http://ihccathletics.blogspot.com/2008/11/blog-post.htmlBasketball: IHCC Stars to Play in Big East
Ottumwa -- When Indian Hills teammates Dwight Hardy and Dwight Buycks take their considerable talents on to their next schools in 2009, they’ll be on opposing teams in the same conference. On the first day of the early signing period Wednesday, Hardy signed his national letter of intent with St. John’s University in New York and Buycks signed with Marquette University in Milwaukee. Both schools are in the Big East Conference. And both are located within an hour’s drive of their new signees’ homes.
Indian Hills coach Jeff Kidder said of Hardy, who is from the Bronx in New York City and played at John F. Kennedy High School, “Dwight is so deserving of this opportunity to go back home and play in front of his family and friends. Dwight has worked very hard in the classroom and on the court to make his dream come true. And we are all very proud of him.â€
Coach Kidder had similar thoughts about Buycks, who played high school basketball at Bay View in Milwaukee. “We are so happy for Dwight and his decision to attend Marquette University. We appreciate all he has done for the Indian Hills basketball program. He’s a great player and a wonderful young man.â€
Hardy and Buycks were the top scorers on last year’s IHCC team that qualified for the NJCAA national tournament and they were two big reasons why this year’s Warrior team entered the season ranked number one in the nation.
Hardy (6-2, 180) was the leading scorer for Indian Hills as a freshman, averaging 18.9 points a game. He played his best basketball at the end of the season when he averaged 26.3 points a game over the last 12 games and 32.2 for the last five games. He was the leading scorer in the national tournament, pouring in 121 points in four games. Hardy also set the IHCC school record for three-pointers in a season with 102.
Buycks (6-3, 185) averaged 17.8 points a game last year and scored in double figures in 36 of the Warriors 38 games. He scored 79 points in the national tourney and was named an honorable mention All-American.
Buycks and Hardy were both named to the all-tournament team at the national tourney. They were each selected to the All-Region XI first team. And the two talented guards started all 38 games that IHCC played a year ago.
Buycks was chosen on the NJCAA’s preseason All-American first team prior to the start of this season and Hardy was named to the second team. They have helped the Warriors get off to a 4-1 start this season.
Indian Hills plays two games this weekend in the Klyn Automotive Classic. The Warriors will take on Highland (Kan.) Community College on Friday night and Kennedy-King Saturday night.