When Jimmy Hall picked up his fifth foul in the waning moments of Kent State’s NCAA Tournament battle against UCLA, he paused for a moment before walking towards the Kent State bench for the final time in his collegiate career.
Around him, claps and cheers directed toward the senior guard echoed throughout the Golden 1 Center.
Before Hall reached the cushioned chairs of the Flashes bench, he shared a warm embrace with Kent State coach Rob Senderoff, before making his way down the line, hugging senior walk-on Jon Fleming last.
Their two career paths could be no more different; Hall, the big-man who came to Kent State after an embattled path at Hofstra, will finish his Kent State career as the programs’ third all-time scorer and go onto to play basketball professionally sometime next year.