Josh Hart, Senior, Guard/Forward, Villanova
Overview:
After helping Villanova win a championship in 2016, Josh Hart concluded his college career with a disappointing second round loss against Wisconsin in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. His individual season was anything but disappointing though, earning Big East Player of the Year honors along with a spot on the Consensus All-America First Team. He averaged 18.7 points per game while shooting an efficient 51.0% from the field. Hart isn’t elite in any one area of his game, but is a solid all-around player that contributes in a variety of ways. His intangibles may be his most NBA-ready skill.
Standing 6-6 with a strong 205 lb. frame, Hart has the physique of an NBA wing. In college, he relied on his strength to muscle his way to the rim on drives. However, he won’t be able to power his way to the paint as easily in the much tougher NBA. He’s not a spectacular athlete, as he doesn’t have a great first step or explosiveness around the rim. He has a loose dribble and isn’t skilled at creating shots for himself. Often times, Hart is forced to kill his dribble early and settle for tough turnaround shots in the paint. He’ll likely need to improve his floater as a shot he can lean on in the NBA. Hart loves to reject screens and drive to his left, then will use a spin move to finish with his right hand. However, he relies on his right hand a bit much and teams can predict his moves around the rim.
Like most prospects, Hart must have a reliable jump shot to survive in the NBA. His three point percentage increased from 35.7% as a junior to 40.4% as a senior. Despite the improvement, there’s still reason for scouts to be concerned about Hart’s shot translating to the NBA. He shoots it with a hitch at the top of his shot which allows defenders to close out and contest. He shoots almost exclusively off the catch, as his shot form and limited athleticism prevents him from creating his shot off the dribble. Hart isn’t a pure shooter, as he shot just 74.7% from the free throw line, and it could be difficult for him to extend his range in the NBA.
For as good of a college player Hart was, NBA teams will be concerned about how his game translates to the next level. He is an intelligent player that’s more crafty than athletic, which might limit his productivity against NBA athletes. He was capable of running some pick and roll at Villanova, but isn’t much of a threat as a ball-handler. He isn’t able to run much isolation, as he lacks the ability to create space for himself or get past defenders on his own. Hart was a good defender in college, earning co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors, but doesn’t have the lateral quickness to contain shifty guards.
Final Projection:
There isn’t much doubting that Josh Hart is a good basketball player, but he will have to prove that he can be an NBA player. Hart does all the little things for a team: he’s an efficient scorer, has a high basketball IQ, makes the right plays within an offense and defends with a high motor. However, those traits may not translate to the longer, tougher, more athletic NBA. Josh Hart will likely be a second round pick, but players like Malcolm Brogdon, Norman Powell and Jordan Clarkson have been able to carve out NBA careers as older second round selections. Hart certainly has role player potential, but he lacks much of a ceiling in the NBA.
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