The top 3 prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft for the Cavs
By Corey Casey
Cleveland Cavaliers #3 2022 draft target: Jaden Hardy, Guard
Jaden Hardy comes in at 6-foot-4,190 pounds, which is good size for a combo guard; he attends school at Coronado High School in Henderson, Nevada.
Hardy is an extremely versatile player, has a great handle, vision and playmaking skills, while being an elite athlete with good quickness, that’s able to get by defenders with relative ease. Hardy has shown quality defensive instincts as well, which would make him particularly appealing in the 2022 NBA Draft.
With his all-around package, Hardy was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Nevada in 2019-20, too. On the year, Hardy averaged 30.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.4 assists per outing, per that release.
Plus, for the AAU Las Vegas Prospects in the NIKE EYBL 17U circuit, he averaged 14.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, and shot 37.2 percent from three-point range, per Real GM.
The biggest problem with Hardy is his jumper comes and goes at times, but he has pretty respectable shooting form, even with it still needing more polish. He’s shown signs of that improving, though, so there’s no reason it can’t get better.
Hardy isn’t a sure thing and still needs work in some areas of his game, but the upside exists if he’s able to put it all together, and he could be a crucial part of the Cavs’ success for the organization and general manager Koby Altman if that’s the case.