JONESBORO, Ark. (4/11/23) – Arkansas State men’s basketball head coach Bryan Hodgson announced Tuesday the addition of University at Buffalo transfer LaQuill Hardnett to the 2023-24 roster. A graduate transfer, Hardnett will have one year of eligibility remaining.

“We are beyond excited to add LaQuill to our roster,” said Hodgson. “LaQuill and I have known each other for the last five years as I recruited him to Buffalo, before he signed with Cincinnati. I got to know him and his great family well. I’ve gotten to watch him compete from high school all the way through his college career and his growth is amazing. I look forward to finally getting the opportunity to coach him as he will add a lot of versatility to our front court. He will be able to play the three, the four and even the small-ball five at times. LaQuill’s ability to stretch the floor and his tenacity on the glass will be a huge addition to Arkansas State.”

Hardnett played the last three seasons at Buffalo after redshirting his true-freshman season at Cincinnati in 2018-19. The 6-foot-8 forward joins the Red Wolves with 654 points (5.9), 497 rebounds (4.5), 91 assists (0.8), 78 steals (0.8) and 48 blocks (0.4) in his 110 career games played, including 36 starts. For his career, he has shot 56.0 percent (246-439) from the field, 33.3 percent (29-87) from 3-point range and 60.5 percent (133-220) at the charity stripe.

This past season with the Bulls, Hardnett started in 18 of 31 contests played and shot 49.2 percent (126-256) from the field, including 34.3 percent (23-67) beyond the arc. He averaged 11.1 points and led the team with 7.3 rebounds per game, fifth-best in the Mid-American Conference. Hardnett registered seven double-doubles on the season, fifth-most in the MAC, and posted 10 or more points in 15 games, including a career-high 27 at Western Michigan. He pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds against Ohio and finished with 10 or more rebounds in eight games.

Back in the 2021-22 season, Hardnett played in 24 games off the bench and averaged 2.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He scored a season-high 12 points twice, including a win over Ball State and at Kent State. While averaging 12.0 minutes per game, Hardnett had three or more rebounds in 15 of his 24 games, including a season-high seven against Point Park.

In his sophomore campaign, Hardnett appeared in all 25 games, starting 13, including 12 of the final 13 as the Bulls advanced to the NIT. He led the Bulls in field goal percentage at 65.2 percent (58-89) and shot 75 percent or better from the field in 11 outings. He finished the year averaging 6.5 points and 4.3 rebounds playing 20.9 minutes per game. He had season highs of 20 points and 10 rebounds against Central Michigan. As a freshman, Hardnett played in 30 games, starting five. He averaged 2.8 points and 2.8 rebounds and shot 76.1 percent from the floor, including a stretch where he made 26 of 27.

Hardnett averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists with 13 double-doubles as a senior at Perry Hall (Md.) High School, helping the Gators to a 21-6 mark and their second consecutive Maryland Class 4A state championship. He scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the state title game, helping the Gators rally for the win tallying 12 points in the fourth quarter. For the state tournament, he shot 58.6 percent and averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. As a junior, he averaged 12.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and four assists with 15 double-doubles helping the Gators to a 26-2 mark and their first state crown. He finished as the 2016-17 state tournament’s leading rebounder, averaging 16.5 boards per game while averaging 12.5 points and 2.5 blocks. He was a two-time Baltimore Sun All-Metro First Team selection and two-time All-Xfinity All-Tournament team honoree. He totaled 1,087 points as a three-year starter at Perry Hall.