Junior DJ Hall was named the 1A-3A Private State Championship Morgan & Morgan MVP in the boys’ state championship basketball game against Holy Innocents on March 11, 2026. The team fought through all four quarters to claim a 53-50 victory and the first-ever state championship in basketball in school history. Hall had his best performance of the season, overwhelming Holy Innocent’s players with 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists throughout the game. In the off-season, Hall is a member of the 1A-D1 Boys North All-State Team and an AAU Adidas Circuit high school basketball team.
“It means a lot, knowing that all the work I put in day in and day out finally paid off,” Hall said. “Honestly, I felt like the stage was set for me to perform at my highest level.”
His 30 points made up 57% of the team’s total points. Hall and teammate Cam Selig also went on to win all-state honors after their championship victory, adding on to the already historic season.
“I knew how important it was to win the state not only for our team but also for our Darlington community, so I was very focused on making that happen,” Hall said.
This victory and title of MVP, as well as Hall’s character, grabbed the attention of local news stations, broadcasters, and future coaches.
“It affected my future a lot, showing coaches what I’m capable of doing and how good a player I can be in the future,” Hall said. “When the attention was given, I proceeded to stay humble.”
Hall received the prestigious honor of game MVP, joining the group of elite high-school stars turned pros such as Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics shooting guard and Wheeler High School graduate out of Marietta, GA.
“It feels amazing knowing that I was the first Darlington player to be a part of that group,” Hall said.
Hall is the proof that greatness never rests, continuously practicing and mastering his craft during the off-season.
“Now that the basketball season is over, I plan to play AAU basketball and take my game to the next level by working on every part of my game until it is perfected,” Hall said.