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Devon Hall at the 2012 Nike EYBL in Hampton |
The Early Signing Period for Division 1 Men’s Basketball begins today. It ends next Wednesday, November 21, but both of UVa’s recruits — Cape Henry Collegiate (Virginia Beach, VA) point guard London Perrantes — are expected to make it official and sign with the Hoos as early as today.
On Facebook yesterday, Hall wrote: “Big day for me tomorrow ! Thanks to everyone that helped me in getting there ! I appreciate it a lot !”
On Twitter last night, Perrantes wrote the following: “Tomorrow is a huge day for my basketball career”
Virginia was hoping to add a low-post prospect to the fold this fall but fell short on three of its primary targets, including Joel Embiid (signing with Kansas), Austin Nichols (Memphis), and Schuyler Rimmer (Stanford).
Hall, a 6’5″, 205-pound prospect, began his high school career as a member of the class of 2013. He reclassified to the class of 2014 before deciding this past summer to move back up to the class of 2013. He informed Virginia head coach Tony Bennett of his intentions following the end of Virginia’s Elite Camp this past summer.
Hall guided Cape Henry Collegiate to an undefeated record and a state championship last season. He was named VIS Division II Player of the Year in 2011/2012, averaging 16 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists per game.
“He is being what we consider to be a fierce competitor. His shot is looking much better. The leadership with the team is always there, and he is constantly getting his body together,” Hall’s father, Mark Hall Sr., said in an interview with TheSabre last month. Hall Sr., who is Cape Henry’s head coach, was describing how his son looked in preseason workouts.
Rivals.com and Scout.com rank Hall as a 3-star prospect, while ESPN.com has him on the 3-star level. Rivals has the Virginia Beach native as the no. 17 point guard and the no. 74 overall player in the nation in the class of 2013.
The 6’1″, 180-pound Perrantes averaged 16 points and six assists per game last season as a junior, earning all-Mission League and all-CIF honors for his performance. His coach, Russell White, broke down his game for TheSabre.com.
“He sees the floor very well. He always has,” White said. “He has an innate ability — and this is nothing I’ve taught him — to know what’s going to happen two or three seconds in advance. He changes speeds and makes ball-fakes as well as anyone I’ve seen, and I’ve been coaching high school since I graduated [California Lutheran University] in 1994. He is tremendous at changing speeds with the dribble and using ball-fakes to create openings. It’s off the charts. UCLA came and saw him and really liked him, but they were concerned about the lack of athleticism in their minds. He’s not a Baron Davis. He’s not Derrick Rose . He’s not a guy that’s going to beat you up the floor every time. But he’s tough to stop with the way he changes speeds and directions. He’s really good at jump-stops and ball-fakes. That’s what makes him elite. He can see the floor and run the team.
“The biggest question is if he will be able to guard that speedy point guard. Certainly, that’s a question. But… he doesn’t suck. He is athletic, and he is long. He’s not going to make Dick Vitale’s all-airport team, but I know he is athletic enough. He anticipates well. He has quick hands. He’ll be fine. Plus, his ability to run the offense, to find guys, create easy baskets… that will more than make up for the few situations where he might be overmatched, speed-wise.”
ESPN.com and Scout.com rank Perrantes as a 4-star recruit with ESPN having him as the no. 22 point guard and the no. 84 overall player in the nation in the class of 2013. Rivals sees him as a 3-star prospect.
The additions of Hall and Perrantes help to fill a large void at point guard next season. Current starter Jontel Evans is a senior this year. Sophomore Malcolm Brogdon has yet to return from foot surgery. Red-shirt freshman Teven Jones is unproven, and freshman Taylor Barnette, while being a solid ball-handler and savvy player, does not appear to be able to really break down a defense to create opportunities for his teammates.
Adding Hall and Perrantes to the mix, Virginia’s 2013/2014 season roster looks like this:
Point Guard: Teven Jones (Soph.), Devon Hall (Fr.), London Perrantes (Fr.)
Shooting Guard: Joe Harris (Sr.), Malcolm Brogdon (Jr.), Taylor Barnette (Soph.)
Small Forward: Paul Jesperson (Jr.), Justin Anderson (Soph.)
Power Forward: Akil Mitchell (Sr.), Darion Atkins (Jr.), Anthony Gill (Soph.), Evan Nolte (Soph.)
Center: Mike Tobey (Soph.)
Click here for SabreTV Highlights of Hall from this past spring’s Nike EYBL in Hampton. Check out highlights of Perrantes below…
