Jim Boeheim is known for recruiting for the 2-3 zone. Find players that fit the system and worry about the rest later. This should be referred to as the “Jason Hart model”.
Hart is on this list for being one of the best zone defenders in Syracuse basketball history. The Los Angeles, CA native averaged 2.5 steals in his four year career on the Hill. Between Hart, Etan Thomas and Ryan Blackwell, SU had an elite defense in the late-1990s.
He did just enough as a scorer, accounting for 11.4 points per game. However, Thomas and Blackwell reaped the benefits of playing with one of the greatest passers in program history. Hart’s 709 assists is second to only Sherman Douglas, who tallied 960 career dimes.
Hart led the Orange to two Big East regular season titles. He took them to the NCAA Tournament three times, but never made it past the Sweet 16. Syracuse lost in the third round in 1998 and 2000.
The 2x All-Big East point guard was pretty quick on both ends of the floor, but he shouldn’t be remembered as an athlete as much as he was a gamer. At just 6’3”, 185 lbs, Hart made his living by making the right play, and knowing the zone inside and out.
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