In team sports, dramatic improvements can often be attributed to coaching or players. The Freedom Falcons were 9-18 in 2008, 15-9 in 2009, 14-12 in 2010, and 12-4 in the current season. 2012 prospect Jelani Hardaway has been a big reason for the fast start.
The 6-foot-2, 165 pound guard is averaging 13 points and 7 assists per game. Hardaway's length enables him to see over presses and he has good court vision in delivering the ball to teammates. He is a leader for the relatively young Falcons in only his second year as a varsity starter.
"Jelani is a leader by example who is beginning to understand how to be a vocal leader," said Freedom Coach Drew Torres. "He always shows up to practices and games with a lot of energy. If anything, we have to slow him down. His strengths are his quickness, length, athleticism, and ball handling. He has a great ability to get dribble penetration and get into the paint."
With his surname comes high expectations and the inevitable comparisons. This Falcon is taller and displays similar ball handling and leadership skills as former UTEP and NBA star Tim Hardaway. He is not as tall but has similar length and wingspan as former Orlando Magic great Penny Hardaway, that proves useful in breaking presses and playing perimeter defense.
"On the court, Jelani plays fast and with a lot of energy. He has a knack for beating his man off the dribble and forcing the defense to help," continued Torres. "Defensively, he is able to put a lot of pressure on the ball which disrupts the other teams timing and rhythm. Off the court, Jelani is very polite and studious. He struggled academically his 9th grade year but has become a very good student the past two years. His GPA is well above a 3.0. He also is a great kid with a great personality. I always enjoy spending time with him."
Despite its youth, Freedom is talented. Junior James O'Neal and sophomore Elliott Smith are high profile prospects who project well at the next level. While the Falcons cracked the NCP Top 20 after an 8-1 start, they have hit a rough patch recently. Still, the team figures to be the main challenger to Deer Valley in the Bay Valley Athletic League.
With underclassman talent and Freedom's solid start, colleges are warming up to Hardaway. He has offers at the junior college level from Diablo Valley, Los Medanos, and Fresno City. He has also had feelers from some Ivy League programs and west coast schools but nothing serious yet from the four year programs.
Torres has these thoughts on Hardaway's college ability. "I think Jelani can play at the NCAA level. As a PG, he needs to improve his basketball IQ. I think when the mental meets the physical, he will be more than capable of playing at the four year level. He also needs to improve his physical strength and outside shooting. I feel Jelani is being under-recruited. He would be an asset as a player and student for any college."
Freedom has been under the radar the past few years and has not gotten as much exposure as some of the other North Coast Section teams. But a deep run in the postseason led by Hardaway could change all that. Regardless, expect this Falcon to do things the "Hard A Way" in Oakley, California.
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