Josh Hall, the top signee in NC State’s 2020 recruiting class, won’t play college basketball. Back in early April, Hall announced his decision to enter the 2020 NBA Draft. At the time, Hall kept the door open to play the 2020-21 season at NC State.
That door, however, has closed. On Thursday night, Hall signed with an agent. He plans to remain in the 2020 draft.
NC State signee and 2020 prospect Josh Hall is bypassing his college eligibility and signing with Nate Conley, of Pro Sports Management, for his professional representation, his father tells @247Sports .
— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) May 1, 2020
A 4-star forward from Durham, Hall reclassified from the 2019 recruiting class to 2020. With that, Hall is able to bypass college and go straight to the draft.
After committing to NC State last November, Hall quickly signed his LOI with the Wolfpack, too, as Kevin Keatts put together his first major recruiting class. 247 Sports ranks Hall as the No. 36 overall player in the 2020 class; he’s the headliner of NC State’s top-10 recruiting class.
At 6-foot-9 with movement shooting skills, Hall would’ve fit nicely in NC State’s frontcourt with DJ Funderburk and Manny Bates. Keatts could’ve tried some jumbo lineups with all three on the floor; Funderburk, who is currently testing the draft waters, too, and Bates played pretty well together in extended minutes this season.
Bates and Funderburk are two power pick-and-roll centers, too. Hall’s range shooting, as a small-ball 4 next to Funderburk or Bates, would’ve helped open the floor for NC State’s half-court offense.
Part one of a two tweet/part video on Josh Hall (@jay5mula):
Lengthy F with a nice handle, ability to grab and go in transition, soft touch in paint, score in the PnR as the ballhandler, and score in PnR as the big.
*Video slowed down to put emphasis on skill* pic.twitter.com/nemGQ6wBRx
— Spencer (@SKPearlman) April 9, 2020
In theory, Hall looks like an advanced version of a prototypical NC State forward under Keatts. He’s long and rangy — with some skills on offense. Jericole Hellems is ready to, once again, handle the bulk of those flex forward minutes.
What happens next with Funderburk becomes critical for NC State’s frontcourt next season. Even with a deep recruiting class coming in, Funderburk’s talents will be necessary for a team that’s set to replace Markell Johnson and CJ Bryce.