End of an Era: The Rock National Boys Basketball Team Nears Final Chapter After Storied Run
Inside a small Gainesville gym where cell service is spotty but the basketball pedigree is undeniable, The Rock National boys basketball team took the floor Tuesday night for what could be its last senior night. And they didn’t just show up - they dominated. An 83-47 rout of Jordan Christian Prep pushed their record to 20-7, and with it, the Lions kept their eyes locked on one final goal: a Sunshine Independent Athletic Association (SIAA) title.
This isn’t just the end of a season - it’s the end of an era.
A Powerhouse Winds Down
The Rock has long been a quiet giant in Florida basketball circles. While the Lions may not always be the first team mentioned in Gainesville-area sports conversations, no program in Alachua County has done more to send talent to the next level.
We're talking about a program that helped shape the careers of SEC Player of the Year Scottie Wilbekin and NBA MVP Joel Embiid. That kind of legacy doesn’t just happen - it’s built, brick by brick, over years of dedication and vision.
And at the center of it all was Justin Harden.
Harden’s Imprint on Gainesville Basketball
Harden joined The Rock’s staff in 2005 and took over as head coach in 2009, handpicked by Svend Wilbekin, the father of Scottie. Over the next decade and a half, Harden turned The Rock into a destination - not just for top-tier basketball talent, but for kids in North Central Florida looking for a shot at something bigger.
“I've been blessed beyond what I imagined,” Harden said, reflecting on his journey. “For Svend to give trust to me, and for the school to get behind us - it takes great investment.”
That investment paid off. Harden’s teams didn’t just win - they developed.
They traveled. They played in front of college coaches.
They got noticed.
And they brought in players like Joseph Hartman.
Hartman, Harvey, and the Final Ride
Hartman, a top-100 recruit in the Class of 2026 and a Michigan commit, has been the face of this year’s squad. The son of Florida assistant coach Carlin Hartman, Joseph is the type of guard who commands attention - both from defenses and from scouts. He’s been with the program for four years and has seen it all.
But even he wasn’t prepared for the emotional gut-punch when Harden told the team he wouldn’t be finishing the season.
“The day he told us it was a really sad day,” Hartman said. “He's given the school 20 years of his time and effort, and he's given everything he can into my team and me these past four years.”
Still, Hartman has leaned on family and teammates to stay focused. And if recent results are any indication - including a narrow one-point loss to national powerhouse Montverde - The Rock is peaking at the right time.
Alongside Hartman is De’Andre Harvey, a transfer from Williston who knows what winning looks like. Harvey won back-to-back state titles in 2023 and 2024 and was named the Sun’s Small School Player of the Year in 2025. When The Rock came calling, it was a moment he won’t forget.
“I was like, ‘Dang, y’all want me?’ Like crazy,” Harvey said.
He bought in quickly. Harden helped him clean up his game, focus on the details, and get in front of the right people.
“We’re traveling a lot and playing at these different places that coaches can come and see,” Harvey said. “Coaches can come in our practices. They can’t do that in high school.”
A Program Built for Exposure
That exposure has always been part of The Rock’s DNA. As a founding member of the SIAA - a basketball-only league with 29 schools - The Rock has operated outside the traditional Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) system since 2010. That independence gave them the flexibility to build a national schedule, host college coaches, and give their players a platform.
But with Harden’s departure, things are changing.
Earlier this season, Harden announced he would be leaving to launch The Syndicate Academy, a new sports academy in Gainesville. His plan was to finish the season with his six seniors, then take a year off before Syndicate began play in 2028.
The school had other ideas.
In January, The Rock informed Harden he would not finish the season. Assistant coach Mackenzie Williams stepped in as interim head coach. Harden, ever the professional, has remained a visible and supportive presence - just not on the bench.
“I want to be here to support the players because they’ve been supportive of me,” he said. “I really wish that we were able to finish the season together, but I just can't be on the bench, so I'm going to do my best to be a great cheerleader on the other side.”
Looking Ahead - and Looking Back
The Rock isn’t just losing a coach - it’s stepping away from a model that’s defined the program for over a decade. The school plans to shut down the National Team after this season and rejoin the FHSAA, shifting its focus toward academics and a more traditional high school sports structure.
That decision brings an end to one of the most unique and successful prep basketball programs in the region - a program that, for years, gave local kids a chance to dream big without leaving home.
“We always want the best in the city,” Harden said, “and if the best want to be coached well and want to be coached while we leave is the best coaching staff in the country, then we have open doors.”
Now, those doors are closing.
But there’s still basketball left to be played.
The Lions will host IMG Academy on Friday night for their final regular-season home game. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. It’s a fitting final test - one last chance to show what The Rock is all about.
And for a team that’s spent the season fighting for each other, for their coach, and for their legacy, it’s not just about going out - it’s about going out on their terms.