Assistant coach Jason Hart's NBA contacts should be a huge plus for Mark Pope and UK. (NBA Photo)
Brooks Downing was Kentucky basketball’s sports information director from 1995-2003 under coaches Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith. He now has his own national sports marketing firm that helps promote numerous collegiate events.
Downing believes that Kentucky coach Mark Pope made a home run hire adding Jason Hart to his coaching staff.
“He has such a great pedigree,” Downing said about Hart. “He got tremendous experience being placed in the role of head coach of the NBA G-League’s Ignite. He got to take young guys and develop them and get them ready for the NBA draft. They’ve had several top picks the last few years.”
Hart coached Jaden Hardy, Scoot Henderson, Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland in the G-League.
Hart played at Syracuse and graduated in 2000 as the program’s all-time leader in steals and ranked second in assists. He was picked in the second round of the 2000 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, where he was teammates with Pope for one season. He played nine years in the NBA.
“He was able to be part of that staff for the NBA and that means a lot,” Downing said. “It’s kind of like the (John) Calipari comparison of him placing guys in the NBA. Jason Hart has been doing the same thing on behalf of the NBA.
“I think that is quite an experience he obtained and he can bring that to the Kentucky staff. He can show players at Kentucky the same pathway to the league. He knows what path players need to follow and how to prepare them to be successful.”
Downing’s group was in charge in Henderson, Nev., when NBA rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama played two exhibition games.
“The arena was full of NBA scouts. Jason knows everybody. He is that link to the NBA,” Downing said. “When (Rick) Pitino had his success at Kentucky one of the top things in recruiting was his connections to the Knicks. So many similarities between Rick and Cal. But Jason also brings that NBA connection to the table.”
Hart started his coaching career on the AAU circuit and then worked at Pepperdine and Southern Cal before his move to the G-League.
“He has a great personality. He’s always under control. He’s not emotional. He will be very well liked not only by the Kentucky fan base but by moms and dads of recruits,” Downing said. “He’s just the total package and Mark knew that when he hired him. He will be able to take on any recruit in the country. Mark is going to recruit kids that fit his system but he’s also not going to ignore the very best players in the country who can help Kentucky win.”
11 Responses
Jason Hart could be a coach himself. I don’t think he will be here till long maybe a couple of years so we need to enjoy him while we can. I think he’d going to be a great head coach. I love how he interacts with the players but they all respect him too. In the huddles players aren’t looking away or laughing talking to there buddy they are focused in because he demands that respect because he gives that respect. Him and Alvin are great assistants for Pope. These coaches have a better relationship than calaparis business relationship with these kids. Pope is exactly what Kentucky needed. So is Alvin Brooks so is Jeremy Hart. So Fueger and The boy who used to be Georgia’s head coach Mark Fox he actually had Georgia going in the right direction that had one bad test and he got yanked. They should have kept him but it’s our gain. Our coaching staff is night and day better than last year. We had the worst assistant’s in the SEC. Another win for Pope.
Things are so refreshing. I can’t wait for late October.
We play Duke this year. In 2018 we got beat 118-84.
If we lose by less than that this year, I think we’re off to a great start.
If we beat that Duke butt…it’ll be a off the chart start!
So if the Cats lose to Puke by 33 points this year it will be a great start? What a joke. You sure have lowered standard.
Lowered because of your Boss Hogg Daddy
That’s who was coaching then you D@#b A@!.
I know who was coach in 2018 dip-$hit. So you lowered your standards because Cal left Punk? Gonna accept a Puke @&& kicking because Cal left. Not much faith in Pope. What a pathetic hypocrite.
Duke is still putting a team together too. It will be an interesting game.
I was wondering if we can play some international team’s this summer like we did last year! So all are new players can start getting use to one another! Really excited about the new coaching staff and veteran players we have this year! Have something to look forward to this year!
Can’t wait till October, I’ve wanted to wake up from that bad dream also known as (jvc) for 10 years. No matter how this season works out it will be a new reality and a fresh start. New coaches new players and a new outlook of what UK basketball is supposed to look like.. Go cats go COACH POPE!!!!!!
Duke will destroy kentucky this November period …. have y see 👀 duke team , I think there will be 9-11 teams that will win the championship, I think kentucky has a good shot ,but coach pope is major question mark ,if I am not wrong, he has not won a game in the tournament yet , I think still he is better then coach Cal in coaching ,coach Cal is a recruiter, but pope to many question marks against him yet,let’s see if he can win ,because he has a good team ,no excuses, p.s. I am a duke fan ,duke is kentucky s daddy
You wish. Pukes on their way out. When the coach stays and 90% of the team bolts, not a good sign. Pope will be fine in the long run.