Class of 2014 defensive back Maurice Hall (St. Petersburg, Fla./Gibbs) has shown rapid improvement in the last day according to Gibbs head coach Antonio Knox.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound junior suffered a gunshot wound Saturday night while leaving a party. He was shot in his hip, and the bullet traveled through his stomach and into his colon according to local media reports. Surgery to locate and remove the bullet was successful. Recovery time is estimated at 10-12 weeks, and the hope is that Hall will be at full health for the spring 7-on-7 tournament season.
"It's going to be a tough road mentally for Maurice because he's so active and competitive, and he wants to play every sport," Knox said. "But I'm just thankful right now that he's here and that he's going to have the opportunity to continue in athletics."
Knox said Hall was predictably emotional when he was informed that he would miss the rest of his junior year.
"He was in tears because he didn't want to let his teammates down," Knox said. "That's the type of young man that he is. His health and his life is so much more important than winning or losing a game. Once he's back on his feet, he's going to be a major part of this team for the rest of the season helping out the coaches and the younger players."
Hall caught the attention of Oklahoma assistant Mike Stoops and received a verbal offer from the Sooners when the program was successfully recruiting former teammate Gary Simon. He plays wide receiver, linebacker and safety for Gibbs. Ironically his final catch of the season was a 40-yard touchdown pass in Gibbs' 53-13 victory over Riverview (Fla.) Spoto.
