2023-24 Honors — Recipient of the team’s Top Playmaker Award. 2023-24 — Saw action in 34 games, averaging 10.8 minutes… averaged 3.4 points, 2.6 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 rebounds… shot 36.2 percent (42-of-116) from the floor and 37.5 percent (15-of-40) from 3-point range… had 89 assists, the most by a Big Ten freshman, and 27 steals… scored in double figures in three games, had five games with 5+ assists and six games with 2+ steals… had seven assists in his first two career games (North Dakota, Alabama State)… had his first career double-double, finishing with 10 points, 12 assists and four steals in a career-best 29:24 minutes against UMBC (12/20)… 12 assists were the most by a Hawkeye freshman since 2017 (Jordan Bohannon, 13)… the 12 assists are tied for the ninth-most in a single game in program history… scored a career-high 12 points, going 5-for-5 from the field (2-for-2 from 3) in NIT Second Round game at Utah (3/24)… letterwinner.
High School — Named Illinois’ 2023 Mr. Basketball — the first Western Big Six player to earn the distinction since 2011… led Moline to its first ever state championship, finishing with a 35-3 overall record… scored 28 points in the title-clinching win over Benet Academy for the IHSA 4A State Championship… averaged 18.4 points and 5.7 assists… three-time first-team all-state and Western Big 6 honoree… scored 1,889 points during his prep career… Metro Player of the Year after leading team to 28 wins and averaging 19.3 points, 5.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 steals as a junior… recognized on the 2022 Pekin Christmas Tournament First Team… averaged 16.5 points, 6.9 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.6 steals as a sophomore… team captain… netted a career-high 40 points versus Normal West High School… also competed at Mid-Pro Academy with Freeman — the No. 1 ranked independent team in the country — going 20-0 in 17-under in summer competition… Most Valuable Player at the NY2LA Circuit… National Honor Society honoree and Honor Roll distinction all three years.
Personal — Born July 25, 2004… son of Scott and Shannon Harding… has an older brother, Brody, who plays baseball at the University of Illinois… prep teammate of fellow Hawkeye Owen Freeman… majoring in pre-business.
CAREER BESTS
Points: 12 at Utah, 3/24/24
Rebounds: 2, 4X, last at Minnesota, 1/15/24
FGM: 5 at Utah, 3/24/24
FGA: 10 vs. UMBC, 12/20/23
3-pt FG: 2, 3X, last at Utah, 3/24/24
3-pt FGA: 4, 2X, last vs. Florida A&M, 12/16/23
FTM: 2, 6X, last vs. Ohio State, 3/14/24
FTA: 2, 10X, last vs. Ohio State, 3/14/24
Assists: 12 vs. UMBC, 12/20/23
Steals: 4 vs. UMBC, 12/20/23
Blocks: 1 vs. Florida A&M, 12/16/23
Minutes: 29:24 vs. UMBC, 12/20/23