Honaker High School senior Jaylon Hart will draw another daunting defensive assignment on Friday night against the Auburn Eagles in the VHSL Class 1 boys basketball state semifinals.
It’s a tough task for the 6-foot-1 senior guard, but he is not averse to putting in a hard day’s work as he grew up on the family cattle farm in Russell County and knows all about laborious challenges.
“It can be really difficult, especially throwing square bales of hay,” Hart said. “This summer we grew 22 acres of hemp and cut them by hand with tobacco knives.”
Hart has helped cultivate both crops and hoops trophies lately in playing well as Honaker (22-7) finished atop the Hogoheegee District and Region 1D, while reaching the state semifinals for the first time since 2015.
His primary role is defensive stopper and it’s a duty he relishes.
“I take pride in it because it helps the team succeed and get ahead,” Hart said.
Has he always been a good defender?