Justin Hardy, a Washington University student-athlete, died of stomach cancer on Sunday morning after a year in which he refused to let a stage 4 diagnosis stop him from achieving his dreams.
Hardy, who was diagnosed in April 2021, finished a summer internship, tutored students in the fall, graduated a semester early in December, and recovered from a 50-pound weight loss in time to play collegiate basketball.
Hardy, from St. Charles, Illinois, was 22 years old when he died.
“Justin went quietly early this morning after 13 months of heroically redefining what it means to live with cancer,” Justin’s father, Bob, posted on Twitter.
Hardy earned an honor for a year of accomplishment in New Orleans during the Final Four weekend in early April, surrounded and encouraged by family, friends, and coaches.
The United States Basketball Writers Association honored Hardy as one of two athletes who refused to allow a fatal prognosis to derail his immediate objectives with the Perry Wallace Most Courageous Award.
While playing basketball for the Bears, Hardy earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in December.
He was chosen to the University Athletic Association first team as the team’s second-leading scorer.
His fight against cancer inspired a team that made it to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Jackie, a Washington University student, was awestruck by his endurance.
In January, she said, “He’s just constructed differently.” “I’m at a loss for words.”
Hardy had surgery last summer and was able to return to basketball in November after a successful recovery. He quickly regained his ability to dunk.
He went through rounds of treatment throughout the season but never missed a game until he was tested with COVID-19.
Hardy would get chemo at the beginning of the week so that he could recuperate from any side effects in time to play in the weekend games. He had a career-high 28 point performance in early February.
“It’s very amazing he’s still playing despite all of this,” said Dr. Haeseong Park of Washington University’s Siteman Cancer Center at the time. “It’s simply amazing,” says the narrator.
When ESPN covered Hardy’s achievements, it became a national story.
Basketball analyst Dick Vitale, who has recently undergone cancer treatment, was one of the sports figures to write and offer support, as were many others in college and the NBA.
Six current and former teammates, Washington coach Pat Juckem, and Hardy’s high school coach flew to New Orleans to accept his honor alongside his parents, Bob and Karen.
