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