Harding excited for opportunity with Pitt State basketball

Grant Harding drives to the basket during his senior season with Louisburg in 2017. Harding committed to play basketball at Pittsburg State after two years with the Hesston College program.

When Grant Harding signed with
Hesston College to play basketball more than two years ago, he hoped to use it
as a stepping stone to something bigger.

Harding certainly made the most of
his opportunity in his two years with the Larks and it paid off in a big way.
The 2017 Louisburg graduate was offered a spot on the Pittsburg State
University basketball team and Harding jumped at the opportunity when he committed
to the team in May.

“I am very excited to have the
opportunity to play Division II basketball,” Harding said. “The competition at
this level is incredible and being able to compete with some great athletes is
something that I really look forward to.

“The decision to go to Pitt State
was an easy one once I visited and got the chance to meet coach (Kim) Anderson
and experience what an athlete at Pitt is all about.”

Harding, who will enter Pitt State as a junior both athletically and academically, will have the opportunity to play for an experienced head coach. Anderson was previously the head coach at the University of Missouri and he also won a Division II national championship at the University of Central Missouri before that.

Anderson is currently in his
second year with the Gorilla program and Harding is excited to be a part of what
Anderson is trying to build down at Pitt.

“Coach Anderson has plans for me
to further develop my game in these next two years,” Harding said. “I am
expected to come in and compete for playing time and impact the team any way I
can. He likes how I am a versatile player and views me as a mismatch at
different positions.

“I just have a ton of respect for
Coach Anderson and all he has accomplished during his coach career. I believe
there is something special happening with Pitt State basketball under his
leadership. Pitt State has great facilities for all their athletes and they
have a really unique teaching program and coaching experience opportunities.”

Harding had good final season at
Hesston as the Larks competed in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College
Conference. In 28 games, Harding averaged 14 points a contest to go along with
seven rebounds a game as a guard/forward.

He believes his time with the
Hesston program was pivotal in his career and he his thankful for what he
learned in the last two years.

“I had a great experience at
Hesston,” Harding said. “Off the court, I grew tremendously and met some
lifelong friends. On the court, I got a lot of experience at the college level
and played against some tough competition. Coach (Dustin) Galyon really
prepares his players for the next step both on and off the court.”

Harding, who was an all-league
player for the Wildcats and helped Louisburg to its last state appearance in
2017, is ready to see how his basketball journey ends at Pitt State.

“My goals for next year are to
continue on a good path towards graduation in on time with good grades, and to
just be the best teammate I can be. I just want to be someone who competes and
works hard every day and see where that takes my final years of playing
basketball.”