Now this is on-the-job training.
After spending his entire career as a shooting guard — through high school, college and his one year overseas in Italy — former St. John’s star Dwight Hardy is hoping to break into the NBA with the Heat as a point guard.
“It’s not that I can’t do it, I’ve never done it,” he said of his position switch, which officially begins Friday with the newly crowned champions in the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League. “I feel I’ve done a good job this week, hopefully it will carry over and I impress the Heat.”
The 6-foot-2 Bronx product and John F. Kennedy graduate enjoyed a breakthrough senior season at St. John’s in 2010-11, leading the Red Storm to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2002. He went undrafted and without an NBA summer league team to play with because of last summer’s lockout which deprived the 24-year-old of an opportunity to show his skills.
“I’m not saying I would’ve been in the NBA, but it didn’t give me an opportunity to showcase my talents,” Hardy said.
Instead, he went to Italian Lega Due (second division) and led Pistoria Basket to the finals, earning MVP honors in the process. The Heat paid attention, closely monitoring his successful year there and brought him in. his successful year abroad and brought him in. Hardy has spent the week leading up to his audition running the point and he has felt comfortable.
“Because of his ability to score and play-make, I think he’s in position to be an asset at the NBA level,” St. John’s coach Steve Lavin said. “I don’t know the particulars of Miami’s roster, the current personnel, what they’re looking for…. but I know he’s the best scorer I’ve ever coached in my career.”
If Hardy makes it to training camp, he will be playing with a few of the best scorers in the world, LeBron James and Dwayne Wade.
“I’m blessed to have this opportunity,” Hardy said. “I’m taking advantage of it every day.”
Hardy isn’t the only member of that magical St. John’s season looking for his big break. Justin Burrell and Paris Horne will also get a summer league shot with the Warriors and Bobcats, respectively. D.J. Kennedy, who was signed late in the season by Cleveland, will be with the Cavs’ summer team as well.
“We were part of a great run, we made a great team,” Hardy said. “I’m definitely going to follow them.”
zbraziller@nypost.com