Growing Up - Mike Hall to George Washington

As a shorty growing up, Hall never imagined
he would be this far along with his basketball career.

By Frank Rusnak
As a 5'10" freshman with his goals set primarily to touch the next loop on the net, Shepard's Mike Hall never anticipated he would be accepting a full basketball scholarship three years later before the start of his senior season.

Playing on the freshmen team his first year in high school, Hall was a point guard for his team. A crafty lead guard, he was by no means an electrifying or eye-opening player.

"I didn't know he could dunk and then he just came out and surprised everyone...now he has some explosive dunks."

Mike Smith
Shepard H.S. Guard

During his freshman to sophomore year, Hall grew six inches. While a solid player competing on varsity as a sixth man, there was still much to come from the Cal Park-native.

"It just happened so fast," said Hall, referring to his quick rise out of nowhere into basketball stardom. "Sophomore year playing in the SICA East with T.J. Cummings (Homewood-Flossmoor/UCLA), Philip Alexander (Bloom Township/Toledo for Football) and Chris Alexander (Thornton/Iowa State) I realized they really weren't that much better, but just a little bit stronger and if I put in a little more work I might have a good chance at being as good as them."

Adding a few more inches going into his junior year and working hard on his game, everything was starting to fall into place. But what surprised people the most, was his newfound ability.

"I didn't know he could dunk and then he just came out and surprised everyone," said Shepard teammate and best friend, Mike Smith. "I didn't even know last year, but now he has some explosive dunks!"

But the dunks aren't the only part to Hall's game. While he averaged 12 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists on a well-balanced 23-5 team last year, Hall can do it all.

Being looked at to play the shooting guard or small forward spots at George Washington, Hall will bring a most versatile game to the Atlantic 10.

"I think he'll do real good and that will be a good conference for him to play in so he could shine over there," added Smith.

Although Hall loves the Colonials' basketball program and sees an opportunity where he could step in and contribute right away, that is not all that drew him to the Washington, D.C. school.

Carrying a 27 ACT score and a 4.8 GPA on a 5.0 scale, Hall is just as focused on his academics, as he is on the basketball side of being a student-athlete.

"I liked the campus," said Hall, who is looking to possibly major in sports therapy. "And it's a good mix of academics and athletics. I met the Dean of the Medical School and he was telling me about their process and how they have an early entry process in their sophomore year of college and if I kept my grades up I could maybe make it."

But for now, Hall has his sights set on his senior year and getting Shepard downstate.

"We surprised a lot of people last year and they are going to be coming for us this year so we're going to have to be ready," Hall said. "I think we'll have a successful season and I'm looking to win state."

Big words, but backed up by a player with the will and determination of Hall, they hold a little more meaning.