ST. LOUIS, Mo. – On Friday evening, the men's basketball program will honor the late, great Justin Hardy '21 with its annual HardyStrong game, taking place at 5:30 p.m. against Emory.
 
The HardyStrong Game, established in 2022, honors Justin Hardy who passed away on May 29, 2022 after a 13-month battle with Stage IV stomach cancer. A fierce fighter, Hardy did what previously seemed impossible – playing through aggressive cancer treatments while inspiring the WashU community and beyond.
 
"Justin's impact continues to be felt in our program and in WashU athletics daily," said Head Men's Basketball Coach Pat Juckem. "The courage and positivity he displayed while facing extreme adversity provides a blueprint for our athletes as they encounter obstacles. I look forward to sharing his story each year with our first-year athletes which results in his growing legacy. We honor Justin's memory Friday night with our annual Hardy Strong game. It will highlight what he valued more than anything, laying it on the line and competing with his teammates."
 
Hardy was a force as soon as he came to WashU, earning UAA Rookie of the Year honors and a second-team nod as a first-year as well as picking up a spot on the DIII News All-Freshman Team. In his sophomore season, he was also a second team All-UAA selection and during his senior campaign, he was a first team All-UAA honoree and was named second team NABC All-District 8.
 
Beyond the court, he was a three-time Academic All-UAA honoree and graduated a semester early with his bachelor's degree in finance and accounting.
 
After learning of his cancer diagnosis in the spring of his junior year, Hardy underwent surgery and aggressive treatment and lost 50 pounds, never thinking he'd be able to return to the court for his senior season. However, the doctors gave him the go-ahead to start working out and that led to the process of getting back on the basketball court to finish out his career with the Bears.
 
Throughout his senior year, not only was Hardy back getting minutes on the court, he was dominating his competition, hitting new career highs and dunking on his opponents. He played in 21 games with 18 starts before eventually having to sit out at the end of the season as he grew sicker.
 
As the WashU community continued to support and admire Hardy for all that he poured into his team and his life, his story caught the nation by storm when he was featured on ESPN's College GameDay and then had a full-length feature "Justin Hardy's Story: Mind Over Matter | SportsCenter Featured."
 
Hardy's legacy continues to live on through the WashU community and through the HardyStrong Foundation, established to increase awareness and support of Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, provide resources that improve access to genetic testing for cancer risk and to honor the legacy of Justin Hardy through scholarships to exemplary scholar athletes (including women's basketball junior Alyssa Hughes).
 
Additionally, the Justin Hardy Courage Fund was established in the summer of 2022 to support programs and services to enhance the well-being and career development of WashU Scholar-Champions. WashU Athletics also established the Justin Hardy Courage Award, given out each year at the Scholar-Champions' Award Celebration, to recognize a student-athlete who demonstrates courage, selflessness and integrity, contributes to the well-being of others and inspires others to make a positive impact in our WashU community.
 
To learn more about the HardyStrong Foundation, click HERE.

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