Penn basketball recruit Mike Hall will make Sept. 16 visit

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Quakers coach Jerome Allen's first recruiting class since taking over at Penn can definitely be considered a success. That said, Allen could not fill his team's most glaring hole -- the need for a legitimate center -- during his first go-round. The void in the middle makes the recruitment of Class of 2012 big man Mike Hall that much more important.

Coordinated, athletic and skilled 6-foot-10 teenagers are hard to come by, especially for an Ivy League school. But Hall, from Woodward Academy in Atlanta, could be just what the Quakers are looking for. The rising senior, listed at a skinny 6'10, 195, said he has been in contact with Allen and assistant Mike Martin since May. The two coaches will head down to Atlanta to see Hall on September 12, then Hall will visit Penn on September 16.

Hall listed Penn among the top five schools he is considering, with Ivy League schools Cornell and Harvard also in the mix, along with Virginia Tech and George Mason. He said both Allen and Crimson head man Tommy Amaker have been "recruiting [him] hard," and gave the impression that the two were neck-and-neck. Academics will play a "big role" in his decision, which he will make in November before the early signing period and his high school season start. He also said Penn's challenging schedule and the "exposure" the program receives are major factors in his interest. Being from the Georgia area, Hall said he was familiar with incoming Penn freshman Henry Brooks from Miller Grove, but does not know him personally.

Woodward coach Anthony Thomas broke down Hall's game similarly to most available scouting reports, calling him "an athletic post guy with touch" who needs to get stronger before making the jump to the collegiate level. Thomas said playing in a great region with several talented bigs to go up against has benefited Hall, who he called "one of the most coachable kids that I have." Here are two scouting reports from ESPN.com, which rated him an 89, and hoopniks.com, which saw Hall play for his AAU team, Worldwide Renegades:

ESPN:

Strengths: He's a young prospect for his grade. Outstanding student who merits academic/basketball institutions take notice. Pursues balls out of his area, has huge feet and will rebound in traffic. Did we forget about the wingspan?

Weaknesses: His resume is not long and he's going to be a guy who gets better with each year, that's our bet. Physically hasn't hit his stride and most of his game is in the lane. Seems like he could be a better shot blocker given his makeup and physical attributes.

Bottom Line: Love his instincts and aggressive play. Our take is that he's a candidate to be a late-blooming big man. This seems like the kind of a kid a mid-major scoops up and then puts it on higher level programs when he gets the chance. Time will tell.

6-foot-10 C Mike Hall (Worldwide) – Hall's best attributes are on the defensive end where he blocks or alters shots. Needs the weight room to finish better with contact and for those tough rebounds. Good shooter to 17 feet. Has high ceiling.