POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Pearl River sophomores Tae Hardy (Ellenwood, Ga.; Believe Prep) and Isaih Moore (Columbia, S.C.; Sumter) added more hardware to their trophy cases Monday when the two were honored by the NJCAA. Hardy was named a NJCAA First Team All-American, while Moore was named to the Third Team. The Wildcats were the lone program to have two selections on the top three teams.

"I think now more than ever the secret is out. This had nothing to do with my coaching — we have really, really good players. This is absolutely special, not only for those two guys, but our college, our program and Region XXIII," Pearl River men's basketball coach Chris Oney said. "That's been a goal of ours ever since I became the head coach to give Pearl River a chance to go out and become a national brand — not only for us, but so more people nationally will see this region has really good coaches, teams and individual players."

Hardy — who is PRCC's first ever First Team selection — and Moore join 2018-19 Second Team selection Brandon Rachel as recent Wildcats honored by the NJCAA. Other Pearl River All-Americans are: 2017-18 Honorable Mention Eric Thornton, Jr., 2015-16 Third Team selection Darral Willis Jr., 2006-07 Second Team selection Wesley Jones and 2002-03 Third Team pick Yandell Brown.

Monday's announcement is just the latest round of accolades for the Wildcat duo. Both Hardy and Moore were All-MACJC, All-Region XXIII and All-Region XXIII Tournament selections.

"They're the perfect junior college stories because they were able to pick themselves up from where they were when they first got here and get themselves back on track," Oney said. "Hopefully this will help catapult them into being the types of players they were destined to become."

Pearl River was the lone MACJC school represented on the top three All-American teams this season and is the first Mississippi school to have two selections dating back to 2012.

TAE HARDY
Hardy led the Wildcats (28-0 overall) in multiple categories, including scoring at a 16.6 points-per-game clip. He also averaged 3.7 assists and 2.6 steals.

"I'm excited for him," Oney said. "He's an outstanding individual, outstanding teammate and it just shows that no matter where you are in your career, through hard work, dedication, and humility you can pick yourself up and get yourself back going. That's exactly what he did."

In his 27 games, Hardy scored in double figures 24 times with a season-high of 31 points. Hardy finished the season with a 52.1 shooting percentage from the floor, while converting 37.2 percent of his 3-point attempts and 84.2 percent of his free throws.

In addition to his All-Region XXIII and All-MACJC First Team selections, Hardy also picked up a MACJC Player of the Week honor once this season. Hardy also gets it done in the classroom and earned a spot on the President's List with a 4.0 in the fall. 

ISAIH MOORE
The 6-foot-10 College of Charleston transfer averaged 15.9 ppg. Moore nearly averaged a double-double for the season, pulling down 9.1 rebounds a game. In fact, Moore finished his sophomore campaign with 12 double-doubles.

Moore also led PRCC in blocks, averaging 2.1.

"With the mixture of skill and talent he possesses, he was absolutely the perfect fit for this team," Oney said. "What's funny about him is he was our last signee of the year. We hit a bull's eye with that one I guess. I'm excited for him."

Moore was a three-time MACJC Player of the Week and was also named the NJCAA Division I Player of the Week once.

LOOKING BACK
The Wildcats are fresh off another record-setting season, claiming the Region XXIII Championship for a second consecutive year. PRCC reeled off a program-high 28 straight victories and finished the season as the nation's lone undefeated team. Prior to the cancelation of all athletic events for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, PRCC was awarded the No. 1 seed in the NJCAA Tournament — a first for any MACJC school.  

NEXT-LEVEL WILDCATS
PRCC already has a handful of Wildcats headed to the next level with more to follow. Moore is a long-time St. John's signee, while Hardy is committed to Southern Miss. Rodgerick Brown (Memphis, Tenn.; Cordova) is committed to Tulsa, while Cameron Smith (Okolona) has pledged to Cal State-Bakersfield.

LOOKING AHEAD
Pearl River announced its 2020 signing class Monday, adding five prep standouts and a JUCO transfer.

The class is comprised of North Panola guard Ankerion Gross, Natchez guard KeDarius "Squirt" Stampley, Hattiesburg guard Cameron Brown, Brandon wing Jaquevias Tarvin, Olive Branch point guard Joe Cooper and Daytona State transfer Damerius Wash.

For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on Twitter (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).

PEARL RIVER ALL-AMERICANS