St. John's University Athletics
Alumnae Centhya Hart Set To Play Professionally In Germany
8/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Aug. 21, 2012
QUEENS, N.Y. - Former Red Storm forward Centhya "Coco" Hart is set to begin her second-straight professional season abroad in a few weeks, this time for FIBA Europe's BG '89 Avides Hurricanes in Germany. Last year, Hart played for Finland's Kerava Energia.
Hart, who signed her contract with the Hurricanes in late-July, will leave her hometown and current residence of Memphis, Tenn., for Hamburg, Germany in late-August. From Hamburg, she will travel to her new home in Rotenburg until late-March.
Hart will play a 22-game schedule, with the season-opener Sept. 29. She will be playing some games against her former teammate Tiina Sten (Class of `08), who will play for Germany's Wasserburg for the 2012 season. The Hurricanes have one other American on their team, West Virginia's Vanessa House, who played against Hart in Finland last year.
"I am excited to be able to play overseas again this year and to explore a new country," said Hart. "Playing in Finland last year really opened my eyes to how different European basketball is compared to the way we play here in the United States. This year, I am prepared for the different technique and strategies. Last year was kind of a building year for me as European Basketball is played with four quarters, no media time outs and less subbing. Playing professionally is also interesting because the coaches want a lot of your input on the game-flow and other in-game situations."
With Kerava last year, Hart played in 25 games and averaged a double-double with 14.0 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. She averaged 34.5 minutes and had a free throw percentage of 76.6.
The former Red Storm forward was part of a remarkable run of success in her four years at St. John's, a career that included back-to-back runs to the NCAA Tournament, two years of national rankings and two trips to the WNIT postseason tournament. Hart had 11 double-digit scoring efforts as a senior, to rack up a career-best 281 points and finish her career with 807. Hart went from reserve to consistent starter during her four years under Barnes Arico. The Memphis native was third on the team in scoring in 2010-11, even while suffering through a nagging shoulder injury. Hart also had a career-best 187 rebounds as a senior, finishing her collegiate-career with 617. Hart played in 132 career games, the most of any player in St. John's program history. She was also presented the 2011 Victoria Porter MVP award at the annual St. John's awards celebration in May.
Coco was an intricate part of our programs success during her time at St. John's," remarked head coach Joe Tartamella. "She immediately improves any team she plays on with the intangible qualities she brings to the floor. We are really proud of the successes she has had playing overseas and the way she has represented St. John's. We look forward to following her this year."
Hart is the fourth player in as many years to play professional basketball overseas. In addition to Hart and Sten, Joy McCorvey (Class of `10) also played in Germany and Monique McLean (Class of `09) played for the Greek franchise, Olympiakos. With the DBBL's TUS Jena Burgaupark Lady Baskets, McCorvey played 20 games as a power forward, averaging 16.7 points, 13.3 rebounds and shooting .480 from the field in her season abroad.
Keep up to date on all St. John's women's basketball news by following St. John's women's basketball (@STJ_WBasketball) and head coach Joe Tartamella (@STJ_CoachT) on Twitter!
