IUP Felt Like "Home" to Reigning Berks Player of the Year Kailani Hardy
Reigning Berks Player of the Year and Wilson senior Kailani Hardy had Division I interest.
The 5-10 combo guard announced an offer from LaSalle on her social media in January and garnered other interest through her play on the AAU circuit with Team Pennsylvania.
But after an unofficial visit in late August to Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in the west central portion of the state, Hardy realized playing at a high-level Division II program can also be a fantastic option.
"The reason I was so drawn to IUP was because it felt like home," Hardy said to BGB Tuesday. "I was welcomed as soon as I walked in the building not only by the coaches but the players as well. The campus was beautiful. It almost reminded me of a [Division I] campus."
Roughly two months later, Hardy verbally announced her commitment to the Crimson Hawks on her social media.
"I did have a lot of Division I interest, but they didn't really feel like home," she said. "I didn't mind being far away, but sometimes it's not always about basketball. It's about how the school makes you feel and how you felt on the visit or talking to the players and coaches. And I can say that I felt great doing such."
Hardy initially plans to major in health sciences, specifically to become an ultrasound tech or something related.
She joins an IUP basketball program coming off arguably its best season ever.
The Crimson Hawks advanced to the NCAA Division II championship game for the first time in program history, becoming only one of three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) programs to advance to the national title game.
California (Pa.) won the title in 2015 and 2004 and Shippensburg appeared in 1996.
IUP won its seventh overall PSAC title in women's basketball and first since 2019 last season.
"Their run to the national chip did contribute to my choice knowing that there are good coaches and players that come to the school," Hardy said. "It made me feel like I needed to be one of those players and make a name for myself somewhere else, not just Berks."
She's certainly made a name for herself in Berks and can now focus on her senior season at Wilson without the overlying stress of deciding where to continue her academic and athletic careers.
Hardy sits just 94 points away from reaching 1,000 career points and returns as the Bulldogs' top option after the team won Berks and District 3 titles for the first time since 2014.
She averaged 11.6 points per game, a number likely to increase with the graduation of seniors Laila Jones (11.3 ppg), who is now playing at Penn State Harrisburg; Laura Crocona (8.6 ppg), who is now playing at Kutztown; and Violet Houck (6.3 ppg), who is now running track at Jacksonville.
Hardy continues a recent trend of former Berks Girls League players playing PSAC basketball with Crocona and Muhlenberg grad Ryanna Hightower-Prentice at Kutztown, Reading High grad Yamilex Rodriguez at California (Pa.), and Twin Valley grad Hailey Kilgore at Shippensburg. Wilson grad Amiyah Nguyen is in her third year with Mansfield after spending her freshman season at North Country Community College and sophomore season at SUNY Orange.
Hardy's goals in her final high school season include reaching 1,000 points, being a role model and leader for her younger teammates, and winning.
"We have been playing together since kids so it really matters to me," she said of her Bulldogs teammates.
Hardy mentioned her mom Heidi for helping show her important leadership and life skills and Wilson coaches Matt Raquet and Abbie Houck for helping her develop on and off the court as she achieved her goal to become a collegiate basketball player.
"I'm most excited for the new environment in college," Hardy said. "It's really different from high school, new goals, new people, new classes."
When the weather starts to heat up, Hardy will be headed to Indiana, Pennsylvania for move-in day. She has Player of the Year, Berks County, and District 3 plaques and trophies to defend this winter first.
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