Ray Hall
Personal information
Born (1962-06-23) June 23, 1962
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High schoolMcKinley (Buffalo, New York)
CollegeCanisius (1981–1985)
NBA draft1985: 5th round, 105th overall pick
Selected by the Utah Jazz
PositionShooting guard / small forward
Number30
Career history
As player:
1985–1987Wyoming Wildcatters
1988Charleston Gunners
1988Quad City Thunder
1988Youngstown Pride
1988Purefoods Hotdogs
1988–1989Quad City Thunder
1989–1990Columbus Horizon
1990Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets
1990Erie Wave
As coach:
1992–1993Niagara CCC
Career highlights and awards
  • CBA All-Star (1988)
  • World Challenge Cup MVP (1987)
  • IBL All-Star (1987)
  • AP honorable mention All-American (1985)
  • 2× First-team All-ECAC North (1984, 1985)
  • ECAC North Rookie of the Year (1982)

Lawrence "Ray" Hall (sometimes known as Sugar Ray Hall;[1][2][3] born June 23, 1962)[4] is an American former college basketball player. He is currently the all-time leader in scoring, free throws made, field goals made and steals for the Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball. He formerly held various records, including career points, for the ECAC-North Conference (now America East Conference). He led Canisius in scoring and steals all four years. In high school, he was the 1981 co-Western New York player of the year and held the Buffalo Public Schools and Western New York career scoring record. Hall is the most recent NBA draft selection from Canisius. Following his college career, he played professionally, including several years in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and World Basketball League (WBL).

High school

Ray Hall is described as being from a good family in Buffalo's inner city, who acquired the nickname Sugar Ray as a teenager.[5] In 1974, Jo Jo White made two free throws for the Boston Celtics after the clock expired in the game that eliminated the Buffalo Braves from the 1974 NBA playoffs. Hall attempted to pelt White with an apple, but White ducked. White would become Hall's sports agent in 1985.[6] In 1981, Hall established the Buffalo Public Schools career scoring record of 1,794, which was eclipsed by Curtis Aiken on February 8, 1983.[7] Hall's 1981 total was also a Western New York record. That year he was named Western New York boys' basketball co-player of the year (with Lester Rowe) by The Buffalo News.[8] On February 21, 1981, Hall committed to Canisius over Vanderbilt, Michigan, Pittsburgh and Rutgers.[9]

In the 1981 Empire State Games open division finals, Hall had a game-high 26 points in the 98–97 gold medal game loss to a New York City team that included Chris Mullin, Tony Bruin, and Sidney Green.[10]

College

Hall is the all-time Canisius leader in career points (2,226), field goals made (812), free throws made (602), and steals (219). He also holds the school's freshman season records for points (455) and steals (53). Hall held other Canisius records including single-season steals (65), career games started (115) and single-season minutes per game (36.7, 37.0). He led the team in scoring and steals for all four years. Hall led the team in rebounding as a sophomore. He was selected to the All-ECAC-North Conference (now America East Conference) first team as a junior (1984) and senior (1985) and was the conference Rookie of the Year in 1982. Hall is the most recent Canisius NBA draftee having been selected with the 12 pick of the 5th round by the Utah Jazz a few hours after 4-year teammate Mike Smrek (2nd round, 1st pick) in the 1985 NBA draft. He served as co-captain with Smrek as a senior.[11] Although he no longer holds America East Conference scoring records, Hall formerly held scoring records such as career points — but was surpassed Al McClain's 1980–84 1861 total and Reggie Lewis's 1983–87 2709 total — and free throws made. He was a five-time conference Player of the Week. As a senior, hall led Canisius to its only regular season ECAC-North Conference championship (that it shared with Northeastern).[12] He played both small forward and shooting guard with significant coverage of him going back and forth.[3][13] Hall was a 1985 NCAA Men's Basketball All-American honorable mention selection by the Associated Press.[14]

Hall played in the 1982 National Sports Festival (later called the U.S. Olympic Festival) for the East team with Andre Williams, Ed Pinckney, Harold Pressley and Rafael Addison. He scored 13 points, including the go-ahead basket, in the July 27 game against the North.[15][16]

Professional

At the Jazz 1985 training camp, Hall was waived in the cut that reduced the roster from 17 to 14.[17] He played for the Wyoming Wildcatters of the CBA for the 1985–86 season,[18] where he was a roommate with 2-time NBA All-Star John Drew after Drew was forced out of the NBA for drug abuse.[19] In August 1986, he was invited back to the October 1986 training camp,[20] and he signed with the team that month.[21] He worked out a lot with Darrell Griffith who had missed the prior season nursing a foot fracture.[22] He only posted a 32 percent field goal percentage in 6 1986 pre-season games,[18] and he was released from the team later that month.[23]

In September 1987, Hall was announced as part of a 13-member all-star team of the International Basketball League that did an exhibition tour (including the 1987 PBA/IBA World Challenge Cup) of the Far East from September 12 to 27,[24] that visited Seoul, South Korea and Manila, Philippines.[25] Hall wound up being MVP of the World Challenge Cup.[26] He was a 1988 CBA All-Star, having played as a member of the Charleston Gunners that year.[27][28] On April 15, he signed with the Youngstown Pride of the World Basketball League (WBL), where he was teammates with his former Co-Player of the Year Rowe.[29] He was among 22 players invited to a May 23–26, 1988, tryout camp for the inaugural Charlotte Hornets roster.[30] That summer he played for Youngstown.[31] Although Hall was invited back, the June 23, 1988 NBA expansion draft, in which the Hornets loaded up on guards, and the related Kelly Tripucka trade, made it less likely that Hall would make the roster.[32] In early August 1988, the Hornets training camp started with 30 players, which was cut to 21 three days later. Hall performed well.[33] Later that August, he played for the Hornets in the 6-game rookie summer league, scoring 17 points in the summer league opener and 27 points in the summer league finale.[34][35] However, by mid-November he was playing abroad in the 1988 PBA Reinforced Conference and expected to return to the Quad City Thunder of the CBA in December,[36] which he did.[37] In November 1989, he tried out with the Columbus Horizon of the CBA.[38] In February 1990, Hall signed with the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets of the CBA.[39] In May 1990, he signed with the Erie Wave of the WBL.[40]

In November 1992, Hall joined the staff at Niagara County Community College as an assistant coach.[41] Hall resigned in September 1993,[42] but not before participating in his first Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament in Buffalo where he reached the final game that June.[43] In October 1993, he tried out with the Hartford Hellcats of the CBA.[44]

Hall was a selection along with Rickey Williams and Keith Robinson, the inaugural Mr. New York Basketball (1986), among others to the 2009 50th anniversary All-Western New York boys fourth team by The Buffalo News for his high school career.[45] In 1997, he was inducted into the Canisius Sports Hall of Fame.[1] In 2008, he was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.[46]

As of 2011, he had spent over 17 years working for Ingram Micro in Amherst, New York, and had become an avid bowler.[47]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 MacMullan, Jackie (August 27, 1997). "CANISIUS TO INDUCT SIX INTO SPORTS HALL OF FAME: [CITY Edition]". The Buffalo News. p. C.5. ProQuest 381290828. Retrieved April 5, 2023. Canisius College has announced six inductees into its Sports Hall of Fame. The Class of 1997 will be inducted Oct. 18 in the Demske Sports Complex during halftime of the Canisius-Alfred football game. The inductees are: Gene Cacciatore (1979), Michael Christel (1983), Gina Castelli (1986), Deborah Laux (1985), Lawrence "Sugar Ray" Hall (1985) and Colleen Sandor (1986).
  2. ↑ MacMullan, Jackie (November 27, 1983). "The City Game Could Decide It". Boston Globe. ProQuest 294130512. Retrieved April 4, 2023. Canisius will also unveil a slick backcourt in Sugar Ray Hall (19.9 ppg) and Robert Turner (15.1)...
  3. 1 2 Visser, Lesley (November 28, 1982). "BU, HC Head Battling Brethren of Old ECAC North". Boston Globe. ProQuest 294109068. Retrieved April 4, 2023. The most experienced team in the North American Conference is Canisius, where nine of 10 Golden Griffins return, including such scoring goodies as Sugar Ray Hall, the 6-4 freshman forward who has been moved to scoring guard this year for his development as a pro
  4. ↑ "Ray Hall Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more". Basketball Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  5. ↑ Esmonde, Donn (October 29, 2008). "Finding a life after sports is real success". The Buffalo News. p. B.1. ProQuest 381920529. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  6. ↑ Hubbard, Jan (September 15, 1985). "Walton Acquisition a Gamble for Celtics". The Dallas Morning News. p. 21b. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Sports Briefs". United Press International. February 10, 1983. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  8. ↑ "WNY's Top Players, ScorersOP". The Buffalo News. April 8, 1989. p. B4. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Ray Hall, a highly recruited basketball forward from Buffalo's...". United Press International. February 21, 1981. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  10. ↑ "3 Gold Medals to City Fives". The New York Times. United Press International. August 17, 1981. p. C.8. ProQuest 424160470. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Canisius Basketball: Men's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). Canisius College. September 13, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  12. ↑ "America East Men's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). America East Conference. 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  13. ↑ Ryan, Bob (November 25, 1984). "NU Target of Praise in the ECAC". Boston Globe. ProQuest 294200541. Retrieved April 4, 2023. ...with [Ray Hall] switching from small forward to big guard he figures he's got new people at three positions.
  14. ↑ "All-American". The Greenville News. March 12, 1985. p. 20.
  15. ↑ "Tisdale Sparks South's Win". The Oklahoman. July 28, 1982. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  16. ↑ McDill, Keith (July 27, 1982). "Andre Williams, a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh,...". United Press International. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  17. ↑ Vanderberg, Bob (October 9, 1985). "INDIANAPOLIS CUTS ART SCHLICHTER: [NATIONAL, C Edition]". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 290877397. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  18. 1 2 "The Utah Jazz cut free-agent guard Ray Hall of...". United Press International. October 23, 1986. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  19. ↑ Kram, Mark (January 19, 1986). "DREW, SAYING HE'S CLEAN, AWAITS A DECISION FROM NBA". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Knight-Ridder News Service. p. E01. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Baseball: [3 Star Edition]". Orlando Sentinel. August 18, 1986. p. D2. ProQuest 276853794. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Transactions: [List]". The New York Times. October 4, 1986. ProQuest 426314759. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  22. ↑ "GUARD RETURNS TO UTAH JAZZ GRIFFITH BACK ON SOUND FOOTING". The Wichita Eagle. Associated Press. October 10, 1986. p. 3D. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Baseball: [3 Star Edition 1]". Orlando Sentinel. October 24, 1986. p. D2. ProQuest 276897985. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  24. ↑ Robinson, Robert (September 9, 1987). "BASKETBALL: [FINAL Edition]". USA TODAY. p. 13C. ProQuest 305920429. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  25. ↑ Davis,Jeff (September 5, 1987). "12 IBA ALL-STARS ETCHED IN STONE AND MUSCLE FOR TOUR". The Fresno Bee. p. 5F2. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  26. ↑ Davis, Jeff (October 3, 1987). "FLAMES' COACH LIKES FILIPINO FLAVOR OWENS RETURNS TO FRESNO FROM FAST-PACED IBA ALL-STAR TOUR". The Fresno Bee. p. F5. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  27. ↑ "CBA all-stars". USA Today. January 22, 1988. p. 5C. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  28. ↑ "COLLEGE FOOTBALL INVESTIGATION AT ILLINOIS LEADS TO WHITE'S RESIGNATION: [SUN-SENTINEL Edition]". Sun Sentinel. January 19, 1988. p. 2C. ProQuest 389430844. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Transactions: [List]". The New York Times. April 15, 1988. p. D22. ProQuest 426803949. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Franklin Edwards, a member of the Philadelphia 76ers 1983...". United Press International. May 17, 1988. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  31. ↑ "MORE BASKETBALL". Akron Beacon Journal. June 1, 1988. p. C2. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  32. ↑ "JAZZ DON'T PLAN TO RENEGOTIATE WITH BAILEY AND STOCKTON BUT TEAM DOES PLAN TO EXTEND THEIR CONTRACTS". The Deseret News. June 26, 1988. p. D6. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  33. ↑ "CAMP'S KEY: AVOIDING TAP ON SHOULDER". The Charlotte Observer. August 4, 1988. p. C1. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  34. ↑ Winderman, Ira (August 7, 1988). "Hornets Buzz in Summer, Heat Still Wilts in 2nd Half". Sun Sentinel. p. 11C. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  35. ↑ Bonnell, Rick (August 11, 1988). "Kempton Survives Hornets CampEMPTON – Ex-Notre Dame Center Is in Ranzino's Out". The Charlotte Observer. Associated Press. p. 1C. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  36. ↑ Wilkin, Tim (November 16, 1988). "Rookies Get Their Chance". The Times Union. p. D3. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  37. ↑ "PATROONS WIN FIFTH IN A ROW". The Times Union. December 18, 1988. p. C3. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  38. ↑ Znidar, Mark (November 1, 1989). "YOUMANS MUST PUT TOGETHER HORIZON PUZZLE - FORMER LINDEN PLAYER HOLT IMPRESSES COACH IN WORKOUT". The Columbus Dispatch. p. 02D. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  39. ↑ "DEALS: [FINAL Edition]". USA Today. February 13, 1990. p. 11C. ProQuest 306337508. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  40. ↑ "DEALS: [FINAL Edition]". USA Today. May 10, 1990. p. 13C. ProQuest 306351431. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  41. ↑ "RAY HALL IS BACK IN WNY AS ASSISTANT COACH AT NIAGARA CCC: [CITY Edition]". The Buffalo News. November 6, 1992. p. B5. ProQuest 380765265. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  42. ↑ "JACOB TAKES JOB AS NIAGARA COUNTY CC BASKETBALL COACH AFTER MCCORRY RESIGNS: [CITY Edition]". The Buffalo News. September 17, 1993. p. C5. ProQuest 380857435. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  43. ↑ "DECKER'S SHOTSTERS REIGN IN GUS MACKER UNTOUCHABLES HOLD TRUE TO NAME: [CITY Edition]". The Buffalo News. June 28, 1993. p. D3. ProQuest 380826042. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  44. ↑ Hasty, Roy (October 16, 1993). "DECKER'S SHOTSTERS REIGN IN GUS MACKER UNTOUCHABLES HOLD TRUE TO NAME: [CITY Edition]". Hartford Courant. p. F4. ProQuest 255369853. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  45. ↑ "WNY's all-time high school basketball team". The Buffalo News/McClatchy - Tribune Business News. March 7, 2009. ProQuest 464904948. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  46. ↑ "Football roots celebrated at induction". The Buffalo News/McClatchy - Tribune Business News. October 30, 2008. ProQuest 456928832. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  47. ↑ Northrup, Milt (February 19, 2011). "Ray Hall still posts high average". The Buffalo News/McClatchy - Tribune Business News. ProQuest 852726279. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
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