10/30/2026 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CONWAY, S.C. – Ashton Hardaway's college basketball career has taken him from playing for his father at Memphis to Saint Mary's in his home state of California, then back to Memphis, where an injury prematurely ended his 2025-26 season.
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Now at Coastal Carolina, he has another chance to continue developing as a player.
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"He was just looking for opportunities to continue to play," CCU head coach Justin Gray said. "We have a young roster, and he had some experience. He had some success. He's a playmaker, he can shoot the basketball, and we're excited to have him."
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Hardaway saw a coach he could relate to in Gray, whose own playing experience was part of Coastal's appeal.
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"He really is a players' coach," Hardaway said. "He's been through what I've been through before, and he's really helped me grow a lot here.
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"They showed a lot of confidence in me on my visit, so I just thought it was the right fit."
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Since arriving at Coastal, Hardaway has been working to regain his strength and conditioning while learning what Gray expects of him. His summer and preseason work included recovering from injury and maintaining his shooting.
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"Ever since I got here, Coach Gray, all the assistant coaches and all my teammates have shown nothing but confidence in me," Hardaway said. "This is the most confident I've ever felt as a player. I'm really looking forward to this season."
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"I've been on him, and he's been accepting that coaching," Gray said.
Hardaway arrived with three seasons of college basketball behind him, beginning at Memphis in 2023, when he played for his father, Penny, and alongside his older brother, Jayden.
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He transferred to Saint Mary's after his freshman year, returning to California and helping the Gaels reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He returned to Memphis the following year.
The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 5.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 25 games, including nine starts, before a calf injury sidelined him for the final five games.
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Each stop brought challenges that taught him how to win, stay disciplined and keep working hard when things weren't going his way.
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"I always wanted to be first, I always wanted to be the best, but it wasn't always like that," Hardaway said. "It's taken a lot of time, a lot of work, and a lot of patience to get to where I am now."
Hardaway now has a chance to help younger teammates through some of the same adjustments. His father's emphasis on physical and mental toughness remains part of that approach.
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"We don't take any days easy," Hardaway said. "We're going to come here every day and compete."
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As Hardaway brings those lessons to Coastal, Gray wants him to keep developing in his own way.
Â
"We don't want him to be anybody else," Gray said. "We want him to be himself."
Â
Now at Coastal Carolina, he has another chance to continue developing as a player.
Â
"He was just looking for opportunities to continue to play," CCU head coach Justin Gray said. "We have a young roster, and he had some experience. He had some success. He's a playmaker, he can shoot the basketball, and we're excited to have him."
Â
Hardaway saw a coach he could relate to in Gray, whose own playing experience was part of Coastal's appeal.
Â
"He really is a players' coach," Hardaway said. "He's been through what I've been through before, and he's really helped me grow a lot here.
Â
"They showed a lot of confidence in me on my visit, so I just thought it was the right fit."
Â
Since arriving at Coastal, Hardaway has been working to regain his strength and conditioning while learning what Gray expects of him. His summer and preseason work included recovering from injury and maintaining his shooting.
Â
"Ever since I got here, Coach Gray, all the assistant coaches and all my teammates have shown nothing but confidence in me," Hardaway said. "This is the most confident I've ever felt as a player. I'm really looking forward to this season."
Â
"I've been on him, and he's been accepting that coaching," Gray said.
Hardaway arrived with three seasons of college basketball behind him, beginning at Memphis in 2023, when he played for his father, Penny, and alongside his older brother, Jayden.
Â
He transferred to Saint Mary's after his freshman year, returning to California and helping the Gaels reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He returned to Memphis the following year.
The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 5.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 25 games, including nine starts, before a calf injury sidelined him for the final five games.
Â
Each stop brought challenges that taught him how to win, stay disciplined and keep working hard when things weren't going his way.
Â
"I always wanted to be first, I always wanted to be the best, but it wasn't always like that," Hardaway said. "It's taken a lot of time, a lot of work, and a lot of patience to get to where I am now."
Hardaway now has a chance to help younger teammates through some of the same adjustments. His father's emphasis on physical and mental toughness remains part of that approach.
Â
"We don't take any days easy," Hardaway said. "We're going to come here every day and compete."
Â
As Hardaway brings those lessons to Coastal, Gray wants him to keep developing in his own way.
Â
"We don't want him to be anybody else," Gray said. "We want him to be himself."
Players Mentioned
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