Harding signs with college in Kansas

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Vandebilt Catholic’s female floor general has made a decision.

She’s taking her hardwood talents to Kansas.


Prolific Lady Terriers standout Shakira Harding announced this week that she has signed a scholarship offer to play for Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kan.

The dominant junior college has a history sending its players to the Division I ranks.

Last season, they reached the NJCAA Tournament and posted a 36-2 record.


In Harding, they will receive a guard who annually helped push Vandebilt deep into the state playoffs.

“I love the facilities. I love the school. I love the coaching staff,” Harding said. “I met some of the girls, and they are all really, really nice. It feels like it’s going to be a great place for me to be, and I’m excited to be where I am.”

Harding’s path to Hutchinson didn’t seem plausible a few months ago.


Following the completion of Vandebilt’s postseason run, Harding said she was offered a scholarship to Louisiana Tech – an offer that she accepted.

She earned that mark after averaging 12.5 points, two rebounds, two assists and three steals per game as the top guard on the Lady Terriers’ squad – arguably the top team in Class 4A this past season.

Vandebilt beat eventual state champion Salmen in the Class 4A Quarterfinals, but had to forfeit their spot in the bracket for its use of an ineligible player in the game.


Salmen went on and won the state championship.

“Louisiana Tech saw me play when we played a playoff game in Shreveport,” Harding said. “And they just started recruiting me from there. I went to their campus on an official visit and they offered me a scholarship. … I thought that was where I was going to end up going and playing.”

But somewhere along the line, Harding said she and Louisiana Tech lost communication and her scholarship offer fell through.


The Lady Bulldogs offered her an opportunity to be a walk-on – an offer she says she considered. Ultimately, she decided to re-open her recruitment and consider all options.

With her options open, Harding said she turned to former Vandebilt coach Kathy Luke for help.

“I needed to really start from scratch and start the recruiting process all over again,” Harding said.


With Luke’s guidance, Harding said she was able to score an official visit with a community college in Mississippi – a visit she said she enjoyed but wavered over because of the smallness of the campus and surrounding community.

But when word got out that Harding was actively being recruited, Hutchinson came into the fold and offered Harding an official visit.

She said once she visited the campus, she knew where she wanted to spend her upcoming playing days.


“The first school, I got a visit because Coach Luke called for me,” Harding said. “But Hutchinson came on their own and reached out to me. They really wanted me to be a part of their program.”

So with her college picked, Harding now has two options going forward.

The first option is to play for Hutchinson for one season, re-open her recruitment and try and land with a Division I four-year institution.


Harding is a full academic qualifier and is already eligible to play for any school she chooses.

The second option she has would be to take the more conventional route and play two seasons with the program, before trying to land with a bigger program.

How it all plays out is yet to be determined, but she appears to be in the right place.


The prestigious community college has sent dozens of players to large universities in its time.

It also has an alumni list containing MLB, NFL and NBA players.

“I know that they get their players recognized,” Harding said. “Hutchinson does a great job getting their players seen and noticed. They get great offers. I’m hoping to go there and come out with a great place to go after my year or two.”


Harding said one blessing in disguise about being at a junior college is that she will be able to play right away.

She said she was initially bummed about not being able to go to Louisiana Tech, but now sees it as a blessing in disguise.

“They know I can go over there and that I have the ability to be a point guard, but I also have the ability to be a combo guard to get us that big, clutch bucket when we need it,” Harding said. “I like that I’ll be able to go in there and make an impact right away. With Louisiana Tech, I would have had to wait my turn and play behind older players. As a walk-on, I maybe wouldn’t have gotten to play at all. But here, I will be able to get an opportunity right away, and I am very excited and grateful for that.”


Vandebilt Catholic guard Shakira Harding turns the corner during a game against Ellender last season. Harding was one of the Lady Terriers’ top players for each of the past two seasons. For her efforts, she earned a college scholarship to Hutchinson Community College.

FILE PHOTO