustees, honored Hardy before a crowd of 15,000 students and their families and friends. A courageous, honorable young man. Top photo: Bears basketball player Justin Hardy takes the court at the NCAA Division III mens basketball game between Emory University and the WashU Bears at the Field House on Feb. 11. And there wasnt going to be all the things that I loved in my life. Diane Toroian Keaggy wrote this article for The Source. He entered the final regular-season game at the Washington U. As we grieve alongside the Hardy family, we also thank them for the gifts that Justin brought to his teammates and friends at WashU. Published Right now, Hardy can only look ahead two weeks at a time, and its driving him crazy. He lost 50 pounds and resigned himself to sitting out his final season. We've received your submission. Justin Hardy, who continued to play basketball for Washington University in St. Louis despite a stomach cancer diagnosis, passed away on Sunday. When he began shooting around with freshman Hayden Doyle for the first time, Hardy was far from his former explosive power. However, according to his father Bob Hardy on Twitter, Hardy had been battling cancer in recent months. Justin Hardy earned his degree in finance and accounting from Olin Business School in December, after just 3 1/2 years. "This has to be number one," he said. You can express your gratitude here. Park said his tumor is undergoing genomic testing to determine if a treatment more specific to Hardys cancer might be helpful. Hardy was the school's second leading scorer in the Division III NCAA tournament. Describe the essence of Justin Hardy in 3 seconds of basketball, Justin Hardy, the courageous and inspirational Washington University basketball player who we profiled this spring died peacefully today with his family by his side. Our community is forever changed by his legacy of love and strength.. six Hardy was born in Cameron, North Carolina, the son of Gilbert and Ruby Moore Hardy. Juckem was present for all three events. Someone said, Positivity kills cancer. I dont feel happy with the situation, but I do with where I am in life.. At the end of the month, after his regiment of chemotherapy ends, he will undergo scans for the first time in months to find out if treatments are having an impact. Twitter was flooded with tributes when people heard about his death: As mentioned earlier, a GoFundMe page has been launched under Hardys name, and it has collected around $124,696 so far. Theres nothing at this point that can really rattle me., A lot of things have stayed constant for Hardy over his three and a half years at WashU. They are 12-1 on the season and are ranked No. Stu Durando is the SLU beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Then he broke the news of his diagnosis to his closest friends on the team over Facetime. After days of pain, doctors found a perforated ulcer in his stomach and performed emergency surgery to repair it. Mizzou (22-8, 10-7 Southeastern Conference) didn't take its first lead until 97 seconds were left in the game but with the victory stayed alive for a top-four seed in next week's SEC . (Photo by Curran Neenan / Student Life), His optimism is infectious for his team; hes struggled through dark moments over the past six months, but hes been intentional about putting a positive spin on his situation. Former Washington University basketball player Justin Hardy leaves a legacy of selflessness and optimism An anonymous donor recently pledged $500,000 to endow the Justin Hardy Courage Fund to support the wellbeing and development of scholar athletes at Wash. U. by Gaby Mendoza June 13, 2022 6:00 AM Expand Hardy epitomized selflessness and determination through 13 months of intense treatments following his diagnosis in April 2021. Hardy's was also spotlighted by ESPN's College Gameday this past college basketball season. He was 22. I am living in some of the best days of my life. But he defied their expectations by returning to the starting lineup; his competitiveness for the Bears was completely unprecedented. His game-winning three-point shot to stun St. Charles North that season went viral on Twitter. Then, from blocks away, he saw the vehicle stop at his house, and by the time he got home, Hardy was being ushered into the ambulance. . Surrounded by his family, he went through test after test, talked to doctors, and explored his options. Thats a big event, he said. But when doctors gave Hardy the go-ahead to play, Hardy decided he would do everything in his power to help the Bears reach the NCAA tournament. James Koh examines if you can still trust Martin, and breaks down the rest of Week 14's top news stories . Your email address will not be published. Wide receiver who became a standout player at East Carolina University before being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He majored in accounting and finance, which means that he cant ignore the odds that were given to him. 2023 E! Despite finding the end zone four times in 2016, many people expected more out of Hardy last season. He knows the facts but remains positive and is pretty much doing everything right.. Washington University has lost a rising star. He was 22 years old. You have the worst thing possible happening, and you get to experience the thing that brings the most joy. Required fields are marked *, Solve the equation: * Hardys treatment days are long and usually scheduled for a Monday or Tuesday so that hes feeling well by the end of the week to play in games. Jackie Hardy is studying occupational therapy and will do her first clinical rotation soon at the Mayo Clinic. An unconquerable, unforgettable young man. Jeff Pape. Diagnosed in April 2021, Justin Hardy graduated in December and recovered from 50 pounds of weight loss to play college basketball. According to his college coach, former St. Charles East star Justin Hardy appeared to be "unbreakable" heading into his senior season for Washington University in St. Louis. I dont know how anyone could fail to be moved by Justins honesty, by the nature of the medical odds he faces, by the elegance of his iron will, and by an extraordinary brand of courage and inner strength that somehow overpowers Stage 4 cancer for the length of a college basketball game, Wojciechowski wrote. If this isnt beating it, I dont know what is, he said. He was alsoprofiled in a College GameDaysegment earlier this year, in which it was revealed that the cancer had spread to the lining of his colon. Hell play tricks of the card game Hearts for hours, banding together with his friends to leave someone with the unlucky queen of spades. Still, in a high-flying offense that finished eighth in the league with 249.4 passing yards per game last season, Hardy is liable to put up a couple double-digit outings in standard scoring formats. Justin lived like he played basketball, meeting each moment with uncommon determination and hope, Martin said. Off it, he's fighting for his life. Nolan said Hardy struggled with the decision to go public with his diagnosis. In May, sports announcer Dick Vitale paid tribute to Hardy at his annual gala to raise money for cancer research. United States. And he was right., WashU senior Justin Hardy checks into the game for the first time and scores the final points of the regular season for the Bears. Hardy wasnt even considering the possibility of returning to the court until his oncologist brought it up during a routine check-in in late July. Hardy, 22, graduated in December after just three-and-a-half yearswith a double major in accounting and finance while also playing a sport. I felt like most of things were gone and I was finished playing basketball.. He stated that he took that to heart and thought it was one of the reasons he was able to do all he did. He underwent rounds of chemotherapy as the season progressed but didnt miss a game until he was diagnosed with COVID. In February, Hardy was featured on ESPNs College GameDay, where he spoke candidly about moving forward despite his terminal diagnosis. (Family photo.) Justin Hardy, a former St. Charles East four-year varsity basketball player and current player for Washington University in St. Louis, is presented with the Jodie Harrison Lifetime. He has four siblings, are Michael Jordan, Roslyn Jordan, Deloris Jordan, and James Jordan Jr. Paramedics then came to Michael's . Hardys father Bob shared the news in a post on Twitter on Sunday. Washington University basketball player Justin Hardy recently passed away at the age of 22. Justin Hardy, the Washington University in St. Louis basketball forward whose courage inspired players and fans nationwide, died Sunday, May 29, 2022, of stomach cancer. Prayers and condolences to Justins family and friends. The doctors had found a sizable tumor in his stomach. Maybe he could compete for a rotation spot. Hardy underwent surgery last summer and recovered well to start the basketball season in November. Despite having Stage 4 stomach cancer, Justin Hardy is the second-leading scorer for. justin hardy basketball is he still alivedetroit self defense instructor. Get the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about wide receiver Justin Hardy on ESPN. He is on a trip with the Bears this weekend. Hardy, amazingly, is still playing collegiate basketball at Washington University in St. Louis during on-going chemotherapy treatments. He is the most compassionate person in the sense that he is constantly investing in everyone else, Wendler said. Someone said, Positivity kills cancer. I dont feel happy with the situation, but I do with where I am in life.. I remember thinking he seemed so physically weak. He got to the point where he was doing the same exercises as his teammates, and a month later, teammate David Windley looked over to see Hardy outlifting him. Hes not like that. The community also came together to donate more than $100,000 to Hardys GoFundMe campaign to cover medical expenses and launch the HardyStrong Scholarship. He went through a lot the first few months, Karen Hardy said. I dont know how anyone could fail to be moved by Justins honesty, by the nature of the medical odds he faces, by the elegance of his iron will, and by an extraordinary brand of courage and inner strength that somehow overpowers Stage 4 cancer for the length of a college basketball game, Wojciechowski wrote. A scholarship fund for future student athletes "who display the grit, determination and will that Justin has clearly demonstrated through these difficult times" has been set up in his honor. Everyone knows Justins incredible story about how he kept playing, Nolan said. Chancellor Andrew D. Martin was among his many fans. whom he married in 2003. 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