The Sun Belt announced Monday that Texas State men’s basketball’s DJ Hall was selected as Freshman of the Year and as a forward on the All-Sun Belt Second Team. Hall recorded seven 20-point performances and eight double-doubles while averaging 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists on 54.1% shooting from the field.
Hall hails from Plano East High School, where he finished as the program’s all-time leading scorer. He averaged nearly 24 points as a senior and as a junior, led the Panthers to a 40-0 record and a UIL Class 6A State Championship. He is the Bobcats’ highest-rated recruit in program history, according to 247Sports.
“Right now, it’s not really hit,” Hall said on a call Monday with the American-Statesman. “Everything I’ve been through, this whole basketball journey, has been an emotional rollercoaster. So it’ll definitely hit by tonight.”
Despite having two preseason All-Sun Belt selections at guard in senior Mark Drone and junior Kaden Gumbs, Hall factored in as a key piece to the offense from the moment he took the court. His knack for rebounding, touch around the rim and passing out of the post all played an integral part in Texas State having the second-highest field goal percentage in the Sun Belt.
During the Bobcats’ final eight games, Hall leapt to another level, averaging 20 points and 7.4 rebounds on 57.7% shooting. Texas State will play its first game of the Sun Belt Basketball Championship Friday against Southern Miss or whichever team makes it out from that side of the ladder bracket.