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Hardin's choice of college not a hard choice(Bluefield Daily Telegraph (Bluefield, West Virginia) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) May 29--BLUEFIELD, Va. -- Usually athletes go into coaching after their playing careers are over. Ben Hardin is doing it the other way around. Hardin, who signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play basketball and tennis at Bluefield College, spent last year serving as an assistant hoops coach under his father, Tony, at Heritage High School in Maryville, Tenn. He was also the head freshman hoops coach. His father thinks that experience will pay dividends for his son at the next level on the court. "I really think that year will help him as a player more than having another year playing because it is a whole other mental aspect," said Tony Hardin, who has another son, Steve, who is the women's basketball coach at Bluefield. "Especially when a coach is trying to tell you something, it comes across a little different when you've been in that seat so I think it really will help him. We're just really excited and I think he's ready." So does Ben. While it might be easy to say that he's following in the footsteps of his older brother -- who was formerly an assistant men's basketball and golf coach at Bluefield -- it really wasn't that simple. "People are going to say that, but I don't think it is as much as what everybody thinks," Ben said. "He's the girls coach now and I'm coming in as a freshman so not really... "I really wanted to be here. I feel like it's a good home. I've been to a lot of different places trying out and stuff, but I felt like this was a good fit for me." Hardin starred four years on the prep level, playing three seasons at Elizabethton and his final campaign with Unicoi County, both of which are high schools in northeast Tennessee. During his senior campaign, Hardin tallied 18.7 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds for the Blue Devils. "He's grown up in a basketball family, a great basketball family so he knows the game and he's got ability," Bluefield men's basketball coach Jason Gillespie said. "He's a great shooter, he can handle the ball, he's versatile that way where he can play a couple of different spots." Gillespie isn't sure what Hardin's role will be, but he'll definitely have one. "That is yet to be determined. He is a quality guy, he knows the game," said Gillespie, who has known the Hardin family for years. "He knows how to run an offense, he can shoot the ball, he can make an open shot, and the way we shoot the 3, that's a great fit. If you can shoot the ball you're going to find a spot... "He's got the ability to play fast, he's skilled, he can shoot it and he can guard so he's going to be a good fit for us. We're loaded at guard, we've got a lot of guards coming back, but he's someone that we see can contribute down the road a lot moreso maybe than his first year, but he is going to see the court." Hardin feels like he'll be able to adjust to Bluefield's run-and-gun style, but can also slow things down when needed. "Hopefully I'll make a good role of being a solid point guard for them, slow the pace down because they like to run and gun," Hardin said. "I might be the calming effect on the storm so it might help them out a little bit this year. "Maybe not as much my freshman year as I would like, but it's good to be here." Hardin won't just don the basketball sneakers for the Rams. He also became the first signee for a tennis program that will begin its initial season in the spring. "It's going to be great, it can be the best of both worlds really," Hardin said. "I've always loved playing tennis, basketball has been a little bit more, but tennis is going to be just as fun and just as great so I'm glad to get to play two college sports." Jessica Brokaw, who played four years for the Lady Rams basketball team, has taken on the role as Bluefield tennis coach. She has a schedule, now she finally has a player. "I am really excited, I'm trying to get a lot of kids in this program, not many people know we've got this starting up. Hopefully this will get the word out and help us get some new players," said Brokaw, who urges anyone eligible and interested in playing tennis at Bluefield to drop her an e-mail at [email protected]. Hardin tried out for spots with several schools, including Division I East Tennessee State, but just felt drawn to Bluefield, and not just because of his brother. "I think it had some effect, but Ben just liked the feel here," Tony Hardin said. "He went and played at four or five different schools that he looked at. Of course, his brother being here is a very nice thing, I think that was just the kicker. He really thinks a lot of coach Gillespie, you've got to play for a guy that you respect. "That had something to do with it, and the opportunity to play on a team that is as good as they are. I think all that went into where he wanted to be. "It's just real exciting for our family and exciting for him. It's just a new step for him." For Ben Hardin, it's a dream come true. "This has been one of the biggest dreams," he said. "It's been unbelievable because I have always wanted since I was little bitty to play college basketball. "Now that I am it's just going to be great. I'm glad I'm here and I'm glad I'm playing." --Contact Brian Woodson at [email protected] To see more of Bluefield Daily Telegraph, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.bdtonline.com/. Copyright (c) 2008, Bluefield Daily Telegraph, W.Va. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. 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