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NBA Draft 2017 Prospect Watch: Josh Hart

By Ti Windisch

Mar 11, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) watches his shot during the first half of the Big East Conference Tournament final game against the Creighton Bluejays at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) watches his shot during the first half of the Big East Conference Tournament final game against the Creighton Bluejays at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 11, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) drives to the basket past Creighton Bluejays forward Cole Huff (13) during the first half of the Big East Conference Tournament final game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) drives to the basket past Creighton Bluejays forward Cole Huff (13) during the first half of the Big East Conference Tournament final game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Strengths

Josh Hart’s greatest strength might be his intangibles. Hart is a proven winner, a trope that does carry real weight even in this new era of statistics and data. An NCAA title doesn’t necessarily make a prospect into a real NBA player, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.

Hart’s draft stock has risen because his scoring has also risen. Hart came into Nova scoring just 7.8 points per game. That number has crept up by around three points per game each year, culminating with Hart scoring 18.7 points per game in his senior season.

Always a capable finisher who has shot 59.2 percent from two-point range in his collegiate career, Hart improved his three-point stroke by his senior season, when he hit 40.4 percent of his 5.1 three-pointers per game. Hart’s shooting isn’t the best part of his game, but it’s extremely important that he’s able to knock down threes when he has to.

Hart is a 6’5″ guard with a long wingspan, explaining why he gobbled up rebounds in college. Hart grabbed 6.8 rebounds per game in his junior year and 6.4 boards per game last season with Villanova. In addition, Hart reached a career-best season in terms of assists, dishing 2.9 per game last year.

In recognition of an excellent senior season, Hart received numerous awards and accolades. He was a consensus First-Team All-American, a finalist for both the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award, and was named Big East Player of the Year.

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