Younger
Hartung making impact on
By John
Enrietto
Eagle Sports Editor
From seldom used to used everywhere, the transition has been no problem for
The 6-foot-4 junior guard-forward plays wherever the Golden Tornado basketball
team needs him these days, be it point guard or in the post.
He played all five positions on the floor during Tuesday's 61-49 win at
"It doesn't bother me," Hartung said.
"If it will help the team win, I'll do it."
Hartung has had a lot to do with the current success,
averaging 9.6 points, eight rebounds and six assists per game.
He's scored in double figures in seven of
"I feel like he's a threat for a triple double in any game,"
Along with older brother Nate Hartung
and guard Jerrod Markle, he is one of three returning
lettermen on the Tornado roster.
"I knew I'd start and play a lot this year because of all the guys we
lost," Hartung said. "Being one of a few
guys to see varsity time last year, I knew they'd be counting on me."
He hasn't let his coaches, teammates or big brother down.
Growing up as an athlete behind a 400-pound football and basketball player
can't be easy.
"I've felt a little overshadowed at times," Hartung
admitted. "But we both have our roles and it's
fun playing on the same team."
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Besides
excelling in basketball, Noah Hartung served as
"He told me he wanted to play football a couple of years ago, and I told
him he was nuts, that football was for crazy people like his brother,"
said Dick Hartung,
"Noah hasn't been playing football very long. Nate
came home from practice one day and said 'Dad, Noah's an animal out
there,'" the elder Hartung added.
He plays basketball the same way.
"Sometimes Noah will get a little too overexuberant
and turn the ball over trying to make an aggressive play," Lewandowski
said. "Then the next time down the floor, he'll make a no-look pass
through three defenders and put the ball in a teammate's hands for an easy layup.
"That's what I like about him. He never gets down mentally or loses
confidence in himself. He sees the floor and anticipates so well … and he's
just scratching the surface of what kind of player he can be," he added.
Hartung's father and brother agree.
"Noah is 6-4 and has a basketball body," his father said. "Nate has an offensive lineman's body. Noah's continually
learning how to use his athleticism. Nate's probably
his biggest fan."
"Yeah, that's definitely true, but I don't let him know that," Nate Hartung said, smiling.
"Noah can do everything on the court. He can hit the 3, drive to the
basket, post up, guard little guys, guard big
guys."
Lewandowski has had no problem having Hartung do all
of those things.
"Putting all of that on him was no problem because the kid has played so
much basketball," the coach said. "We probably played 70 games last
summer and he was always there."
Hartung scored his varsity career-high of 17 points
in a season-opening 50-45 loss at Ambridge.
He's been developing the rest of his game since.
"Noah's had a tremendous impact on this team," his brother said.
"And I knew he would."
Like his brother, Noah Hartung has been playing
organized basketball since fourth grade. Both big men get a lot of assists.
"I have no idea where we learned some of those passes," Noah Hartung said. "I guess it's from playing basketball so
much."
"Noah won a shooting contest as a basketball camp when he was eight years
old," his father said.
Now he has his eyes on winning a lot more.
"My goals?," the younger Hartung
repeated a question. "Winning a section championship, the WPIAL
championship, the state championship … I mean, that's
why we're playing."