Standout opts to delay college for a year

Thibodaux High School senior Austin Hall Jr. is honest about his goals.

Hall would be the first one to admit that he wishes he would be signing with a Division I school to continue his basketball playing career – a four-year institution that he can grow at and prosper.

But he doesn’t think he’s ready – at least not yet.

So he committed to Plan B this week – a chance to have his cake and eat it, too.

Hall signed this week with Louisiana Christian School – a prep school in Lafayette that’s just getting roots.

Hall, a 6-foot-2-inch, 190-pound combo guard picked Louisiana Christian over some smaller offers. He did so because being with a prep school will afford him the ability to play next season, while not losing eligibility – a free season to better himself academically and also physically before getting ready for the future.

“It just feels good to get this opportunity,” Hall said. “I’ll be honest – I wish I was going D1 right now, but I’m not ready. So I chose to go to prep school so that I can get better.”

Louisiana Christian is getting a quality player – a guy who believes he’s capable of doing more than he did at the prep level.

Hall is an athletic guard who can defend multiple position. He also has elite-level jumping ability, which allows him to make up for a lack of size.

Hall averaged 7.5 points per game last season for Thibodaux, helping lead the Tigers to the Class 5A State Playoffs under coach Tony Clark.

Hall said his strengths are driving/slashing and making open shots.

He said his goals are to become a better all-around guard in hopes of possibly being a collegiate point guard.

“I’m just working on everything to get my game better,” Hall said. “But I really want to get my ball handling and defensive skills up. Those are things I’m really focusing on.”

Hall said he didn’t know about Louisiana Christian during his recruitment, but the school sought him out.

The Thibodaux standout said one of his AAU teammates told the team about Hall, which struck a connection.

From there, he said he visited the campus and got to know the people involved with the program and it struck a natural fit.

Louisiana Christian plays other prep schools – and even some colleges – throughout the season.

They’ve been hot on the trails of local talent in recent weeks, also signing CCA standout RonKaz Alvis and Ellender point guard Domonique Wilson.

The school has also been looking at South Lafourche guard Seth Borne in recent weeks, according to Borne and folks within the Tarpons program.

“It is a good fit for me,” Hall said. “It all felt like family.”

So now, Hall said he’s ready to put in the time and effort to make it all work.

His plan is to be with the program for one season, before signing with a university to play in 2018-19.

Hall said the curriculum at Louisiana Christian is focused on the ACT Test, and students study and practice the exam multiple times so that they can take it and better their score for the future.

Hall said on-court success and classroom success are his two biggest goals, adding that he hopes to significantly raise his score during his time with the team.

“My goal is to get higher on my ACT Test, first and foremost,” Hall said. “From there, I want to play well enough so that I can get a D1 offer and go play somewhere big. I know I can do it. I just have to focus.”

SCOTT SIGNS WITH TEXAS STATE

The prep school rout works for several players each year. One of those is a Houma native who is now off to play major college basketball.

Former Ellender standout Quentin Scott signed TAAG Academy Florida after his career at Ellender, giving himself some time to boost his scores and also attract attention from bigger programs.

He later transferred to The Conrad Academy where he finished his season.

Scott announced this week that he had signed with Texas State, choosing the Bobcats over offers from Stephen F. Austin, South Florida, Nicholls and several other schools.

Scott is a 6-foot, 6-inch guard/forward who will be able to play either on the inside or outside at the next level.

His most memorable game in the last season was a 37-point outing he scored against Three Kings Academy during the Montverde Academy Tournament.

Texas State is a rising program in the Sun Belt Conference – a 20-plus-win team from a year ago.

The Bobcats have a handful of Louisiana natives on their team, including Baton Rouge native Maxwell Starwood and Courtney Julien, of Gonzales.

Scott will have four years of eligibility when he reports to the Bobcats next season.

Austin HallCASEY GISCLAIR | THE TIMES

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