HIGH SCHOOL

Former Blackman standout Isaiah Hart finishes freshman basketball season with a bang

Cecil Joyce
USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee
Former Blackman standout Isaiah Hart drives to the basket during a recent Motlow State game.

After graduating from Blackman High School in 2015, Isaiah Hart had decided his basketball career was over.

What a difference two years can make.

After sitting out last season, Hart made quite an impact during his freshman season with the Motlow State Community College basketball team in 2016-17.

The season culminated with Hart being named to the National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament all-tournament team.

"It was a pretty great freshman year," said Hart, who earned all-state honors during his senior season at Blackman. He then decided to stop playing basketball and sat out the next season before changing his mind and signing with Motlow State.

"I wasn't wanting to play basketball anymore," Hart said. "But I started to miss it and gave it a shot. I took advantage of it."

Earlier this season, Hart broke a 43-year-old Motlow record during a triple-double by recording 10 steals.

He stepped it up in the postseason for the Bucks as well. After leading them to a conference tourney title and a No. 14 seed in the national tournament, Hart scored a combined 34 points in the first two rounds - the latter being a 70-69 win over No. 3 seed Georgia Highlands.

The Bucks (30-6) eventually fell in the quarterfinals, but became the first Motlow State team to reach the national quarterfinals. Hart was named to the 12-member all-tournament team.

"I just had a couple of good games," said Hart, who averaged 13 points, four assists and 3.5 steals a game for the season. "I got hot a couple of times and got recognized."

The big season may launch a longer hoops career for a player who wasn't sure he wanted to play anymore less than two years ago.

"Next year, if I return to Motlow, we'll have basically the same team back and our goal will be a national championship, not just elite eight," he said. "Motlow is only a two-year school, so if the right school came for me, I would take advantage."

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.

Former Blackman and current Motlow State standout Isaiah Hart fires a shot during a game earlier this season.