Hawkeyes: Harding bulks to carry bigger role at Iowa

Brock Harding had to walk a fine line while hitting the weights this summer.

The 2023 Illinois Mr.

Basketball award winner had to get bigger but not lose his trademark quickness.

That was kind of the trick to it, getting bigger and stronger but not lose what makes you who you are, said Harding, known for his patented shiftiness.

I feel like thats what we were able to accomplish.

I am bigger and stronger, but I feel like Im moving the same way I always have.

When the Hawkeyes opened practice last week, Harding was a muscular 170 pounds.

Our strength coaches at Iowa are the best, he said.

I followed what they told me to do and here we are.

Harding needed to bulk up to handle what is expected to be a much larger role this season for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery was not ready to anoint the former Moline High School standout his starting point guard yet but made no secret of his importance to the team.

His game is to make plays for others and for himself, and hes doing that at a very high level, McCaffery said.

Harding averaged just 10 minutes per game in his debut campaign but was still third on the roster with 89 assists.

There were times I put him in the game and he was the best player on the floor, McCaffery said.

Iowas roster does have a number of players capable of creating offense for themselves.

Peyton Sandfort tested the NBA Draft waters but returned for his senior season after earning All-Big honors as a junior.

Sandfort is among the top 3-point shooters in the country but can also get to the basket off the bounce.

Josh Dix can play any position on the perimeter and was one of the most efficient players in the Big Ten last season.

Drew Thelwell played four seasons at Morehead State and is probably Hardings competition to start at point guard.

Thelwell averaged 10 points, 6.2 assists and 1.3 steals in helping the Owls to the NCAA Tournament last season.

Many college basketball observers are predicting a breakout campaign for Harding in the Iowa backcourt similar to his state-championship winning teammate with the Maroons Owen Freeman who was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season.

I feel like Im ready.

I feel confident, and the main thing is contributing to the overall team success and the goals we have, Harding said.

I learned a lot last year.

Now its about getting on the court and having a impact and helping us win games.

The Hawkeyes first game is Nov.

4 in Iowa City against Texas A&M Commerce.

On Nov.

11, Harding gets to play at home when Iowa faces Washington State at Vibrant Arena in Moline.

It cant come soon enough for Harding and his teammates, who other than a couple of weeks off in the summer, are in the gym all year long.

Its a grind, but I love it.

We have a great group of guys that have worked hard all summer and are ready to get going, Harding said.

You definitely look at the schedule and get excited for the games to get started because thats when the fun really begins.

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