Josh Hart scored a career-high 44 points against the Washington Wizards last night to help the Portland Trail Blazers end a six-game skid, and defeat the Wizards 127-118 victory on Saturday night. Hart also had eight rebounds and six assists in Portland’s first win since the All-Star break.
Per ESPN, “I made some tweaks to my jump shot before the game, so I came into this game with a little more confidence,” Hart said. “I definitely wish I had gotten the 50. I don’t know when I’m going to have another night like this. So next time I’ll have to tell Trendon (Watford) to pass me the ball a little more.”
The Silver Spring native’s jersey was recently retired by the Villanova Wildcats, where he played for four years. He started for much of his junior and senior seasons and won a national championship in 2016.
Hart grew up in Silver Spring. Prior to transferring to Sidwell Friends in D.C., he attended and played basketball at Wheaton High School. He grew up playing basketball for the Montgomery County Bearcats, where his coaches praised him for his heart at an early age. He made the varsity basketball team as a freshman at Wheaton, eventually becoming a starter in the second half of the season.
Josh Hart grew up in Silver Spring. Prior to transferring to Sidwell Friends in D.C., he attended and played basketball at Wheaton High School.
Villanova yesterday announced that it will retire the jersey of former Wildcats’ consensus first team All-American Josh Hart at halftime of its game on Jan. 19 vs. Marquette at Finneran Pavilion.
Hart played four seasons for the Wildcats from 2013-17, winning the 2017 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year award and serving as a cornerstone for the 2016 NCAA national championship unit.
Hart was also the 2017 BIG EAST Player of the Year and a two-time Most Valuable Player at the BIG EAST Tournament (2015 and 2017). Following his graduation in 2017, the native of Silver Spring, Md., was a first round draft selection of the Utah Jazz, which then traded his rights to the Los Angeles Lakers. After spending the first two years of his career with Lakers, Hart was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, for whom he currently plays.
“We’re thrilled to be able to honor a true Villanova Basketball legend,” stated Wildcats head coach Jay Wright. “Josh is a relentless competitor who elevated our team from the moment he joined us as a freshman. His tenacity as a rebounder, scorer and defender was instrumental to our team’s success.
“Josh’s parents, Moses and Pat, raised a wonderful young man who impacted Villanova in so many positive ways. This is a well-deserved honor for one of Villanova’s all-time greats.”
Hart, 6-5, is the only Villanova player in history to record 1,900 or more points (1,921), 800 or more rebounds (812), 250 or more assists (266) and 150 or more steals (161) over the course of his career in the Blue and White.
A plaque honoring Hart, who wore jersey No. 3 at Villanova, will take its place in the main lobby of Finneran Pavilion, where the other retired jerseys of Wildcats legends are now located. With the single exception of Paul Arizin’s No. 11, Villanova retires the jersey of its legends but not the number. Senior Brandon Slater, who currently wears No. 3 for the ‘Cats, will continue to do so.
Villanova hosts Marquette at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at Finneran Pavilion (CBS Sports Network and the Villanova IHeart Radio Network).
Josh Hart grew up in Silver Spring. Prior to transferring to Sidwell Friends in D.C., he attended and played basketball at Wheaton High School.
Now Hart is reportedly closing in on a three-year, $38 million deal to re-sign with the Pelicans.
Per Rotoworld: “Hart had some sneaky, late-round value last season with averages of 9.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 triples per contest on 44% shooting, but he also was logging 28.7 minutes a night, so it’ll be interesting if he can see a similar workload under his new head coach, Willie Green.”
Hart grew up playing basketball for the Montgomery County Bearcats, where his coaches praised him for his heart at an early age. He made the varsity basketball team as a freshman at Wheaton, eventually becoming a starter in the second half of the season.
Even though he transferred to Sidwell Friends and played there the last three years of his high school basketball career, his ties to MoCo remained strong. His mother has been a long-time employee at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville and his father is a retired caterer.
After Sidwell Friends, he attended and played for the Villanova Wildcats for four years. He started for much of his junior and senior seasons and won a national championship in 2016.
