Walk into a recruiting event during any given live period and you may find Kentucky assistant coach Jason Hart alone on the baseline, watching a game with zero bonafide blue-chippers. Maybe it’s an age group or two down, sometimes in the losers’ bracket or in the late game set when most are scheduling their dinner plans. They’re the games only the real recruiting sickos attend — plus immediate family members complaining about inflation on weekend session ticket prices.
Interestingly enough, that’s Coach Hart’s comfort zone. It’s where he’s found his most prized recruiting gems ahead of the competition, building relationships with families before kids become name-brand talents pursued by everyone.
His personal favorite? You can go back nearly a decade during his time at USC out in his neck of the woods as a native of Los Angeles. De’Anthony Meltonwas a recruit ranked no higher than No. 120 by Scout among the major services, …