Hardy Named MVP In Italy

One year removed from leading St. John's to NCAA Tournament, Dwight Hardy celebrates rookie year in professional ranks with MVP honors in Italian league that signed him.  (Photo courtesy of Newsday)


The point guard from the Bronx who endeared himself to St. John's fans by running the ball screen for Justin Brownlee on the way to the Red Storm's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002 now has more hardware for his collection.


Dwight Hardy, who was named the Big East's Most Improved Player and a first team all-conference selection two years ago as a senior at St. John's, was named the Most Valuable Player of the Italian league in which he signed following his two-year stint in Queens. The guard is the second member of the 2010-11 Red Storm senior class to win an MVP trophy, joining Justin Burrell, who captured similar honors in Japan last week.  Hardy, who inked a deal with the Florence-based Pistoia Basket last summer, averaged 22.6 points per game in his rookie season while leading Pistoia to its first-ever semifinal appearance in the league postseason.  Not one to back away from increased pressure, Hardy has backed up his numbers in the playoffs, averaging the same 22 points per game he managed in the regular season.


Pistoia Basket opens their best-of-5 semifinal series tomorrow as per tweets from Hardy, who can be followed at @Iamdabronx1523.