SAN FRANCISCO – The University of San Francisco athletics department mourns the loss of USF Hall of Famer James Hardy, who passed away on December 29 at the age of 64. Hardy was a prominent member of the dominant USF men's basketball teams of the late 1970s.
 
"In all of my years of playing basketball, he was maybe the best athlete I have ever played with, which I think says a lot," said Bill Cartwright who came to USF with Hardy in 1975. "But more importantly he was a good friend, an excellent teammate, and good man who cared deeply about his family."

James Hardy was born in Knoxville, Ala. and later moved to Long Beach, Calif., where he attended Jordan High School. Hardy came to the Hilltop in the fall of 1975 as part of one of the greatest recruiting classes in the history of the program, joining fellow Hall of Famers Bill Cartwright and Winford Boynes. 
 
At the time, head coach Bob Gaillard referred to Hardy as "the most dominating high school player I've ever seen."
 
The trio of Hardy, Cartwright, and Boynes catapulted the Dons to a 22-8 record that season, including a second place finish in the WCAC and a trip to the NIT. The 1976-77 USF Men's basketball media guide stated, "With the addition of Boynes, Cartwright, and Hardy, Gaillard and the Dons instantly became a top-twenty power overnight."
 
For three seasons, Hardy helped guide the Dons to three postseason berths to go with back-to-back WCAC crowns in in 1976-77 and '77-'78.  In his sophomore season, Hardy earned the first of two First Team all-league honors, playing a large part in the Dons 29 consecutive victories to open the season, and a No. 1 ranking,
 
In 80 career games he averaged 13.4 points per game while shooting 52.8 percent from the field and averaging 9.7 rebounds per contest. Hardy left as the program's 10th all-time leading scorer (1,075) and its seventh leading rebounder (772).
 
Following his junior season, he was drafted by the New Orleans Jazz with the 11th overall pick and played four seasons in the NBA from 1978-82.
 
He was inducted into the 43^rd USF Athletic Hall of Fame Class in 2017.  Alongside Tami Adkins '93 (women's basketball), Patrick McGuigan '06 (baseball), Eduardo Rangel '66 (men's soccer) and Dr. Sandee Hill.
 
A private service is scheduled for January 15, 20201 at 11 a.m. at New Liberty Baptist Church in Long Beach, Calif.  Limited seating to immediate family.