Josh Hart, SG, Villanova
It’s rather surprising to see how Josh Hart, one of the 2017 draft class’ more intriguing scorers, continues to fly under the radar. It’s even more surprising when you see that Draft Express currently has the Villanova shooting guard ranked as their No. 50 prospect.
What I really like about Hart is his ability to shine on both ends of the court. Not only is he a tremendous shooter, but he does a great job of making plays on defense as well.
More from Los Angeles Lakers
- NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers
- A surprise LeBron ranking should raise alarm bells for the Lakers
- Surprising Austin Reaves contract detail confirms Lakers got him for a steal
- Instant Grades for the Lakers’ unprecedented Anthony Davis extension
- Report: Lakers have big plans for recent top-10 pick amid roster shakeup
Throughout his four seasons at Villanova, Hart never connected on less than 50 percent of his field goals. Although his three-point percentage wavered from year to year, he finished his college career with a 38.9 percentage from deep. His 18.7 points per game as a senior, though, should tell you that he’s more than capable of contributing on offense.
As for defense, he offers tremendous effort and physicality on that end. He’s a tenacious defender, and is always working hard to put himself in position to win. The 1.5 steals per game he chipped in during the 2016-17 campaign certainly helped his case. As we all know, the Lakers could use a defensive boost after last season’s pitiful showing.
Will Hart be a star at the next level? That’s not likely. However, considering his current skill set, I could definitely see him developing into a quality 3-and-D shooting guard sooner rather than later. Seems like a solid way to spend the No. 28 overall pick, if you ask me.