When Division II basketball powerhouse Kentucky Wesleyan College released a statement last week that they were bringing in a super talented player on scholarship, who averaged 19.2 ppg, 4.3 ast, and shot over 43% from behind the arc, not many people took notice. After all, the tiny KWC Panthers, with an annual enrollment of roughly 1,000 students, are used to having great players on their roster, helping them advance to the NCAA Division II Championship Game six consecutive years over the past 15 seasons, and have won 8 National Championships, most by any school in Division II.
When word got out that the player’s name was Jason Hall, a former Philadelphia native, who overcame tremendous odds in becoming a very talented basketball player, in spite of having only 3 fingers on each hand, media outlets across the country began to pick up the story. His inspirational tale even reached as high as ABC and the Entertainment and Sports Network, better known as ESPN, with his heartfelt story being featured on the ever popular First Take show this past week. Just in case you missed it, check out his interview, which aired on ESPN 2:
Hall described the many obstacles he had to overcome like being cut from his high school JV squad en route to eventually starring at West Hill Community College in Coalinga, California and now as a scholarship player. He also had to overcome some pressing self confidence issues that would make him so nervous before games that his hands would shake. It’s really an interesting and feel good story that should make us all be thankful for what we have, instead of what we wish we could have.
Check out some highlights of Hall in action from last season (Hall is #30 in video):
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
