Hassan Hall picks Syracuse over Louisville
This one went back and forth.
Atlanta (Ga.) Maynard Jackson star athlete Hassan Hall was Louisville, then he was Syracuse, and that went back and forth daily this week. On Friday afternoon, he even met with teachers at his school to list the pros and cons of each school.
On different days this week he told Rivals that he was going to commit to each school. As late as Saturday morning, it was Louisville with the edge, but then it shifted back to Syracuse. A call with Orange head coach Dino Babers this morning may have played into that.
To say the least, this was not an easy decision.
"It was a very tough decision," said Hall. "I had a hard time figuring it out. I could not go on with any longer. It was just getting tougher each day.
"I had it down to Georgia Tech, Louisville and Syracuse, but it came down to Louisville and Syracuse. I like them both a lot and different things stand out about each school, but Syracuse is the school I feel is right for me."
Hall visited each of his finalists over the summer and that visit to Syracuse really sold him on the Orange program.
"I liked a lot when I was up at Syracuse. I took part in the camp and I loved working with the coaches. I love how they recruited me and they really made me feel like they want me.
"I love the education they offer there and how their class sizes are smaller. They will give me a great opportunity after football, so that was big in my decision. They really have gotten to know me. They have invested a lot of time in me and Syracuse is the best place for me."
The 5-foot-11, 185 pound athlete is being recruited to play wide receiver, running back and cornerback by different schools, but the Orange see him on offense in the backfield for them.
He likes how he fits into the Syracuse offense.
"They run an up-tempo offense, they spread things out and I think I fit into their offense very well. I like their speed, I think it fits the way I play well and I see myself doing well there.
"I got to work with the coaches when I was at camp in June and I liked them. I think it is a good fit for me."
Vinson Reynolds coaches the defensive line for Syracuse and he recruits Hall's area in Georgia and he led the way for this recruiting victory.
"Me and coach Reynolds have been talking daily. We have a good connection and he wants to get to know, talk about Syracuse to me and recruit me all at the same time. He has not been pressuring me or anything, but he has made it clear that he wants me.
"He is a really cool guy. I like how he talks to me and he really did a good job recruiting me."
Hall has announced his commitment to Syracuse and he could not take this any longer. On Friday afternoon, he said, "It will only get tougher if I wait anymore. I am ready to commit."
This has been weighing heavily on him for some time and he is happy now to call himself a Syracuse Orange commit.
"It feels good. It really just came down to the feel and about my future at Syracuse. They really recruited me hard, they showed me what the can do for me after football and the coaches all are great guys.
"I felt wanted and cared for by them."
