<a href="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/hall.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-4040" src="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/hall.jpg" alt="" width="312" height="300" /></a>Shaka Smart and staff wrapped up the 2011 class with JUCO power forward Carl Hall. The 6'8, 235-pound big man committed to VCU several days ago and caps off what looks to be yet another strong class for 2nd-year head coach Shaka Smart. Carl was one of the most productive JUCO's in the nation last year <a href="http://www.njcaa.org/colleges_college_player.cfm?sid=4&collegeid=1481&category=Roster&slid=2&teamid=93057&athleteid=283039">averaging 18.6 ppg, 11.3 rpg, and 3.6 bpg</a> during the regular season for Middle Georgia College. He came on particularly strong in the NJCAA tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas this past March where he scored <a href="http://www.njcaa.org/Teams/mbasketball/2009-10/DI/2010_NJCAA_DI_MBB_Championship_Box_Scores.pdf">31 points, 7 rebounds. and 2 blocks in 32 minutes of play, 20 points and 10 rebounds in 36 minutes, and 22 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 37 minutes</a> against Brunswick, Navarro, and Monroe respectively while shooting 66% from the field. He was subsequently <a href="http://www.njcaa.org/newsArticle.cfm?articleId=10905">named to the NJCAA All-Tournament team</a>.
After a stellar freshman season, he transferred over to Northwest Florida State College (current Ram Toby Veal attended there as well) this summer. In the Raiders' press release on their recruiting class for this upcoming season Head Coach Bruce Stewart called Hall <a href="http://nwfraiders.org/pr.cfm?NewsID=1853">"the nation's top-ranked JUCO transfer in Carl Hall, formerly of Middle Georgia College" and that he "has the potential to be among the best players in the country"</a>. He was recruited heavily by both Gregg Marshall at Wichita State and Tim Floyd at UTEP, both of which he had visits scheduled to. He visited Wichita State a couple of weekends ago and committed to VCU shortly after, canceling the visit he had scheduled to UTEP.
Hall is a power player who excels in the low post. He was a load in the JUCO ranks and will be able to contribute immediately for the Rams who will be young in the front court next year with Toby Veal the only returning upperclassman. Hall will bring immediate experience and skill to the position and afford the Rams another forward for Juvonte Reddic, DJ Haley, and Heath Houston to learn from as they grow into their roles on the team.
Hall looks to be a very solid piece in what looks to be a very solid CAA front court that Shaka Smart is putting together. What seemed to be a point of less emphasis in the past looks to be a real strength of the program now. The Rams will have the size to play with anybody in the country the next couple of years. With 2011 wrapped up, VCU will now look towards a highly-touted 2012 recruiting class where they will have 2 scholarships to give. Congratulations to Carl Hall and welcome to the VCU family!
After a stellar freshman season, he transferred over to Northwest Florida State College (current Ram Toby Veal attended there as well) this summer. In the Raiders' press release on their recruiting class for this upcoming season Head Coach Bruce Stewart called Hall <a href="http://nwfraiders.org/pr.cfm?NewsID=1853">"the nation's top-ranked JUCO transfer in Carl Hall, formerly of Middle Georgia College" and that he "has the potential to be among the best players in the country"</a>. He was recruited heavily by both Gregg Marshall at Wichita State and Tim Floyd at UTEP, both of which he had visits scheduled to. He visited Wichita State a couple of weekends ago and committed to VCU shortly after, canceling the visit he had scheduled to UTEP.
Hall is a power player who excels in the low post. He was a load in the JUCO ranks and will be able to contribute immediately for the Rams who will be young in the front court next year with Toby Veal the only returning upperclassman. Hall will bring immediate experience and skill to the position and afford the Rams another forward for Juvonte Reddic, DJ Haley, and Heath Houston to learn from as they grow into their roles on the team.
Hall looks to be a very solid piece in what looks to be a very solid CAA front court that Shaka Smart is putting together. What seemed to be a point of less emphasis in the past looks to be a real strength of the program now. The Rams will have the size to play with anybody in the country the next couple of years. With 2011 wrapped up, VCU will now look towards a highly-touted 2012 recruiting class where they will have 2 scholarships to give. Congratulations to Carl Hall and welcome to the VCU family!
