Hart Discusses Kansas St

JUCO Junction/Rivalshoops.com caught up with the newest Kansas State Wildcat, 6-3 combo guard Jarrett Hart of Arkansas/Fort Smith, and he touched on many topics in a brief question and answer session.

Here is what Hart had to say about why he picked K-State and his return to the Big 12 Conference next winter:

JJ: Jarrett, can you take us through your decision making process?

JH: Well, it came down to Kansas State, Arkansas and SW Missouri State. With Southwest Missouri State, they could have gotten me in academically, but it was the Big 12 versus their conference, so I picked the Big 12 over that conference [Missouri Valley]. With Arkansas and Kansas State, they were both similar to me, but it came down to who could get me in academically. Arkansas wasn't able to transfer my hours from Oklahoma, so that would have left me with 23 hours to get this summer, which can't be done (Editor's note: the NCAA max for summer is nine).

JJ: What is Kansas State looking for you to come in and accomplish next year?

JH: They said that they want everything to go through me, because I am unselfish with the ball. They feel that I can make mistakes but they want me to play through those mistakes. They feel like I am the kind of guy who can get the right people the ball, I can see the court real well and that's what they want -- a guard who can come in and not necessarily play the point but do more than one thing. I am a versatile player.

JJ: With Nick Williams leaving the program this spring, do they see you coming in and playing right away?

JH: They know I only have two years left, and all of the schools recruiting me basically told me they wanted me to come in and play. I don't necessarily care about starting or anything like that. I have the opportunity to start, I know have to come in and earn that.

JJ: Is it kind of strange going back to the Big 12? You attended Oklahoma in 1999-2000 but barely played before being granted a medical red-shirt.

JH: Obviously, I wanted to get back into the Big 12, because out of high school, I felt that was a good conference for me to come into and play. I feel like I need to be out on the court, because that's the style of ball that I play. I feel that I can go in here and make my presence felt.

JJ: Is it going to be weird going back to the Noble Center next winter when Kansas State plays at Oklahoma?

JH: No, I live for that. I want to go back. I want to go in there and play and see them. There's no hard feelings between us. I talked to Coach Sampson and congratulated him when he beat Kansas this year, because that was the first time he's beaten Kansas since he's been at Oklahoma. I congratulated him for getting to the Final Four, and I still keep in touch with some of the guys on the team. So there will be no hard feelings, but I am competitive. I just want to go in there and compete and try to win some games for our team?

JJ: Is there any academic work you need to finish up at Fort Smith before you enroll at Kansas State in the fall?

JH: I have to get three hours during the summer, and I am taking a correspondence course right now. Because if I didn't take this correspondence course now, I would need six in the summer. But I will only need three and I am good to go.

JJ: How was it going through the recruiting process all over again?

JH: It's like going into class and you already know what the teacher is going to say. You don't really want to listen. Once you know what you want to do, that's what you want to do. So I had to be patient and I wanted to make sure this time. It's my last chance. I want to go into a place where they need me just as much as I need them.