Following a short and successful stint with the Owensboro Thoroughbreds, Matt Hart is returning to basketball overseas.
Hart has signed a two-year contract with KK Sloboda Uzice in Serbia recently, joining teammate Cayden Edmonson in moving on to the next step in their professional careers thanks to his agent pulling some strings.
“I have an agent who’s actually from Serbia and he mentioned that this team was interested, but they wanted to see me in person and they weren’t gonna pay for a flight over there, so I just took a chance,” Hart said. “I paid for my own flight to Serbia. I stayed out there for two weeks and I got a contract, so it worked out well.”
Hart partook in a plethora of workouts and scrimmages with the team and they liked what they saw and offered the contract shortly after.
His path to professional basketball overseas is an unconventional one, as ending up in Owensboro wasn’t even part of the plan.
“I was in Ireland playing and the season was cancelled [because of COVID], so I wasn’t planning on playing in the TBL,” Hart said. “But since the season got cancelled, I, you know, I needed something to do. I needed somewhere to play, so that’s how I got in touch with Coach Anderson and then Chris and that’s how I ended up in Owensboro.”
The point guard averaged 16.2 PPG with the Thoroughbreds, averaging 3.6 APG while shooting 50.3% from the field.
Hart said that his team will be getting an offensive asset in him and someone who hopes to lead by example with hard work.
“I’ve always been one of the best shooters of any team I’ve been on and that’s really what I bring to the table,” Hart said. “But I’m also an all-around scorer. I can put the ball in the basket in many different ways, at all three levels, as they say: layups, midrange, from three, so I’ll bring a scoring threat. I pride myself on being the hardest worker on the floor at all times, so they’re gonna get a gamer as well.”
Owensboro Head Coach Mark Anderson told Hart to end his season with them on May 30th, knowing that he needed to stay healthy to offer his intelligent play and leadership to his new team.
“Matt was critical as he gave us veteran leadership on and off the court,” Anderson said. “His work ethic was great for the young guys to see. Matt will bring leadership and solid play at both ends of the court. He has a great basketball IQ.”
Hart is excited for his first season overseas after COVID took that away when he was expecting to play in Ireland.
There are a number of challenges he’ll face including a language barrier and getting familiarized in a new place by himself, but Hart is looking forward to learning more about the culture there.
“I love languages and I love learning languages, so I’m already starting to learn a little bit,” Hart said. “It is tough though, I’ll tell you that. But that’s the toughest part. The language barrier and just, you know, trying to make your way in a new country and a new city on your own.”
While there will definitely be an adjustment period and some hardships that he will face along the way on and off the court, Hart is ready to get to work.
“I love playing,” Hart said. “I’ve always wanted to play professionally. And this is another opportunity to challenge myself. I’m always up for a challenge. This is a really good league, a really physical league. “Guys are very talented, very big, you know, physically so. You know, it’s just gonna be another challenge, another test for me and like I said, I’m always up for a new challenge.”
Hart thanks his teammates, coaches and the friends he made while in Owensboro, knowing that they were a key part in him achieving his professional basketball dreams.
“I really enjoyed my time in Owensboro and everyone was so nice to me,” Hart said. All the fans that I met and the people I met down there were so welcoming to me.”
