by MARK CAUL
Lehman sophomore Jaylon Hardaway is following in the large footprints left behind by his brother RJ, who graduated last year as the school’s all-time leading rusher. (Photo by Judy Cooper)
The last name is very familiar to most Lehman High fans, but sophomore Jaylon Hardaway is more than just Lobo legend RJ Hardaway’s baby brother.
There’s no doubt they are related. Each carries the same serious demeanor both on the field and on the track. Both are usually silent out of the limelight. And both have very religious work ethics.
Jaylon won the 400-meter dash at the recent District 17-4A track and field meet, and is anchor leg of both the 800-meter and 1,600-meter relay teams that will also be competing at the Class 4A Region III meet at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville May 3-4. He’s also one of the starting wide-outs for the Lehman football team.
There was already a positive buzz surrounding Jaylon the minute he arrived on the Lehman campus. It was quite apparent that the Hardaway tradition was going to be in very capable hands once RJ, the school’s all-time leading rusher in football and a star in both track and field and basketball, graduated in 2009.
“When I first got to Lehman, my brother already told me what to expect,” Jaylon said. “He told me to come here and work hard and that’s what I did. It was a surprise when Coach Davis told me I was going to be playing on the varsity team in my first year. It took me awhile to get comfortable because I knew I had a lot to live up to.”
As a result of both his work ethic and talent, he was quickly elevated to the varsity football squad as a freshman.
Although he wasn’t able to contribute a lot in his first season on the football field, Jaylon remained focused and emerged from his inaugural season as a Lobo with a new outlook.
“There were times when I got frustrated because I didn’t feel like I was helping the team, but I was still able to learn a lot from that season.” Jaylon said. “But I’m glad I was able to get a chance to play with RJ because he kept me focused.”
The siblings are very close, and there was no greater evidence of that than during the year they spent playing together in RJ’s senior season a year ago.
When RJ shaved off his trademark dreadlocks midway through his senior season, so did Jaylon.
Both have competed in track and football under the watchful eye of Lehman offensive coordinator and head boys track coach Michael Laney, who has witnessed their athletic exploits firsthand.
“They are both very coachable and take their preparation seriously,” Laney said. “I love their competitive nature. It’s something that RJ had and now Jaylon has it. They want to be the very best at whatever they do.”
Athleticism runs in the Hardaway family. Their father, Ronnie, was a fullback and linebacker for cross-town rival Hays in the early 1980s. Their uncle Steve was one of the best football players ever to wear the Rebels uniform, rushing for more than 2,192 yards during his senior season in 1994.
Their cousin Dominique, currently a senior at Lockhart High, is a two-time state champion in powerlifting and is an all-state performer in both football and track.
The two brothers are still remarkably close and RJ, now a freshman at Texas State University in San Marcos, can usually be spotted at nearly every sporting event Jaylon is participating in.
“He is one of my biggest supporters, along with my parents,” said Jaylon. “It feels good to always see them in the stands cheering me on. It motivates me.”
RJ is hoping his younger brother can follow the same path he blazed as a Lobo.
“I want Jaylon to be better than me,” RJ said. “He works hard and I know he has the talent. I’m always going to be in the stands pushing him.”
In his sophomore season, Jaylon has given his family a lot to cheer about. He was third on the team in receptions and receiving yards despite missing the final three games after suffering a knee injury in football.
While on the track, Jaylon blazed his way to a school record 50.99 in the 400 meter dash to accomplish something in two years that his older sibling also was able to do in his four-year stay at Lehman - win a district title.
RJ captured the discus throw event last spring as a senior.
“He has gotten progressively better with each meet this season,” Laney said. “And I still don’t think he has reached his full potential. He will be a force in both track and football for the next two years.”
Jaylon has yet to shy away from the comparisons to his older brother, but admits that the pressure to live up to his accomplishments fuels his competitive fire.
“Sometimes I feel like have to be as good as my brother in every thing I do, but my coaches just tell me to just concentrate on being myself and good things will come,” said Jaylon. “But the fact that RJ was a great athlete will always push me to be the best athlete I can be.”
