Prep basketball: Lely's Hyppolite, Neumann's Hardwick sign with Iowa junior college

Lely High School point guard Rugde Hyppolite never lost faith, knowing he’d eventually get the opportunity to play college basketball.

That opportunity came last week, when North Iowa Area Community College offered him a full-ride scholarship. And he’ll be headed to Mason City, Iowa, in the fall with a familiar face – St. John Neumann forward Hollis Hardwick. Both made their signings official Wednesday in a ceremony at The Village School in North Naples.

“I wasn’t nervous. I was confident in my coaches sending stuff out to schools. They really put a lot of work in,” Hyppolite said. “I believe in God, and I knew God was going to help me.”

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Hyppolite probably would have signed somewhere long ago, but he needed to get his grades and test scores up. Once that happened, Lely coach Fritz Jacques and Team Flight travel basketball coach Adam Johnson were able to start sending out information.

“He had to handle things on his end, and he did that,” Jacques said. “He’s a coach’s player, man. He’s the first one in the gym, last one out. He makes 1,000 shots a day. Everything I asked of him, he did it. My first all-state kid. I’m just very proud of him.”

Hyppolite saved some of his best work for his senior season, a year in which he led the Trojans to a district championship. He filled up the stat sheet, averaging 19.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.7 steals and 1.1 blocks. He finished with more than 1,000 career points in three varsity seasons.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if you see this kid playing professional ball overseas one day,” Jacques said. “How hard he works, how athletic he is. He’s still learning the game, he developed late. The sky’s the limit for him, it really is. He’s just now starting to peak. He still has a lot of room to grow. With his work ethic, he’ll be able to do some big things.”

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Hardwick lands the scholarship after spending one season with St. John Neumann. His travel coach, Johnson, convinced him to come to St. John Neumann and the move worked out for him. The 6-foot-5 Hardwick previously played at Dunbar.

“It’s really hitting me right now,” Hardwick said. “It’s a new beginning for me.”

Hardwick says he’s glad his friend Hyppolite will be making the move with him.

“Knowing somebody I’ve played basketball with is going to make it easier,” he said. “Going to a school far away from home, having somebody I know with me is going to be a comfort.”

Hyppolite says he’s never seen snow, so the lifelong Southwest Florida resident will be in for a change.

“I’m going to need to buy a lot of jeans, a winter coat, everything,” he said. “It’s going to be a new lifestyle, but I’m looking forward to it.”

HOLLIS HARDWICK

School: St. John Neumann

Sport: Basketball

Position: Forward

Signed with: North Iowa Area Community College (Mason City, Iowa)

Highlights: Transferred from Dunbar for senior season, helping Celtics go 7-3 in the district and earn a regional playoff berth. Scored 18 points on his home floor in the Collier County Senior Showcase all-star game.

RUGDE HYPPOLITE

School: Lely

Sport: Basketball

Position: Point Guard

Signed with: North Iowa Area Community College (Mason City, Iowa)

Highlights: Third-team all-state selection in Class 5A, helping the Trojans win a district championship. Averaged 19.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.7 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Three-year starter, who reached the 1,000-point mark late in his senior season.