Tavaras Hardy Basketball Clinics at the J — Q&A with the Coach

Q: What are the Tavaras Hardy Basketball Clinics at the J?
Coach Hardy: One-hour skill clinics that meet athletes where they are. We focus on
fundamentals, attention to detail, and a growth mindset—while keeping it fun and
competitive.

Q: Who are these clinics for?
Coach Hardy: Anyone who wants to enjoy learning the game, master the basics, make a
school team, expand their role, or start building toward college play.

Q: What mindset do you want athletes to bring?
Coach Hardy: Curiosity and competitiveness. Be eager to learn, embrace details, and
apply what you learn in live situations. That’s how improvement shows up on game night.

Q: What did you learn about Baltimore’s hoops scene this year, and how do your
clinics build on it?
Coach Hardy: Baltimore is active—kids are training, competing, and getting open-gym
reps. These clinics are meant to complement that by helping skills transfer to games.
We’ll connect fundamentals to spacing, timing, and read-and-react concepts through
small-sided, competitive play.

Q: How will you tailor the clinics to different athletes?
Coach Hardy: We group and coach by age, ability, and personality. Everyone gets pushed
without being overwhelmed, and each player leaves with clear next steps.

Q: Can you share a quick snapshot of your basketball background—coaching and
playing?
Coach Hardy: I was the NCAA Division I head coach at Loyola University Maryland from
2018–2024; we reached the 2021 Patriot League Championship game, and during my time
there I recruited and coached two future NBA Draft picks—Santi Aldama (1st round) and
Cam Spencer (2nd round). Before Loyola, I spent 12 years as an assistant/associate head
coach at Northwestern, Georgetown, and Georgia Tech, including a 2017 run to the NIT
Championship game at Madison Square Garden under head coach Josh Pastner, an NCAA
Tournament appearance with Georgetown, and four straight postseason trips at
Northwestern—the first such streak in program history. As a player, I was a four-year
starter at Northwestern (Class of 2002), a two-time All-Big Ten selection and three-time
team MVP; I also played professionally in Europe and later worked in Chicago at JPMorgan
Chase while coaching AAU.

Q: What was your journey from NCAA-level college coach to creating this new type of
Basketball clinic?
Coach Hardy: After stepping away from college coaching to prioritize family, I spent the
year in new roles—assistant commissioner for the 2024 NCAA College Basketball
Academy (boys), calling games on the SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and ESPN+, helping
coach St. Timothy’s girls to an A-conference semifinal run, and volunteering with my son’s
rec team. That perspective made me excited to serve Baltimore athletes in a hands-on
way.