Jason Hart is in his first year as an assistant at Kentucky, but he’s someone who coaches believe could be a head coach in the NCAA or NBA in due time; in fact, he turned down an NBA opportunity to come to Lexington with Mark Pope.

Pope spoke very highly of Hart during his press conference on Thursday ahead of UK’s matchup with Bucknell. Pope said Kentucky wasn’t the only program interested in the former G League Ignite head coach; an NBA team that made a significant push for Hart after his hire.

“After I hired him here, an NBA team actually came really, really hard after him. He went through the interview process and just decided it wasn’t the right time or situation for him.”

Hart served as a G League head coach from 2021-24. He’s also had stints as an assistant coach at Pepperdine and USC.

“J-Hart is a no-brainer. He just finished as a head coach in the G League,” Pope said. “If he hadn’t taken the job with Ignite, he would be a head coach somewhere else right now. He’s one of those guys who’s on an insane trajectory in this business because he’s that good.”

‘He Could Be an Assistant Coach on an NBA Bench Next Year’

Jason Hart is only in his first season at Kentucky, but Mark Pope isn’t sure how long he’ll be able to hold onto him. Pope believes Hart can be in the NBA very soon.

“He could be an assistant coach on an NBA bench next year and be a head coach in the NBA two years from now,” Pope said. “He’s that good. He’s universally beloved throughout basketball.”

Pope called Hart the “elite of the elite” and “an unbelievable relationship person.”

“I’m telling you, he’s already been a great head coach, but he’s going to be one of those guys either in the NBA or college ranks that you’re going to be looking at as one of the best coaches in the game,” Pope said. “He’s really, really special.”

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