Darrun Hilliard named MVP in Loss

Some people have recently questioned the ability of lefty sharp-shooter and 2011 Villanova signee, Darrun Hilliard, to succeed in college. They cite the level of competition he played against in high school, and suggest that against tougher competition, he would look more like a mid-major player than a Big East star.

Whether Hilliard develops into a lefty-Allan Ray or a Reggie Redding on the Main Line remains to be seen, but last night the 6'5" shooter went off for 36 points against high-level competition in Conshohocken at the Donofrio Classic -- earning MVP honors despite his Bucks County team losing 103-99.

According to Philahoops.com:

Hilliard, a 6-5 shooting guard, scored a game-high 36 points to go with six assists and five rebounds. And despite his Bucks County All-Star’s 103-99 loss to the three-time defending champion I3 All-Stars, Hilliard’s performance was the real story.

"Obviously, you just want to come up here and play hard," Hilliard, who was named the game MVP, said. "You’re not going to see this competition every day. You just want to make a name for yourself and I think I came out and did that. A lot of people were doubting me because I’m going to Villanova and I think I proved why I was going to Villanova."

Hilliard certainly put on a show, last night:

Among Hilliard’s highlights were converting an alley-oop bank shot on the break, a play in which he showed tremendous body control and athleticism; a drive to his right and finishing from close range with his opposite hand over Bond and Jefferson; and toughing out a rebound with sheer determination against the taller Jefferson. These were just a few highlights in a game full of them.

Check out the article on Philahoops.com for more quotes from Hilliard about the game and about his future at Villanova. In case you weren't watching twitter last night, here are a few of Aaron Bracy's tweets about Hilliard as the game was going along:

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