The term “sleeper” gets thrown out there quite a bit in college basketball circles. It can be a player that didn’t have a lot of offers coming out of high school or a player that “blew up” in college and outperformed the expectations that were set for him. 

Whatever the case may be, these players are out there every late winter, early spring on the recruiting front. Let’s examine what makes up a “sleeper”. 

A player usually faces the challenge of some variation of the following things: 

• An injury
• Playing on a travel team that doesn’t utilize player’s strengths 
• Coaches say “He’s too small”
• Or they ask “What position is he?”

Look at any “sleeper” at the college level and he probably had a monster senior season with his best games against the opponents. 

Isaiah Hart of Mableton (GA) Whitefield Academy checks nearly all of those boxes. And he’s quickly becoming one of the top trending players in the Peach State this season. 

Hart helped Whitefield come from behind and rally to win 79-74 in overtime at St. Francis on Tuesday night. Hart was nothing short of remarkable in the win. He finished with 43 points (14-26 FG, 2-4 from 3, 13-13 FT). eight assists, five rebounds and five steals in the win. 

He was involved in every facet of the game. Truthfully, he was absolutely brilliant. 

“He is a dog and I mean that in the purest compliment of a way,” Whitefield head coach Tyrone Johnson said. “He’s not afraid of the moment. He had 43 but he’s not a ball hog. He’ll do anything. We execute a lot in the half court set so he did a good job of delivering the ball up. Overall, he did a great job.” 

Hart, admittedly, did not play his best basketball during the NCAA Live Period back in July and April. Injuries slowed him and his game was just off. But back in a familiar setting and structure of Whitefield Academy, Hart has taken off this season. He’s one of the best scorers in Georgia, posting 27 points a game. 

What is the secret to his success this year? 

“My teammates,” Hart said. “They are doing what they have to do, playing their roles and my job is to help us score. I’m a role player, too. That’s my role.” 

Hart made believers back in December at the Tournament of Champions at Wheeler High School. He was the leading scorer of the event that was rich with Division I talent. His recruitment changed after that event, he said. 

Since December, Hart said he has heard from Georgia, LSU, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Middle Tennessee, Western Carolina, East Carolina and Florida A&M. To date, Hart holds offers from Loyola, Southern and North Greenville. 

Western Carolina was on hand to see the 43-point effort on Tuesday. The goal, however, is not finding a college home. 

“I’m still putting it all together,” Hart said. 

A state championship is in his sights. He's not sleeping on that.