Kent State University at Tuscarawas is announcing the signing of a 2024 Harrison Central High School senior to their men's basketball team.

Hayden Cassidy recently signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Golden Eagles.

Cassidy, primarily shooting guard/point guard, was a four-year letter winner for the Huskies who play in the Buckeye 8 Conference in basketball of the East District of the OHSAA. As a senior he was recognized as a Special Mention DIII All-Ohioan, First Team All-East District and First Team All-Buckeye 8. In his final season, he eclipsed the 1500 career point scoring mark averaging 24 ppg, 4 rebounds per game, 3 assists per game and was voted MVP of the Todd Kaliuda Holiday Showcase. He earned status as HC's second highest scorer in school history and set a new school record for made three-point shots. He served as team captain, earned Special Mention All-Ohio three times and First Team All-Buckeye 8 Conference three times, was recognized numerous times as athlete of the week by local media and achieved status in the Harrison Sports Foundation 1000-point club.

As a quarterback and four-year letter winner for the HC football team, Cassidy amassed more than 3500 career passing yards and 45 touchdowns and was selected to the First Team East District and First Team All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference teams. The 2023 Huskies football team became the school's first-ever winner of two OHSAA playoff games, and he was recognized as a Harrison Sports Foundation 1000-yard Club member three consecutive seasons.

Academically, Cassidy is a Scholar Athlete and has a 3.138 GPA his senior year.

His community service and extracurricular activities include leading the collection of more than 200 toys for Akron Children's Hospital, volunteering his time at the food bank, mentoring young student athletes in the Harrison Hills City School District and generating donations to the Zane Carson Scholarship Fund.

He will pursue a degree in business management at Kent State Tuscarawas.

"Obviously Hayden brings a tremondous amout of leadership and accomplishment to our team," said KSU Tuscarawas Head Men's Basketball Coach Richard Tharp. "I believe that Hayden takes enormous pride in everything he undertakes, and we would expect nothing different as he embarks on his career as a Golden Eagle. We are considerably excited about his scholarly achievements and his dedication in giving of his time to the service of others. We are looking forward to big things in the classroom and on the court."

Hayden Cassidy signs his letter of intent to play basketball for the Golden Eagles.

(Photo courtesy of HC Athletics)