At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, over a hundred players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III, or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked and under-recruited, and today’s edition will highlight Jake Hart of Fuquay Varina High School.
We’ve seen Hart countless times over the last calendar year, including at our NC Top 80, where we stated, “Moving onto a player who simply stands out as an adaptable, unselfish cog in every possible setting, Jake Hart. He’s a smart, well-rounded point guard prospect who knows how to properly run the team and set the tone on both ends of the floor. Hart consistently accepts less for the betterment of the team, which is evidenced through his high-motor and sheer willingness to do whatever possible to provide his team with an edge. He’s an excellent shooter and passer who looks to access the best available shot on every possession. Hart is an active defender and rebounder who simply outworks his assignment on either side of the ball. Next in his development process is working to get quicker, as it will make him a more complete player. Coach Adams on Hart: “Jake is a good team player. He needs to be ready in catch-and-shoot situations. He can work harder and communicate more defensively. Jake offered a positive attitude and accepted coaching well.” Hart made a quality impact at camp, and should be a target for various programs during his upcoming senior season at Fuquay Varina.”
Although no one is surprised, Hart has only continued to stand out as an incredibly high-level teammate and productive leader by example. He’s posting nightly averages of 11.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 8.5 APG, 3.8 SPG, and 1.0 BPG while shooting 46% from the floor. Though he might not be chasing forty or fifty-point scoring totals, Hart’s stat line is legitimately ridiculous. Arguably no other player in the state is that close to averaging a triple-double, but he’s somehow making it look routine. Hart has actually notched three triple-doubles so far this season. In terms of his on-court identity, one could probably assume his unselfish, team-oriented approach through the balanced per-game numbers. Hart is simply a well-rounded guard who priorities getting others involved, doing the dirty work, and filling in the gaps however necessary. He’s a winner and the type of player who would be an asset wherever he ends up.