"We picked up the ashes & kept going"
When Josh Hart was in high school
The family house burned down
Thankfully no one got hurt
But they lost their dog
And most belongings
No family in the area
And no insurance
Mom a waitress
Dad a cook
Three kids
Two bedrooms
They started over.
Josh got a scholarship
To a private school in DC
1 hour & 2 buses away
He was late too often
And got mostly D's
Got kicked out
But then
Something happened
Other families in the school
Rallied around Josh & his family
They launched a Facebook page
They called it"Let Josh Stay"
Spammed the headmaster
Demanding Josh
Get 2nd chance
He got one.
To make it easier
Josh spent some nights
At the house of a teammate
His name was Matthew Hillman
Yes Roommates Show Matt
Soon Matt & his family
Became part of Josh's
Josh did better
Played better
Villanova next
And a title.
Fast forward to today
Josh on the Knicks plane
Flying out to the NBA Finals
And Matthew's mom Pamela
Reposts video of Draft Night
The night that he knew
His mom would be OK
His dad would be OK.
Josh's dad Moses has said
"He learned how to play hard
Before he knew he was good
Playing hard's the only thing he knows."
The heart of Hart has always stood out
"He had it from Day One"
Said Josh's 8U coach
That's 8 years old.
Coaches saw it
Teammates
Families
In a school
He just got to
They noticed too
They rallied around him
Got him a 2nd chance
He kept going
He's here now