Lower Merion's Raheem Hall is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week

all, a senior point guard, is noted for his fine all-around play and one of the chief reasons the Aces have advanced to the PIAA Class AAAA state finals, and Hall’s scoring and rebounding have improved in the post-season. For the season, he’s averaging 10.6 ppg (12.0 in the post-season), 4.1 rpg (5.1 in the post-season) and a team-leading 3.7 apg.

Main Line Media News (MLMN): One of the jobs of a point guard is to get everyone on the court involved – for you, does that mean getting the ball to the Ace who has the hot hand?

Raheem Hall: If someone has a mismatch or is feeling it, we try to get them the ball, possibly on consecutive possessions. If someone is really shooting the ball well from three point [territory], we all have to be aware of that, and feed it to them in their spots. Or, if Yohanny [Dalembert] is having a great day at the post – he’s strong in the paint, particularly against Central League teams – we have to get it to him

MLMN: As the Aces’ senior point guard, if one of your teammates is having an off-night offensively, how do you handle this?

Hall: I try to continue to motivate them, tell them not to give up on the other end of the court, and to keep looking for your shot – and to rely on other people on the team, because we all try to contribute offensively. If someone is having an off night, we always have someone who can step right up.

MLMN: Good defense has been a trademark of the Aces for many years. What do you think is the biggest key to playing good defense?

Hall: You’ve got to play help defense – we have help defense concepts even in our zone defenses – and be able to see what the other team’s players are doing [on offense] when they’re off the ball. You have to be aware of all of the other team’s players on the court – what they can do [offensively], not just the guy you’re playing.

MLMN: What aspect of your game are you working on the most?

Hall: My mid-range shot and my ball handling.

MLMN: Have you tried to pattern your game after any particular player?

Hall: I try to watch tapes of Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson, who were all-around players. Oscar Robertson was the all-time favorite player of my grandfather, Theodore Byrd, who played basketball for Conestoga High School. He had so many tapes of [Robertson], which I used to watch all the time growing up, and I still do – my grandfather comes to all of my games.

MLMN: Who is your favorite player?

Hall: Derrick Rose – he’s explosive, aggressive and he tried to do so much. My favorite [uninjured] player is [point guard] Chris Paul – he sees the floor so well, his handles are tremendous and he shoots [well].

MLMN: What’s your favorite book?

Hall: Autobiography of Malcolm X.

MLMN: What’s your favorite movie?

Hall: He Got Game.