Hall to The Hall; Cheek Signs with 'Nova

As first reported here this morning, Ferrakohn Hall, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound power forward out of Memphis (Tenn.) White Station, picked Seton Hall over UAB and Baylor on Friday.

“The visit was great,” Hall said of his visit to Seton Hall last weekend, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “I liked the city [New York], I loved the city.

“All three schools would’ve been good situations but I felt like being in New York I’d get a lot of publicity and I’d get a good chance to make it to the next level.”

Hall said he spoke with but never met Baylor coach Scott Drew, which figured into his decision. He originally planned visits to UAB and Baylor over the next two weeks, but said there was no need to after the Seton Hall visit.

Hall  becomes the first high school senior in Bobby Gonzalez’s 2009 recruiting class. JUCO shooting guard Jamel Jackson will also join the team, as will transfers Keon Lawrence, Herb Pope and Jeff Robinson. Melvyn Oliver, a 6-10, 350-pound center who sat out last season as a partial qualifier, is also expected to suit up.

“We are very excited to add Ferrakohn to this tremendous recruiting class,” Gonzalez said. “He’s an athletic, versatile forward who can play a number of positions for us. Recently, his recruiting became really intense with a number of major schools coming hard at him. He’s a terrific kid from a good family and he takes his school work very seriously. We feel he has the whole package.”

Hall should add some frontcourt depth to a team that will use Pope at the four spot and fifth-year senior John Garcia at center. With Garcia gone after next season, Hall should get even more playing time alongside Pope as a sophomore.

Hall averaged 13.3 points and 9.3 rebounds in three state tournament games and helped White Station win its first Class AAA state title since 2004. He played in just four games as a junior after transferring from Memphis University School.

“Last year I didn’t get to play and a lot of schools weren’t looking at me like I wanted them to be,” Hall told the Appeal. “I wanted to play through this whole year and win the state championship.

“I knew that [college] teams would want a player that’s a winner, and I felt that I was going to win the state. So I just weighed my options and, lately, it seems like it’s been the best idea for me.”

CHEEK SIGNS WITH NOVA

Dominic Cheek, a 6-6, 185 pound guard from St. Anthony High School (N.J.), officially signed with Villanova on Thursday.

The story was broken by ZAGSBLOG back in December.

Cheek joins a highly touted class that includes Isaiah Armwood and Mouphtaou Yarou of Montrose Christian Academy (Md.) and Philadelphia Roman Catholic High School standout Maalik Wayns, all of whom signed letters with Villanova last November.

Cheek was bothered by a case of tendinitis that limited him his senior season, but averaged 14.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists and joined Wayns on the McDonald’s All-American East roster.

“We are thrilled to add a player of Dom’s ability to our program,” stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. “He comes to Villanova as prepared as any player we have had here, having played for Coach Bob Hurley at St. Anthony’s.

“Dom is a winner. He was a part of a national championship team at St. Anthony’s and he has a great understanding of the game. We are very excited to have him as a part of our basketball family.”