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Players such as Gilbert Arenas, Brendan Haywood and Antawn Jamison, major NBA superstars from big-time college basketball programs, launched T-shirts into the crowd and spent an hour signing autographs at the Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.
And then there was Mike Hall: the new guy from the mid-major basketball team, disturbingly out of place, wearing a sweat-soaked Washington Wizards practice jersey and black headband. Hall chatted with a few GW fans, some friends and even signed a few autographs after a week at training camp in Richmond.
Except for a sliver of stardom that Hall has amassed, all seems similar for the Chicago native. He showed his trademark hustle, worked hard for a put-back under the hoop and threw down a huge two-handed dunk. After a foul call, Hall joked with the referee and gave him a love slap to the rear.
One small change is Hall's jersey. He is no longer donning number "3" on his back but instead "42", his high school identifier. Hall was a cool number "3" at GW and it defined him. He shied away from the eternal sports cliché of borrowing a number from an NBA star, took "3" and made it his own while a Colonial.
Hall is a simple guy, a hard worker and eternal joker, but when asked about his chances of landing a roster spot on the Wizards, his tone became increasingly serious.
"I'm not even going into all that," Hall said. "If I say my chances are good and I don't make it, I look foolish."
But around Wizards camp, all signs point to Hall extending his stay with the team past the preseason. Coaches said they are impressed with his work ethic, and players like his hustle.
"He's been very impressive," said Eddie Jordan, the Wizards' head coach. "He's willing to be tough. He's willing to stick his nose in the action. He won't back down."
Hall's size and style of play led to the invitation to try out for a spot on the roster as an un-drafted free agent, Jordan said.
