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Which Villanova Guard in Tonight’s Sweet 16 Game Is an Eagle Scout?

Josh-Hart-Villanova

Josh Hart is the Villanova guard who’s charging full speed ahead in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2016 NCAA men’s basketball tournament and he’s also an Eagle Scout! Did you guess right?

Rooted in the Scouting principles at an early age, Hart joined the program as a Cub Scout and excelled through the ranks to earn Scouting’s highest honor.

Yet with a busy basketball schedule, Hart wasn’t always confident he could keep up with his Scouting commitments. In fact, the basketball player once considered giving up Scouting all-together. But Hart’s dad knew Scouting would be beneficial to his son, so he encouraged him to stick with the program.

“My dad said, ‘Let’s get in the car and go somewhere.’ He just pulled right up to the troop meeting and said, ‘you’re gonna finish what you started,’” Hart says. “I promised him I was going to finish, and kept thinking that I made a promise.”

A week before his 18th birthday, Hart fulfilled his promise to his dad and ascended to the Eagle Scout rank. He earned the award as a member of Rockville, Md.-based Troop 1083 of the National Capital Area Council.

Thanks to Scouting, the athlete is a better team player today. Hart credits Scouting for teaching him the leadership and work ethic he needed to excel in basketball.

Tonight is a big night for Villanova and Josh Hart and you won’t want to miss it! You can watch the Eagle Scout in the Sweet Sixteen game against No. 3 seed Miami (7:10 p.m. Eastern Thursday, March 24 CBS).

Read the full story on the Eagle Scout athlete, along with Philadelphia Scouter Ed Lynes’ interview with Hart to learn how Scouting helped him soar to basketball fame by heading to Bryan on Scouting.

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Hayley

Hayley Cordaro is a communications specialist at the Boy Scouts of America. She loves sharing inspiring success stories and uncovering new ways volunteers and employees can make the most of their Scouting experience. If you have story ideas or questions, reach out to us at communications@scouting.org.