Basketball is Geoff Hartman's game, but baseball could be his future.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Monte Vista High senior has the skill to play college basketball: Chico State has shown interest.
Yet his athletic ticket may change before he graduates.
gI've played baseball almost as long as I've played basketball,h Hartman said. gBut I've concentrated only on basketball since I got into high school.h
Hartman, an All-Grossmont South League basketball selection with a 17.2 scoring average as a junior, plans to slide into his cleats and crank up his pitching arm come spring.
Monte Vista basketball coach James Carroll said Hartman's pitches have reportedly been clocked at 85 mph.
gHe hasn't even worked at baseball in the last three years,h Carroll said. gSo he can only get better.h
Hartman said basketball gis my first love,h but he realizes baseball gives him other options.
gIf he comes out this year, I think he could hit 88 mph and possibly peak at 90,h Monte Vista baseball coach Brandon Rogers said.
For now, Hartman is focused on basketball.
One of the forces motivating Hartman for his senior season is how his junior campaign concluded. A last-place league finish was bitter enough, but Monte Vista missed a golden opportunity to upset fourth-seeded Oceanside in the San Diego Section Division II playoffs.
The Monarchs (11-19) fell a basket short of reaching the semifinals, losing to the Pirates 41-40.
gThat is probably the most disappointing game of my career,h said Hartman, who scored to give Monte Vista a 40-39 lead with 3:20 remaining.
Oceanside countered with the winning basket 16 seconds later. Neither team scored in the final three minutes.
gI don't want us to have another season like that,h said Hartman, who averaged more than eight rebounds and two blocks per game a year ago.
Hartman's dedication is more than idle chatter.
gThe morning after we lost at Oceanside, Geoff was in the gym working out at 5:30,h Carroll said. gThat's the kind of work ethic he has.h
Monte Vista senior guard Trent Watkins said he wasn't surprised to see Hartman on the floor hours after the defeat.
gHartman is a very balanced player, who is excellent at involving his teammates in the game because he's such a good passer,h Watkins said. gYou won't find a better team player.h
Hartman said playing club basketball during the off-season with the San Diego All-Stars, coached by Marshawn Cherry, has helped his game.
gWe played in all the big tournaments in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Arizona,h Hartman said. gI wanted to market myself – put my name out there – and I think playing for Coach Cherry helped.h
Carroll said he has noticed the improvement.
gGeoff has always been able to slash to the basket, or post up,h Carroll said. gBut he's making great strides on defense and now he's capable of shooting three to four feet above the arc.h
Hartman credits his longtime personal friend and coach Alvin Bird for providing inspirational guidance.
gWhat I remember most is him telling me 'a humble man is a better man,'h Hartman said. gSo I try to stay humble and calm. Hopefully that will get me where I want to be.h