Report: Connor Harding, Former BYU Guard, Transferring To Nearby UVU
Apr 13, 2021, 11:23 AM
Brigham Young Cougars guard Connor Harding (44) drives the ball down the court in Provo on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. BYU defeated the Pepperdine Waves 107-80. (Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News)
(Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – Former BYU basketball starting guard Connor Harding has found a new home. According to a report from WAC Hoops Digest, Harding is heading to Utah Valley University.
According to sources, former #BYU SG/SF Connor Harding is transferring to @UVUmbb.
Harding averaged 5.4 points and 2.6 rebounds for the Cougars in 2020-21.
— WACHoopsDigest (@WACHoopsDigest) April 13, 2021
Harding started in the first 12 games of the 2020-21 season for BYU before taking on a reserve role off the Cougars bench. He played in 26 games averaging 5.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game in his junior year at BYU.
Harding moved from the starting lineup after a January 7th loss at Gonzaga, where the 6-foot-6 guard played 17 minutes and ended up with zero points and three rebounds against the No. 1 Zags.
BYU coach Mark Pope praised Connor Harding for continuing to stay committed to the team in a reserve role. In a double-overtime win against Pacific on January 30th, Harding made key plays on the defensive end to help BYU secure the win.
In BYU’s NCAA First Round loss against UCLA, Harding played 21 minutes and had four steals in the loss to a Bruins squad that eventually advanced to the Final Four.
Harding shot a career-best 51.8% and 44.2% from three in his sophomore season in 2019-20. Those numbers dipped to 40.3% and 31.9% respectively this past season.
Connor Harding married to BYU star athlete
When Harding entered the Transfer Portal, many believed UVU would be a likely landing spot for the Pocatello native because his wife, Paisley Harding, is expected to play one more year for the BYU women’s basketball program. The Hardings tied the knot last year on May 1st at Sundance.
UVU just wrapped up the second year under head coach Mark Madsen. The Wolverines finished 11-11 overall and boasted the nation’s number one defensive rebounder in Fardaws Aimaq (10.68 boards per game). Harding is the third BYU basketball player since 2019 to transfer to UVU. The others include Blaze Nield and Colby Leifson.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
