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The Sports Xchange

OVERVIEW

An active and athletic center, Hardin gave the Bears an imposing and experienced force in the middle. One of the top shot-blockers in school history, ranking second all-time with 132, he was also the leading active shot-blocker in the Pac-10 Conference as a senior.

Despite missing all but the first 11 games of his junior year after suffering a stress fracture to his left mid-foot, Hardin originally intended to bypass his final year of eligibility to enter the 2007 NBA Draft. It caught the coaching staff and quite a few scouts by surprise. But, without signing with an agent, he left open the door for his return to the university, coming back when he was advised the injury could keep him out of the first round.

"I am looking to get an evaluation of my game and find out where I am physically," Hardin said when he originally announced his intention to leave school. "The only way to get better is to compete against the best. I want to see where I stand, and my decision will depend on how I do against those guys. I don't see anything to lose. I'm still going to classes. I want to get feedback from NBA scouts and let them tell me where I stand and what I need to work on."

At Newark Memorial High School, Hardin earned first-team All-ANG Newspapers and All-Bay Area honors from the San Francisco Chronicle. He was rated as the 29th-best power forward in the country by Rivals.com, the 64th-best player overall by Hoop Scoop and the third-best power forward on the West Coast by TheInsiders.com.

Hardin averaged 12.9 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.4 blocks as a senior, leading his team to a 29-5 record and the NorCal semifinals of the state tournament He recorded the only triple-double in his school's history with 25 points, 17 rebounds and 14 blocks in one game. The two-time first-team All-League choice also averaged 13 points, 10 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game as a junior.

As a freshman at California, Hardin appeared in 29 games, ranking third on the team in rebounding with 4.5 per game, despite averaging 16.1 minutes per contest. He blocked 26 shots on the year, second on the team and ninth in the Pac-10 Conference (0.90 per game). He earned 13 starting assignments, averaging 4.3 points and 0.9 blocks per game during the 2004-05 campaign.

In 2005-06, Hardin appeared in 31 contests, starting all but one game (Senior Day vs. USC) for the Bears. He nearly doubled his scoring average from his freshman year, finishing with 7.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game. He was named the team's Most Improved Player, as he produced double-doubles in three of his first four games and had five double-doubles on the year.

Hardin earned All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention, as he led Cal in rebounding 11 times and broke his career scoring high in consecutive outings vs. Long Beach State (14 points), Northern Colorado (21) and Northeastern (23) in November to earn Pac-10 Player of the Week honors.

During the 2006-07 off-season, Hardin underwent left shoulder surgery in April, but was fully recovered by the season opener. He appeared in just 12 games that year, as he suffered a left foot stress fracture in December, missing the rest of the campaign.

For the season, Hardin had 23 blocked shots, five steals and six assists in 12 games, as he hit on 44 of 92 shots from the floor (47.8 percent) and put in 36 of 44 free throws for 124 points (10.3 ppg). He also came up with 100 rebounds (8.3 rpg), but was called for 39 fouls and had 27 turnovers.

A viral infection forced Hardin to miss three games during the

2007-08 SEASON

Hardin averaged 9.3 points per game on 55.4 percent shooting from the floor (98-of-177), but saw his free throw average dip from 80 percent the previous season to 63.6 percent (84-of-132). His rebounding average also slipped to 7.4 per game from 8.4 the previous season. He did block 37 shots, moving into second place on the career record list at Cal, as he was also responsible for 17 steals and 20 assists.

ANALYSIS

Positives: Athletic shot blocker with good upper body strength and agility, adding more than 15 pounds of solid muscle to his frame before his senior year ... Makes his living under the basket, whether it is rebounding or blocking shots, executing dunks or getting to put-backs ... Determined defender who maintains good position, using his strength well in attempts to box out ... Worked hard to drop the baby fat and showed not only a better physique, but also displayed better stamina late in games ... Showed a quicker release and better spin on his ball shooting free throws as a junior, as he has steadily improved his ability at the free throw line (from 38.6 percent as a freshman to 81.8 percent as a junior) thanks to developing a softer touch ... Has the leaping ability and elevation to alter the opponent's shot, timing his jumps well to make the block ... Is very physical working in the paint and shows good quickness getting up and down the court ... Has an explosive first step to the basket on his power dunks and could make a nice living at the next level with his ability to play above the rim ... Displays the foot quickness to hedge ball handlers and disrupt the post entry passes ... Possesses good lateral agility, using it effectively when needed to step in and take the charge ... Has the large, natural hands to secure the ball going up for the rebound and showed better confidence with his right-handed jump hook as a senior ... Also developed a quick turnaround jumper ... Plays with a strong base in the paint and is tough for the bigger centers to push him out when he plants under the rim, as he does a good job of establishing position when in the post ... Shows good elevation and reach to put down the emphatic dunk, but still needs to add more moves to his offensive game ... Plays with good aggression and shows valid footwork moving around without the ball in his hands, doing a nice job of setting the pick on pick-and-rolls ... Has shown slow, but steady improvement closing out the opponent in the post, no longer allowing his man cushion to make the shot ... Knows how to use his size when attacking the offensive glass, doing a good job of sinking the easy baskets ... Stays tight on his man in the paint and uses his new-found strength well to challenge the opponent's shots around the rim ... Should be a defensive presence immediately at the next level, as he uses his size and power well to charge to the rim for rebounds and gets very good elevation while playing with aggression to get in the face of a shooter and using his outstretched arms to block the shot ... No longer rushes his shots like he did in the past and is more patient, yet determined, when finishing around the basket ... Still lacks natural hands going for the rebound, get gets to the boards with his timing and determination.

Negatives: Might be a better fit at power forward than center due to a lack of bulk and height ... Lacks shooting range, except when operating in the paint and defenses don't even bother to move out when he attempts to make a perimeter shot ... Shoulder surgery last April prevented him from getting full arm extension on his mid-range jumper, causing him to continue to rely on his power game in the paint for scoring opportunities as a junior ... Lacks any range on his shot away from the basket and has never been known as a prolific scorer anytime during his hoops career ... Looks tentative moving without the ball and struggles with his basketball IQ, as he's easily fooled by hesitation moves and pump fakes when moving out of the box to defend ... Poor ball handler who gets frustrated when he has to pass through double-team activity ... Has an efficient left hand hook shot, but will miss quite a few simple dunks when he attacks the rim with his right hand ... Gets into foul trouble a bit, and needs to understand the concept of avoiding contact when attacking the ball ... Opponents know that if they execute a believable pump fake they can get Hardin to commit and leave his feet, allowing them to slash by him and take a side trip to the basket ... Needs to do a better job in making rotations, as he does not always get in the way on slashers attacking the basket ... Lacks the ball handling skills to distribute the ball out of the paint ... Most of his buckets come on dunks and put-backs, as he does not have anything of a perimeter game to force the opponent to come out and defend him ... Good practice player, but his lack of focus shines through in game action, especially with his inability to handle defensive switch-offs ... Needs to use his lateral quickness better when drawn out of the paint (takes bad fouls when he leaves his feet).

Compares To: SAMUEL DALEMBERT-Philadelphia ... Hardin has a long, long way to go in attempts to establish any sort of offensive game, which consists of put-backs and power dunks at the moment. He is a bit of a medical risk, with shoulder, foot and hip injuries that might need further evaluation. He has great hops to elevate and alter the opponent's shot, but he bites on hesitation moves and pump fakes, leaving his feet often on defense. Even though he was injured last year, he might have gone earlier in the 2007 draft than he is expected to go in 2008, as he simply did not step up his game the way scouts expected after returning to school.

CAREER NOTES:

In 101 games at California, Hardin started 81 contests ... Shot 51.7 percent from the floor (278-of-538) and 60.9 percent from the free throw line (193-of-317) for 749 points, an average of 7.4 points per game ... .Grabbed 649 rebounds (6.4 rpg), blocked 132 shots (1.3 bpg), dished out 45 assists, had 45 steals and totaled 274 personal fouls with 115 turnovers ... His 48 blocked shots in 2005-06 rank fifth on the school single-season record list behind Michael Stewart (59 in 1993-94; 56 in 1996-97; 49 in 1994-95) and Jamal Sampson (54 in 2001-02) ... Registered 132 blocks during his career, joining Stewart (207, 1994-97), Solomon Hughes (122, 1999-02) and Tom Schneiderjohn (105, 1976-79) as the only players in Cal annals to block more than 100 shots during their collegiate careers ... Became the first player since Darrall Imhoff (1959-60) to put together a string of four consecutive games with at least 14 rebounds, accomplishing that feat during the Bears' first four contests of the 2007-08 campaign vs. Southern Mississippi, Nicholls State, San Diego State and Nevada.

2007-08 SEASON

Started 26-of-30 games, missing the Washington State and Washington contests with a viral infection and the UCLA clash with a hip flexor ... Scored 280 points (9.3 ppg), shooting 55.4 percent from the floor (98-of-177) and 63.6 percent from the free throw line (84-of-132) ... Grabbed a career-high 211 rebounds (7.4 rpg) ... Blocked 37 shots (1.2 bpg), dished out a career-high 20 assists (0.7 apg) and had 17 steals ... Turned the ball over 43 times and was charged with 74 personal fouls ... Scored in double digits 14 times and had at least 10 rebounds in eight contests ... Also produced four double-double performances.

2007-08 GAME ANALYSIS

Opened the season with 18 points, four blocks and 14 boards vs. Southern Mississippi ... Had another 14 boards vs. Nicholls State and 14 more with three assists in the San Diego State clash ... Grabbed 16 rebounds and scored six points vs. Nevada ... Shot 6-of-10 from the floor for 16 points, coming up with 12 boards vs. Missouri ... Totaled 17 points on 5-of-8 field goals, as he snared eight rebounds and blocked three shots vs. Jackson State ... Had two steals, 13 points and nine boards vs. Utah ... Shot 5-of-8 from the field, totaling 15 points with 10 rebounds in the Southern California clash ... Scored 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and grabbed four boards vs. Stanford ... Hit on 6-of-10 two-point tries, as he came up with 18 points, 12 rebounds and two assists vs. Washington (second meeting).

2006-07 SEASON

Hardin started Cal's first 11 games before suffering a stress fracture to his left mid-foot vs. Furman on Dec. 19, missing the rest of the season after undergoing surgery Dec. 22 ... The team was 8-3 with Hardin in the lineup and 8-14 without him ... Averaged 10.7 points on 43-of-87 field goals (49.4 percent) and 32-of-40 free throws (80.0 percent) ... Grabbed 92 rebounds (8.4 rpg), handed out five assists and had five steals ... Despite his shortened campaign, he still led the Bears with 21 blocks.

2006-07 GAME ANALYSIS

Named to the all-tournament team at the Great Alaska Shootout after finishing with 16 points, nine rebounds and four blocks vs. Loyola Marymount in the championship game... Swatted away a career-best five blocks vs. Santa Clara...Recorded double-doubles vs. Santa Clara (12-10), Kansas State (12-12) and Nevada (14-10).

2005-06 SEASON

Started all but one game (Senior Day vs. Southern California) for the Bears, scoring 225 points (7.3 ppg) with 205 rebounds (6.6 rpg) in 31 contests ... Successful on 49.7 percent of his field goals (85-of-171) and 55-of-88 free throws (62.5 percent) ... Dished out 17 assists and had 12 steals ... His 48 blocked shots rank fifth on the school single-season record list ... Led the team in rebounding 11 times and produced double-double performances in three of his first for games.

2005-06 GAME

ANALYSIS

PERSONAL

best 14 rebounds...For his performances vs. Northern Colorado and Northeastern, he was named both Golden Bear Classic MVP and Pac-10 Player of the Week...Blocked four shots in a game three times: vs. Northern Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State ... Played a big role in Cal's win at UCLA, with 10 points and eight boards...Also grabbed 10 rebounds in a win at Arizona State and added another 10 points and eight rebounds at Oregon ... Scored 10 points and corralled 11 boards in the home finale vs. Southern California ... Although he did not score vs. Oregon in the Pac-10 Tournament semifinals, tied for team honors with six rebounds...Also added eight points and seven boards in the title game vs. UCLA ... underwent left shoulder surgery in April 2006 and was cleared for full contact in September.

2004-05 SEASON

Ranked third on the team in rebounding with 4.5 per game while playing only 16.1 minutes per contest...Blocked 26 shots on the year, second on the team and ninth in the Pac-10 (0.90 per game)...Played well against Southern with eight points and seven rebounds, then earned his first start the next game at BYU...Came through with his best night of the year against the Cougars with 12 points (4-7 FG, 4-6 FT), 12 rebounds and three blocks in 32 minutes...Swatted away four shots vs. Fairleigh Dickinson...Also reached double digits at San Diego State finishing with 11 points and five boards and earning MVP honors for the San Diego SLAM.

INJURY REPORT

2005-06 SEASON

: Underwent left shoulder surgery in April 2006 and was cleared for full contact in September.

2006-07 SEASON

: Missed the rest of the season after suffering a stress fracture to his left mid-foot vs. Furman on Dec. 19, undergoing surgery Dec. 22.

2007-08 SEASON

HIGH SCHOOL

Attended Newark (Fremont, Cal.) Memorial High School, earning first-team All-ANG News-papers and All-Bay Area honors from the San Francisco Chronicle ... The two-time All-League choice was rated as the 29th-best power forward in the country by Rivals.com, the 64th-best player overall by Hoop Scoop and the third-best power forward on the West Coast by TheInsiders.com ... Averaged 12.9 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.4 blocks as a senior, leading his team to a 29-5 record and the NorCal semifinals of the state tournament ... Recorded the only triple-double in his school's history with 25 points, 17 rebounds and 14 blocks in one game ... Also averaged 13 points, 10 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game as a junior ... Graduated with a 4.0 grade point average.

PERSONAL

Social Welfare major ... Wears a size 19 shoe ... Son of Gail and Michael Hardin ... Born DeVon Michael Hardin on 9/07/86 in Long Beach, California ... Resides in Fremont, California.