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Per Game | Team | G | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOPG | PFPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13-14 | Vill | 34 | 0 | 21.4 | 7.8 | 4.4 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 2.4 | .500 | .313 | .677 |
14-15 | Vill | 36 | 2 | 25.5 | 10.1 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 2.1 | .515 | .464 | .670 |
15-16 | Vill | 40 | 40 | 31.4 | 15.5 | 6.8 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 2.2 | .513 | .357 | .752 |
16-17 | Vill | 36 | 35 | 33.2 | 18.7 | 6.4 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | .510 | .404 | .747 |
The former Eagle Scout and Collegiate All-American wrapped up a massive senior season where he was named the country's top small forward and was a finalist for the Wooden Award, given to the best college basketball player in the country. Hart's season was highlighted by a passionate and capable level of play that showed a desire to carry his team as far as it would go.
Before the season started, Wisdom of Crowds predicted that Josh Hart would contribute 17.1 or more points per game. The plurality of voters thought his scoring would reside in the 17.1-18.0 point range with 33% picking that option. Another 31% selected 18.1+ points, and that group was spot on, as Hart averaged 18.7 per game as a senior.
He also improved his 3-point percentage significantly, to a little-over 40%. He contributed more on defense, averaging 0.4 more steals per game, and improved his assist numbers by about one per game over the previous year. Both of the latter stats demonstrated Hart's integration into an unselfish style of play that characterized the Wildcats' wins this season.
He was named a First Team All-American for his trouble -- just another trophy on the shelf for a player who also won the Big 5, Big East, Big East Tournament and NCAA Tournament during his tenure on the Main Line.
Did Josh Hart meet or exceed expectations in 2016-17?
Its difficult to say if Hart exceeded expectations for Villanova fans this season. As Wisdom of Crowds demonstrated, the expectations were sky high for a large portion of our readers. He certainly met those expectations, however, and in the process he forced his name into the national conversation about the great college players around the country this season. That said, an invite to the Wooden award ceremony is a pretty high honor, and while the Wisdom of Crowds didn't poll on it, I suspect that not many thought that was a lock before the season.
Hart came back to school after testing the NBA waters last Summer, and all indications are that the decision to come back to campus for another run were positive. With no college eligibility left to worry about, Hart signed with rapper Jay-Z's Roc Nation agency, who will represent him as he prepares for the NBA Draft and negotiates any resulting contract.