Pacers Draft Prep: Josh Hart knows the game
By Luke Parrish
Villanova guard Josh Hart is generating buzz as the draft nears. The Pacers could use his presence on the wing as a two-way player.
Josh Hart has been linked to Indiana Pacers over the course of the draft process. If he slips to the middle of the second round 2, he makes sense for the Pacers.
Hart played four years at Villanova where he led the Wildcats to a national title in 2015-16. He was a big reason why Villanova was atop the college basketball world for long stretches over the past few years. He was also named Big East Player of the Year and shared Big East Defensive POY honors in 2016-17.
Strengths
It’s no secret that Hart can get buckets. Per 40 minutes, Hart averaged almost 19 points during his career, including nearly 23 his senior year. He accomplished this while shooting 51 percent from the field and 39 percent from deep. There was not a season in which Hart shot below 50 percent from the field. He also contributed on the glass, collecting eight boards in 40 minutes.
Hart also managed to take care of the ball. He only turned it over 1.3 times per game over the duration of his career, which isn’t bad when paired with his 2.9 assists.
His leadership and versatility shows in his awards. Winning Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in his conference is not something to push aside. Regardless of his size and stats, these awards show his tenacity and will to win. His basketball IQ and winning attitude make him an interesting prospect.
Weaknesses
Hart is not the athlete that NBA teams want. He doesn’t have great bounce (27.5 inch standing vert). He also only has a 6-foot-8 wingspan with his 6-foot-5 height. While he scores, he could have a difficult time generating shots against NBA defenses. If he can continue to improve his game on both ends, he should be a long-time NBA player. From a pure basketball standpoint, Hart has what it takes to succeed, his natural athleticism is what drops his stock.
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Next: 2017 NBA Mock Draft: Who will the Pacers select at No. 18?
Odds are Hart won’t be in range for the Pacers. Recent mocks have him landing late in the first round (See CBS and Bleacher Report mocks). If he is there at No. 47 for any reason, I’d expect the Pacers to take a serious look at him.