Prospect Spotlight: Darrell Harding (2019)
West Orange rising junior Darrell Harding uses basketball as a form of zen while on the court.
He’s a dual-sport student-athlete, a terror on the gridiron in football. It’s where he can get his conditioning up and develop his sense of toughness. But on the hardwood, he’s expending a different type of energy. He’s putting everything he has into the game. It’s about bliss for Harding.
“When I get on the court, I feel free,” Harding said. “I’m using different muscles, different abilities when I play basketball.”
At the Raptors Elite ID4 Invitational earlier this month, Harding proved to be one of the players giving the most effort on his Florida Xclusive squad. He dons a big frame, but runs the floor extremely well. His midrange jumper connected often at the event. When it comes to assists, he knows how to make players feel involved as he’s always got his head up on the drive, looking for a shooter to kick it out to. Although, he can step out and hit the trey, himself.
Harding agreed that there were some team chemistry elements that held them back, last year. Harding’s been focused on developing team bonding activities and a sense of trust among the squad. He wants the unit to feel like everyone doesn’t have take matters into their own hands.
But for the rest of the summer, Harding has his own goals. He doesn’t want to stop improving. That’s a matter that can only be taken into Harding’s hands, himself.
“The work ethic can’t stop,” Harding said. “Everyday, everything you do matters. Someone’s always going to try to be better than you. You have to try to be better than them.”