Willie Hall played at St. Ann’s Academy. He eventually became captain of his squad and became one of St. Ann’s/Archbishop Molloy’s HS greatest rebounders. He had the ability to play anywhere on the court, boasted an unbeatable jump shot, and could score from every conceivable angle. Hall is a member of the Stanner Hall of Fame as an individual, Hall is also in the Stanner Hall of Fame as a member of the 1957-58 varsity squad, helmed by Lou Carnesecca, that went undefeated.
He later played for head coach Joe Lapchick from 1959-62, Hall helped lead St John's to three postseason appearances and a 58-18 (.763) overall record in three seasons. Highlighted by a trip to the NIT Finals in 1961-62, St. John's made two NIT appearances and one NCAA Tournament appearance in Hall's career. Hall grabbed 577 rebounds, a total that ranks 34th in St. John's all-time record books. Hall was inducted into the Basketball Old-Timers of America Hall of Fame in 2013.
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From the Archbishop Molloy website
We are saddened to share the passing of Stanner Hall of Famer Willie C. Hall ’58 on December 8, 2024. Willie passed away at his Harlem residence, where he lived for over 40 years.
Willie Hall, known to many as “Kid Kangaroo,” began his hoops career for the Varsity team at St. Ann’s Academy. He started out as a freshman on the team, but rose through the ranks over the years to eventually captain his squad while blossoming into one of St. Ann’s/Molloy’s greatest rebounders. He had the ability to play anywhere on the court, boasted an unbeatable jump shot, and could score from every conceivable angle. Willie was so good that he was recognized in “Dell Sports” magazine as one of the top ten high school players in New York City from 1957-1958. With Willie’s contributions, the Stanners went an undefeated 60-0 under coach Lou Carnesecca ’43 during Willie’s senior year. He would continue is athletic excellence after Molloy, attending nearby St. John’s University. While at St. John’s, Willie would once again find himself on an undefeated squad, playing for an elite Johnnie’s freshman team in 1959. He was later drafted into the United States Army and served in Germany.
Later in life, Willie would work in the legal field. He spent many years as an Associate Senior Junvenile Counselor at the Department of Juvenile Justice. In 2013, Willie was inducted into the Basketball Old-Timers of America Hall of Fame. Speaking about this honor, Willie said, “I had so many good people behind me like Coach Carnesecca, Jack Curran…I had so many good people in my life that made the world a better place for me and a lot of other people. And I love that to this day.” Willie was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame on September 16, 2015.
Willie was a long-term resident of the Village of Harlem, NY (1954-2024). He loved to dance and exercise, and he even taught Salsa dancing in the Harlem community. Willie is survived by four children (Michael Armstrong, Sidney Hall, Veron Hall, Takim Herring-Hall); seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Please join us in prayer for Willie Hall and his loved ones during their time of mourning.
Career Accolades
He later played for head coach Joe Lapchick from 1959-62, Hall helped lead St John's to three postseason appearances and a 58-18 (.763) overall record in three seasons. Highlighted by a trip to the NIT Finals in 1961-62, St. John's made two NIT appearances and one NCAA Tournament appearance in Hall's career. Hall grabbed 577 rebounds, a total that ranks 34th in St. John's all-time record books. Hall was inducted into the Basketball Old-Timers of America Hall of Fame in 2013.
********************************************************************************************************************************************************************
From the Archbishop Molloy website
We are saddened to share the passing of Stanner Hall of Famer Willie C. Hall ’58 on December 8, 2024. Willie passed away at his Harlem residence, where he lived for over 40 years.
Willie Hall, known to many as “Kid Kangaroo,” began his hoops career for the Varsity team at St. Ann’s Academy. He started out as a freshman on the team, but rose through the ranks over the years to eventually captain his squad while blossoming into one of St. Ann’s/Molloy’s greatest rebounders. He had the ability to play anywhere on the court, boasted an unbeatable jump shot, and could score from every conceivable angle. Willie was so good that he was recognized in “Dell Sports” magazine as one of the top ten high school players in New York City from 1957-1958. With Willie’s contributions, the Stanners went an undefeated 60-0 under coach Lou Carnesecca ’43 during Willie’s senior year. He would continue is athletic excellence after Molloy, attending nearby St. John’s University. While at St. John’s, Willie would once again find himself on an undefeated squad, playing for an elite Johnnie’s freshman team in 1959. He was later drafted into the United States Army and served in Germany.
Later in life, Willie would work in the legal field. He spent many years as an Associate Senior Junvenile Counselor at the Department of Juvenile Justice. In 2013, Willie was inducted into the Basketball Old-Timers of America Hall of Fame. Speaking about this honor, Willie said, “I had so many good people behind me like Coach Carnesecca, Jack Curran…I had so many good people in my life that made the world a better place for me and a lot of other people. And I love that to this day.” Willie was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame on September 16, 2015.
Willie was a long-term resident of the Village of Harlem, NY (1954-2024). He loved to dance and exercise, and he even taught Salsa dancing in the Harlem community. Willie is survived by four children (Michael Armstrong, Sidney Hall, Veron Hall, Takim Herring-Hall); seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Please join us in prayer for Willie Hall and his loved ones during their time of mourning.
Career Accolades
- Named 'One of the Top 10 NYC High School Basketball Players,1957-58 by Dell Sports Magazine 1958
- March 1998 - Inducted into the Molloy's Hall of Fame for Excellence in Education
- March 2007 - Inducted into the Molloy's Hall of Fame for Basketball, member of the 1957-58 Team
- Fall 2013 - Inducted into the Basketball Old-Timers of America Hall of Fame
- Sept. 2015 - Inducted into the NYC Basketball Hall of Fame
- Willie loved to dance and exercise. He taught Salsa dancing in the Harlem community.
