Before Texas State men’s basketball forward DJ Hall became the Sun Belt’s freshman of the year, he was a sophomore at Plano East High School with one offer to his name.
Even after the then 6-foot-6, 225-pound center led the Panthers to a UIL Class 6A state championship, he received no offers from Power Four schools.
“I’m used to being overlooked and underestimated,” Hall told the American-Statesman.
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That one offer, though, that came before that state title? It was from Texas State head coach Terrence Johnson. He went all-in on the forward’s potential and fans have seen the coach’s wager blossom as Hall has evolved into one of the best players in the conference.
‘You’re the future of this program’
Texas State first noticed Hall at an AAU tournament, the summer before his junior year at Plano East. He received an invitation to the Bobcats’ camp in August, where Johnson scouted the teen thoroughly for the first time.
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Hall doesn’t appear to be an exceptional athlete on first glance. His jogging gait is a bit plodding. Plano East coach Matt Wester said Hall didn’t dunk once during the team’s title run. But Johnson looked beyond the traditional markers of athleticism.
“I thought he had a very unique skill set, of being able to create angles for himself,” Johnson said. “For his size, he was a really, really good passer, and I thought he played with a quick-twitch muscle.”
Other programs were initially unimpressed. Wester said they questioned whether the play style he crafted throughout his prep career would fit into their system. But Johnson had no such qualms. Texas State extended an offer in August 2023 — Hall’s only offer for the next 10 months.
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“It was communicated very clearly from the very beginning that DJ was the highest priority,” Wester said.
Texas State Bobcats forward DJ Hall (0) shoots the ball as Texas State men’s basketball takes on Troy at Strahan Arena in San Marcos Wednesday,Feb. 11, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
As Plano East and Hall toppled opponent after opponent in the 2024 state playoffs, Texas State kept a close eye on its top target. Wester said Bobcats reps would send him pictures from the Sun Belt championship, where the staff would be watching Panthers games, their eyes glued to No. 0.
Hall’s recruitment picked up soon after his junior season. But the Bobcats’ consistent pursuit paid off, and he committed in the fall of 2024. He ended up Plano East’s all-time leading and scorer, and during his visit to San Marcos, one thing Johnson told Hall rang through Westers’ mind.
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“If anybody believes in you more than we do, you should probably go there,” Johnson told Hall and Wester. “We think you’re the future of this program.”
Committing to Texas State basketball
Despite where he’s ended up, there was a time when Hall said he wasn’t sure if he had a future in basketball at all.
Hall suffered a knee injury his freshman year of high school. As he recovered and tried to regain his form, he saw his peers surpass him. The frustration mounted, his mental health declined and Hall said he considered quitting the sport altogether.
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Comparison can be the thief of joy. Growth isn’t linear. Both are common refrains, but at the time, Hall struggled to see past the fog clouding his future.
“It was a time I was depressed a lot,” Hall said. “I started taking it seriously. I was like, ‘Do I really want to do this?’”
DJ Hall at the UIL 6A State Championship game between Stony Point and Plano East.
Aaron E. Martinez/American-State/Austin American-Statesman
Hall went through counseling, he said. His parents supported him as he contemplated his future. When Wester was deciding in 2023 who to give the final varsity spot to, the upperclassmen convinced the coach to give it to Hall, who hadn’t broken out yet. They saw something in him that even Wester hadn’t yet identified.
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Eventually, Hall rediscovered his passion and fully committed to becoming great in basketball. Midway through his sophomore year, Wester said Hall’s talent began to bloom.
“He had to figure out his work ethic, especially on the court,” Plano East vice principal Mona Addelfattah said. “It was just figuring himself out and what his goals really were.”
It’s common practice for top recruits to leave high school after their junior season for a prep program. Washington Wizards guard Tre Johnson, who won the Class 6A state title with Lake Highland in 2023, spent his senior season with Link Academy. Yet Hall remained with Plano East after the state title. The Panthers didn’t replicate the magical 2024 playoff run, but Hall’s decision wasn’t made solely with winning in mind.
“I want to be around the people who show me support since I was at my lowest to my highest. That’s pretty much how I’ve always been,” Hall said.
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Steadfast commitment for DJ Hall
After landing Hall, Johnson created a pathway for him to start. He avoided recruiting any junior college players that might eat into Hall’s minutes. He wanted the freshman to play early, work through his mistakes and develop. However, it became apparent during preseason practices that Hall was ahead of schedule.
Johnson said the freshman was a mismatch nightmare, bullying smaller guards and utilizing his quickness against larger forwards. Hall didn’t just earn a starting spot; he became one of Texas State’s best offensive players from the jump.
“I thought he had the talent to be an all-conference player at some point,” Johnson said. “He probably got there a little bit quicker than most people would have thought.”
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Texas State Head Coach Terrence Johnson talks to his team as the Bobcats create to play the Texas A&M San Antonio Jaguars at Strahan Arena in San Marcos, Nov. 5, 2025.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Guard Mark Drone said he and the other Texas State veterans don’t look at him as a freshman. He earned their respect with his game, and Johnson praised them for putting the team’s success ahead of their own pride.
“I’m seeing these guys really support me, telling me I’m going to be great,” Hall said.
It hasn’t been all smooth sailing. Texas State struggled to piece its team together through the first three months of the season. But the Bobcats meshed at the right time, winning eight of their last nine regular-season games.
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Over the last two months, Texas State has connected through the idea of playing for one another. Their steadfast commitment to his success and his own dedication to his teammates allow Hall to be the best he can be.
“I’ll always have their back. They’ve had my back this whole season,” Hall said.