sports spotlight: noah hartsock

NOAH HARTSOCK

By Mike Tupa
March 21, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT

Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Bartlesville basketball there was a mighty band of brothers known as the Hartsocks.

Starting with Daniel and ending with Jakob, they helped slay the dragons that stood in the way of Bartlesville being ranked among the Top Eight Class 6A teams in Oklahoma year-after-year-after year.

Each of Bartlesville’s five state tournament boys basketball teams (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2012) during the Tim Bart Era featured at least one Hartsock in a key role. These Stripling Siblings — otherwise known as Leslie and Dave’s boys —grew up around the worn-out, beat-up standard on their hilly driveway, waging ferocious body-banging, trash-talking battles that toughened them physically and mentally for their hoop wars in school competition.

Four of the five also played college basketball.

(There also was a daughter, Johanna, who used her powerful hitting heroics to help the Bartlesville volleyball team make its most recent trip to state — the semifinals in 2010.)

Stretching the measuring tape from 6-foot-3 to 6-foot-8, the Hartsock guys helped define Bruin hoops success in their generations.

None more so than Noah Hartsock (6-8, 230), who graduated in 2006 from Bartlesville.

He departed as Bartlesville’s all-time leading scorer, including averaging more than 27 ppg his senior season and being nominated for the McDonald’s High School All-America team.

He had been a primary contributor on three consecutive state-qualifying Bruin teams (2003-06), including the 2004-05 squad that finished as state runner-up.

Off the court, the affable Hartsock — blessed with a shy sunny smile and friendly communication — made many friends.

In the fierce tumult of competition, however, he could be as fierce as a vexed lion and as motivated as a teeth-mashing mastiff. He possessed that rare gear of rising — literally and figuratively — above impossible obstacles, which is the province of true warriors.

Very shortly after he earned his Bartlesville diploma, Hartsock put off his college basketball career for two years by serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Upon his return, he helped elevate the Brigham Young men’s basketball team to the NCAA men’s tournament for four-straight years.

As a BYU senior (2011-12) — despite battling through injury a good chunk of the year — Hartsock averaged 16.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, hit almost 40 percent of his three-pointers (39-of-99), blocked 55 shots and made 50 assists. He registered two double-doubles that season vs. Oregon (23 pts., 12 boards) and Weber State (19 pts, 12 boards).

His most amazing feat that season, however, happened in a NCAA tourney game when BYU rallied from a 49-24 deficit to beat Iona, 78-72, largely because of Hartsock’s team-high 23 points. Hartsock and his BYU teammates went on to play in the Sweet 16.

Following his college days, Hartsock — who received interest from multiple NBA teams but was still working his way back from injury — played one year of pro ball in Europe.

He decided after that to give it a call to his career, favoring a more stable life with his young family and also to begin a coaching career that has led to unforeseen opportunities.

Meanwhile, there has been no happily-ever-after in the post-Hartsock days for Bartlesville basketball. In the 11 seasons since baby brother Jakob graduated the Bruins haven’t been back to state.

Noah Hartsock