NBA Future Prospect: Josh Hart
Josh Hart: 6’6” and 215 lbs. Guard for Villanova
In most mock drafts Josh Hart is projected to be a late first round pick, although some have him going even later. Hart is very experienced and has had a lot of success in his college career, things that should help him at the next level. He is a high IQ player with the ability to score and facilitate but lacks the overall talent to garner much attention towards the top of the draft.
Hart’s biggest strength is his ability to score. He has the ability to shoot from range and finish at the rim. Overall in his college career he is shooting 51.6% from the floor which is incredible for a guard. He has a quick first step making him tough to keep out of the paint and he’s very efficient scoring at the rim. While most of his damage comes in the paint he is also a capable three point shooter. Mix in the fact that he is 6’6” and he is a serious threat on the offensive end of the floor.
While Hart’s scoring prowess is really impressive his basketball IQ is equally noteworthy. He always seems to know the right to make and rarely seems to get rattled or frustrated. He is a much improved facilitator, though it is an area he can continue to work on improving. He’s also an above average rebounder for a guard. He’s a physical on-ball defender capable of frustrating opposing guards.
Hart has all of the skills you would ask for in a guard but he lacks the explosive talent that could land him in the top 20 in the upcoming draft. His athleticism is good but it’s not at the same level as some of the guards that will be taken at the top of the draft. Despite not quite being lottery level talent he does bring a lot of experience and knowledge so he will find his spot in the NBA.
Hart’s a savvy basketball player who will really thrive at the next level if he can land a spot on a veteran team. A team like the Jazz, Spurs, or Raptors would be a good fit for Hart and would provide a strong coaching staff to help develop his skills. Hart may not be a franchise changing player but he certainly brings a skill set that could make an immediate impact if given the chance and the right opportunity.
Featured Game: Win vs. Providence 78-68
The featured game I chose for Hart was the Wildcats game against the Providence Friars on 1/21/17. He finished the game with 25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and a block. This game was a perfect showcase of all the different ways Hart can influence a basketball game. He was very aggressive driving to the basket which opened up the floor for his teammates. He crashed the boards effectively and also made some nice defensive plays. Providence played Villanova tough throughout the game but Hart always seemed to come up with a big play when it was needed. He showed a lot of poise and always made the right play ending the game with only one turnover. Hart’s overall skill set is enough to garner interest going into the draft but at this stage in his career he likely can’t do much to improve his stock.
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