11/18/2019 basketball Edit

Five-star forward Josh Hall gives NC State its own 'Fab Five'

Jacey Zembal • TheWolfpackCentral

Writer

Josh Hall has been away from home the last four years off and on, but that won’t be a concern for college.

Hall announced his commitment to NC State Monday night, a decision that had been in the works for weeks. He officially visited NCSU, DePaul and Louisville, and ultimately picked the Wolfpack over the Blue Demons. The fifth member of NC State’s class of 2020, is also the highest ranked.

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NC State Wolfpack basketball commit Josh Hall — Durham, N.C., native Josh Hall of Hickory (N.C.) Moravian Prep picked NC State on Monday. (Jacey Zembal/TheWolfpacker.com)

Rivals.com has the 6-7, 195-pounder ranked No. 26 overall in the country's class of 2020. The five-star prospect is also listed as the No. 4 small forward in the land.

Hall joined Hickory (N.C.) Moravian Prep senior guard teammate Shakeel Moore, Greensboro (N.C.) Day point guard Camren Hayes, Apex (N.C.) Friendship power forward Nick Farrar and Newnan (Ga.) Heritage Academy center Ebenezer Dowuona. Like Hall, the four-star Hayes is a top-50 recruit, checking in as the No. 48 prospect in the land.

NCSU also has current freshman wing Dereon Seabron and Nebraska junior shooting guard transfer Thomas Allen redshirting this season.

Hall officially visited NC State Oct. 16-18 and followed up by visiting DePaul Oct. 27-29. In between he made the key decision of changing his mind on waiting to sign in April, and put pen to paper Tuesday morning to officially join the Pack.

He returned to watch NC State whip St. Francis Brooklyn last Saturday at Reynolds Coliseum. NC State coach Kevin Keatts and assistant coaches Takayo Siddle and Roy Roberson in turn watched him play Friday night (along with Moore) at Raleigh Ravenscroft High.

For Hall, who is now doing a post-grad year at his school, reaching the point of being an ACC signee and returning to play collegiately in his hometown area is an improbable story line. The Durham native played his freshman year at Southern Durham High. The then-6-3 wing made the move to Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy for two years and suited up on the Warriors' “B” team.

He actually unofficially visited NCSU in 2017, but it wasn’t until he blossomed at Moravian Prep during his senior year of 2018-19 that his recruitment took off. NC State didn’t watch him much that season but still ended up offering him April 4, 2019.

Hall switched to Team Loaded NC traveling team, and played well last spring and summer. Along the way, he elected bypassing being a freshman in college this season and reclassified, has gained at least 30 pounds and shot up the 2020 rankings to No. 26 in the country.

He averaged 14.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 10 games played on the adidas circuit, and shot an impressive 14 of 34 on three-pointers (41.2 percent). Hall also played in two contests with CP3 one weekend, pouring in 30 against against Houston Hoops on May 10.

Hall continued his national ascent with a good showing at the Pangos Camp in the Los Angeles area, and he became a key NC State recruiting priority during the July evaluation period.

Hall’s commitment currently means the Wolfpack don’t have any remaining scholarships for the class of 2020, and have two left for 2021.