Clemson basketball: Hall undergoes surgery, hope for November return

Clemson basketball center P.J. Hall underwent knee surgery on Thursday and coach Brad Brownell is hopeful that Hall will be fully healthy by November.

The 6-foot-10 Hall had a breakout season as a sophomore last year averaging 15.5 points per game, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 49.3% from the floor, including 30.8% from three and 78% from the free throw line.

Hall played in 30 of the Tigers 33 games last season, starting 29 and averaged 27.4 minutes per game, was named honorable mention All-ACC and runner-up most improved player in the league, while earning the praise of coaches around the league.

"“He’s an animal,” ex-Louisville interim coach Mike Pegues said. “He is one of the best bigs in the [ACC].”“He’s a guy that plays with a lot of emotion,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “He’s competitive. He’s very physical and plays hard on both ends of the floor on every possession. He’s a guy that can consistently score around the basket, but he can shoot the ball from the outside. On both ends, he’s a player that could be a huge factor.”“Hall is the most improved player on the planet,” former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “He played nine minutes a game last year and he’s one of the better big guys in the country; he’s a pro, really. He can shoot, go out and he is mobile.”"

Hall a four star prospect out of Dorman High in Roebuck was ranked as the top player in South Carolina and 59th nationally in the class of 2020.

With a likely make or break season ahead for Brad Brownell having Hall available is imperative for the Tigers to have a successful season.

Clemson’s full schedule for the 2022-23 campaign has not been released, but late November matchups are on the books with Iowa and TCU/Cal in the Emerald Coast Classic on November 25th and 26th, followed by Penn State in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge on November 29 are big early season tilts that could go a long way to determining Brownell’s fate.