Whats Up With Miamis Harden
One player very conspicuous by his absence on Friday at the Jayhawk Shootout was 6-9, 240 pound power forward/center Leonard Harden of Garden City C.C. in Garden City, Kan.
The Detroit native signed early with Miami after considering Texas A&M, Pittsburgh, UNLV and Auburn this fall.
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Rivalshoops.com last caught Harden in action at the Mullen/Mitchell Jamboree in Dallas, Tex., in late October. However, since that time, Harden is no longer with the basketball team at Garden City.
"We had a situation with Leonard where we had a little problem in the dorm," explained Garden City Asst. Coach Ryan Hellenthal. "Coach Diddle talked to him and we planned to resolve it, but it was something that couldn't be worked out between all parties -- his family, himself and us."
"He decided that it was in his best interest to finish his semester out school wise at Garden and then he's going back home to Detroit this Christmas," Hellenthal continued. "We think he is going to enroll at Schoolcraft College next semester to finish out his degree."
As a result, Harden will now have the chance to have three years to play at Miami, because he will not suit up for any junior college program this winter. That assumes of course that he finishes up his degree work on time by the end of the summer.
"We have finals next week and Leonard has still be going to class," Hellenthal said. "He's handling it the way it needs to be handled, and he was on track to graduate entering the semester."
Without Harden, Garden City has gotten off to a fine start this season, although there's little doubt that the Broncbusters could have used his size and strength in the low post this winter.