According to his college coach, former St. Charles East star Justin Hardy appeared to be "unbreakable" heading into his senior season for Washington University in St. Louis. The post read: After 13 months of redefining what it means to live with cancer, Justin passed peacefully early this morning.. And there wasnt going to be all the things that I loved in my life. Justin's story was previously documented on ESPN'sSportsCenter Featured. He returned to school from his home in Chicago, and worked his way back into shape after losing 50 pounds. "After 13 months of courageously redefining what it means to live with cancer, Justin passed peacefully early this morning, Sunday, May 29th," his father Bob Hardy announced on Twitter . And he was right., WashU senior Justin Hardy checks into the game for the first time and scores the final points of the regular season for the Bears. Hardy is survived by his parents, Bob and Karen Hardy; sister, Jackie Hardy; and brother, Nathan Hardy. I was in tears after the game, hugging that kid. In April, Hardy received the US Basketball Writers Association Perry Wallace Most Courageous Award in New Orleans. Theres a lot we can take from how hes lived, and how hes living the courage and the strength hes had throughout all of this., At the end of the day, Hardy argues that this WashU Basketball season with the team 14-3 so far isnt about the adversity hes overcome. Hardy also was a leader in three-pointers and free throws. I told him he couldnt get COVID because hes been through so much, she said. In April of 2021 Justin was diagnosed with Stage 4 Stomach Cancer. Get the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about wide receiver Justin Hardy on ESPN. Justin Hardy, who inspirationally played college basketball while battling stomach cancer, died Sunday at the age of 22, his family announced on social media. Chancellor Andrew D. Martin was among his many fans. Hardy's was also spotlighted by ESPN's College Gameday this past college basketball season. His wondrous basketball skills were the tip of the glorious Iceberg of what it meant to be Justin Hardy. Nolan said Hardy struggled with the decision to go public with his diagnosis. Hardy is survived by his parents, Bob and Karen Hardy; sister, Jackie Hardy; and brother, Nathan Hardy. It's usually not curable, but it's considered treatable. display: none !important; Imlay City will get right back to work when it hosts Burton . You have to live your life. Washington University basketball player Justin Hardy recently passed away at the age of 22. Hes relentlessly supportive of his friends in their successes like his former roommate Caleb Durbin getting drafted for Major League Baseballs Atlanta Braves while also supporting them in their struggles. That's because it's no longer confined to the stomach and may involve several distant organs. Stay up to date with everything happening at Washington University and beyond. (Photo by Curran Neenan / Student Life), His optimism is infectious for his team; hes struggled through dark moments over the past six months, but hes been intentional about putting a positive spin on his situation. For Justin, lets make this shot go around the world one more time. Published At the beginning of the season, Hardys teammates thought that best-case scenario, he might practice with the team. Diagnosed in April 2021, Hardy completed a summer internship, tutored students in the fall, graduated in December a semester early and recovered from 22 kilos of weight loss to play college basketball. If I want to live life, I have to choose to put my best foot forward and attack it with a positive mentality. The gym where Hardy experienced many of his greatest moments in the sport was filled. Mentally, Im not at the point where the bad things are really bad, he said. A beloved college basketball player died on Sunday following a year-long battle with cancer. . In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the HardyStrong Scholarship. If I want to live life, I have to choose to put my best foot forward and attack it with a positive mentality. Hed come back from injuries and maxed out reps enough to know the tiredness that comes from pushing his body to its limits. But he did take the court one final time during the Bears final regular season gameagainst UAA rival University of Chicago. I am fearless. Eventually, Hardy did have to miss games as the cancer and a new therapy took a toll. My life is better just for meeting him. Granted, he added, there was no way Hardy could return to a high competitive level, but there was no harm in shooting around. Jayson Tatum helps Celtics outlast Heat in Game 7, as Butler misses a crucial shot, Chaos in ABA League Finals: Raging Zvezda fans throw objects, as Lessort tries to confront the crowd, Former ASVEL associate coach Frederic Fauthoux takes over Bourg. At the time, he had a port in his chest and treatment was still a biweekly battle Is that even an option? he questioned. I know how well they are doing and what an important piece he is. The Bears and Maroons hugged each other as finalseconds ticked away. This is me living my life regardless of the circumstances, Hardy said at the time. Your email address will not be published. for Major League Baseballs Atlanta Braves while also supporting them in their struggles. He just continued to amaze in so many ways what Justin has already done this year is a miracle, teammate Jack Nolan said. Justins love for the game of basketball, competition and his teammates made him truly special. Basketball has always been a passion for Hardy, but as hes come back this season, its become a refuge. The two met while starring on the soap opera "Passions," got . If this isnt beating it, I dont know what is, he said. Still, in a high-flying offense that finished eighth in the league with 249.4 passing yards per game last season, Hardy is liable to put up a couple double-digit outings in standard scoring formats. A true inspiration. Hardy is hoping Washington University gets another opportunity in the NCAA Tournament. This is me living my life regardless of the circumstances. Plus, he said he doesnt really believe in miracles: Theres no reason for me to think that Im an outside exception. Still, there are a lot of unique factors in his diagnosis. The first round, he said, produced impressive progress but subsequent chemo has left him regressing slowly. Karen Hardys reading has been more extensive. He graduated early this past December from Washington Universitys Olin Business School with a degree in finance and accounting. He was 22. Royce Reed is officially done with Coming back and playing basketball and finishing my degree are two things that I really wanted to do.. Thank you Justin for sharing your life story with us. With less than a minute on the clock, Hardy dribbled to the basket, exchanged a knowing smile with Chicagos Bryce Hopkins and scored his last basket. I felt like most of things were gone and I was finished playing basketball.. "After 13 months of. The family will host a visitation from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 2, at Yurs Funeral Home in Geneva, Ill., and a legacy celebration at 1 p.m. Friday, June 3, at St. Charles East High School. We also cannot address individual medical concerns or provide medical advice in this forum. In memory of recent graduate and basketball star Justin Hardy, an anonymous donor has made a pledge of $500,000 to endow the Justin Hardy Courage Fund at Washington University in St. Louis. They are 12-1 on the season and are ranked No. There were some emotional moments when he got that diagnosis, but Ive never questioned his hope, determination or resiliency.. Hardy passed away from. In addition to his son, Justin Hardy was also an athlete and played basketball for WashU. Stu Durando is the SLU beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. RIPJustin. True inspiration, Prayers for Justins family. Prayers and condolences to Justins family and friends. An amazing story about Olin alum and WashU athlete Justin Hardy, BSBA '21, is making the rounds. The team had advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. He showed us what it means to be others focused what it means to be a great teammate. ST. LOUIS The Washington University basketball player who inspired people all around the country during his fight against cancer, has died. That game, that moment Ill never forget that.. Wide receiver who became a standout player at East Carolina University before being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Like what we are doing? In place of flowers, we encourage donations to the #HardyStrong GoFundMe, Bob Hardy wrote. Hardy said he occasionally does some Internet research on his cancer but realizes that can be a dangerous path to travel. He is on a trip with the Bears this weekend. Hes seeing diminishing returns from the therapy, which he describes as maintenance as opposed to a cure the tumor has started to adapt, which means that now he has to start considering other options. Required fields are marked *, Solve the equation: * ': Battling stage 4 stomach cancer, WashU's Justin Hardy inspires on senior night. Your login session has expired. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at. Justin Hardy: Leaving Atlanta Rotowire Mar 16, 2020 Hardy won't re-sign with the Falcons, instead becoming an unrestricted free agent Wednesday, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta. Justin Hardy, who continued to play basketball for Washington University in St. Louis despite a stomach cancer diagnosis, passed away on Sunday. He worried the attention would add further pain for his family and closest friends. But ultimately, he felt like telling his story could have a powerful and positive impact on a lot of people, Nolan said. But when doctors gave Hardy the go-ahead to play, Hardy decided he would do everything in his power to help the Bears reach the NCAA tournament. Credit Solution Experts Incorporated offers quality business credit building services, which includes an easy step-by-step system designed for helping clients build their business credit effortlessly. Maybe, he proposed, he could be the best scout team guy in Division III. Basketball is just one piece. Justin Hardy died on Sunday morning after a 13-month battle with stomach cancer. Example video title will go here for this video. The criminal recently said he was still able to do '95 press-ups in 30 seconds' and exercises regularly. To show their support, Nolan, his teammates and Juckem designed #HardyStrong T-shirts emblazoned with the motto You are stronger. Soon Bears of all sports, fans and even players representing rival teams wore the shirts in solidarity. A courageous, honorable young man. Justin received an award in New Orleans over the NCAA Final Four weekend that recognized a year of achievement. In his own words: If you want to win, just give me the ball.'. This is my life now and one day it changed forever. Tell Us The Best St. Louis Has To Offer! Stay strong Justin and God bless. Then, Hardy woke up after surgery to more bad news. He was 22. At the center of the story is an athlete with a rare disease for his age, 22, returning to college basketball and playing in every game this season. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Obituary: Justin Hardy, recent Olin graduate, Bears basketball player,22. Justin decided to attack this diagnosis like he would attack a defender on the court. Greater Chicago Area. We were slow to start and the second half we were still feeling a little slow." Hardy, a 6-foot-5 forward, scored a game-high 22 points and dunked twice on alley-oop passes from guard Zach Mitchell. He was 22. Justin Hardy. This type of cancer is harder to treat than earlier stage stomach cancer. I urge you if you havent, search up his story and read it. Right now, Hardy can only look ahead two weeks at a time, and its driving him crazy. At the time, he was given 12-18 months to live. Twitter was flooded with tributes when people heard about his death: As mentioned earlier, a GoFundMe page has been launched under Hardys name, and it has collected around $124,696 so far. She recalled his response, which might have sounded flippant to anyone else. Early rounds of chemotherapy left Hardy sapped. Despite finding the end zone four times in 2016, many people expected more out of Hardy last season. Justin Hardy was born in in December 18, 1991. He worried the attention would add further pain for his family and closest friends. All things NFL players are looking for. Hardy underwent surgery last summer and recovered well to start the basketball season in November. Hardy is a really good basketball player, KSDK reports. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much "Justin decided to attack this diagnosis like he would attack a defender on the court," the campaign's description read, adding that the student athlete continued his studies as well as his work as a "major contributor to the Men's Basketball Team at Wash U" amid cancer treatments. After an unproductive trip to urgent care and eventually the hospital where they told him that he was just dehydrated he returned to the hospital with worsened symptoms. Theres nothing at this point that can really rattle me., A lot of things have stayed constant for Hardy over his three and a half years at WashU. A lot of things have stayed constant for Hardy over his three and a half years at WashU. Hardys father Bob shared the news in a post on Twitter on Sunday. Hardys coach, Pat Juckem, spoke to the university-run website The Source about Hardys importance to his team. This is my life now and one day it changed forever. Hardy died on Sunday morning following a long battle with stomach cancer. Justin Hardy was diagnosed with stomach cancer in April 2021 and completed a summer internship at the time, tutored students in the fall, and graduated in December 2021. "After 13 months of courageously redefining what it means to live. The most the senior had done since March was walk his dog around the block. Its very interesting. Surrounded by his family, he went through test after test, talked to doctors, and explored his options. But doctors cleared him to play. To show their support, Nolan, his teammates and Juckem designed #HardyStrong T-shirts emblazoned with the motto You are stronger. Soon Bears of all sports, fansand even players representing rival teamswore the shirts in solidarity. Sometimes you see patients who are unrealistically positive. I didnt think this was possible.. To encourage support for the fund, the donor has committed another $500,000 to match tribute gifts made by others. (Photo: Danny Reise/Washington University), Your email address will not be published. I talked to him on the phone a few months ago. His first day of treatment was a bittersweet day of Oh, were really starting this, Hardy recalled. He has tried without success to gain acceptance for clinical trials. Justin Hardy, a St. Charles native who played basketball for Washington University in St. Louis, inspired others on and off the court. The first person Hardy called from the hospital was his dad. James Koh examines if you can still trust Martin, and breaks down the rest of Week 14's top news stories . RIP Justin Hardy. He learned last spring that he had Stage 4 stomach cancer, a devastating and rare diagnosis for someone so young. When former University Athletic Association Rookie of the Year Justin Hardy came to campus in September, he couldn't jump 10 inches off the ground. Hardy also was a leader in three-pointers and free throws. "I would tour, but I know Justin [] doesn't want to tour with the Moodys, so it won't happen." Your source for entertainment news, celebrities, celeb news, and celebrity gossip. A Warner Bros. Hardys story went viral after he was spotlighted on ESPNs College GameDay. This is one of the best years of my life that I have lived. Hardy was raised in the Chicago suburb of St. Charles and earned his degree in finance and accounting from Olin Business School in December, after just 3 1/2 years. There will be plenty more great days to come. Hardy then went on to play at Washington University in St. Louis, where he stayed even following his graduation last December. A scholarship fund for future student athletes "who display the grit, determination and will that Justin has clearly demonstrated through these difficult times" has been set up in his honor. Over the Zoom screen, Hardy paused as he thought about it. Hes still living with his best friends and bringing out his competitiveness in games of Hearts. Hysterical is not a word that seems appropriate for the circumstances, but little about Hardys life with cancer has been the norm. 2. Everyone knows Justins incredible story about how he kept playing, Nolan said. First comes 1 hours of medication to fight nausea and other side effects. Now, while still in treatment for his stage four stomach cancer, Hardy is back to scoring just under 11 points per game the second highest on the team and was an integral part of the No. 9:49 AM EDT, Wed June 1, 2022. Its not about me: thats our team motto this year, said Hardy. RELATED: 'How can you not be moved? This is all mind over matter, Hardy typed. justin hardy basketball is he still alivedetroit self defense instructor. You can express your gratitude here. In early April, surrounded and supported by family, teammates and coaches, Hardy received an award in New Orleans during Final Four weekend that recognized a year of achievement. Basketball analyst Dick Vitale also offered his support and said the impact Justin had on those in his life was reflected in the Most Courageous Award that he received in New Orleans. However, according to his father Bob Hardy on Twitter, Hardy had been battling cancer in recent months. We were fortunate to be brought along on his journey. "This has to be number one," he said. The rest of the scans have been a progression in the opposite direction. I was in some really bad shape. School, Executive MBA and Professional Development. He was 22. After undergoing genetic testing, it was discovered that Hardy has the CDH1 gene mutation, which made him a high risk for aggressive stomach cancer. Washington University basketball star Justin Hardy died on Sunday, just months after helping lead his team to the post-season while playing with stage 4 stomach cancer. He also underwent chemotherapy as the season progressed and didnt miss a game until he was diagnosed with Covid-19. Harrison King. We are devastated by this loss but comforted by the manner in which he lived his life. He focuses on the neuromuscular aspect - speed, reaction and change of direction. I know you are a very strong minded young man and you want to live. Diane Toroian Keaggy wrote this article for The Source. But it doesnt consume my thoughts negatively like it did initially. Hardy relished the unpredictability and excitement of his innovative "Expedition of Gold" series in 2017, where he and Jeff Hardy wrestled for Impact as well as traveled to other promotions. Hardy last season none! important ; Imlay City will get right back work... 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