Keyshawn Hall’s next move is turning into one of the more interesting transfer sagas in college basketball.
The former UCF standout has already put Florida, Kentucky and St. John’s in the mix with a pair of social media posts that seem to point toward the schools in his search.
In early August, Hall shared a dual-picture via X showing both Kentucky and St. John’s as his opponents.
Earlier this week, he followed that with another image of himself playing against Florida.
UCF was originally listed as a team that had reached out in hopes of a reunion, but Hall’s posts suggested he may be looking elsewhere as the recruiting battle sharpened. The three schools still in the picture all have the kind of history and NIL backing that can make a real run at a player of Hall’s profile.
And there’s plenty of profile to chase.
Hall was one of the highest-paid players in the SEC last season at Auburn after leaving UCF, where he led the Big 12 in scoring two seasons ago. He later spent a brief stretch with the Miami Heat Summer League team, but because he has not signed a professional contract with an NBA franchise, he remains eligible to return to college under the new ruling.
That matters, especially with it starting to look like most 2022 high school graduates will be eligible for another year of eligibility. For Hall, it opens the door to another college stop instead of jumping into a pro situation without guaranteed money.
At UCF during the 2024-2025 season, Hall put together a strong year, averaging 18.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 43/35/82. His best night came against the Sun Devils, when he became just the third UCF player in the program’s Division I history to score more than 40 points.
He was rolling from the start in that game, hitting his first six shots and four of his first five threes. After pouring in 29 points in the first half, he finished with 40 on 13-for-18 shooting and 4-for-6 from deep.
Hall’s 620 points on the season ranked ninth in a single season in UCF history, and he again landed on the second team in his conference’s awards.
His path to Auburn came after he initially said he would chase his NBA dream following his time at UCF. Instead, he went back to school and entered the portal, ultimately choosing the Tigers and giving a lot of the credit to former head coach Bruce Pearl.
That choice came with a twist when Pearl unexpectedly retired before the season and handed the program to his son, Steven Pearl.
Even with the coaching change, Hall kept producing. He averaged 19.3 points per game for Auburn and improved his shooting from every level, earning Third-Team All-SEC honors. He also set Auburn’s single-season record for made free throws with 228, a total that ranked second nationally.
Auburn’s season did not go as planned, but Hall still helped the Tigers finish by winning the NIT Championship over Tulsa. He scored 11 points in that game and added 12 rebounds.
Now a fifth-year player, Hall would bring immediate value wherever he lands next. For Florida, Kentucky or St. John’s, he would be a versatile frontcourt piece with a track record of production that few players in the portal can match.
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Now the next step gets a lot murkier. The Patriots moved on from Montgomery because of an undisclosed injury, a tough setback for a player who had just been building his case in camp and trying to carve out a roster path at the pro level. For UCF fans, it is another reminder that the leap from college standout to NFL opportunity can be brutally fragile, especially when a promising spring suddenly gives way to uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
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UCF Faces A Real Pass Rush Test As Edge Battle Heats Up
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The competition there is shaping up as one of the more important camp battles on the roster. Talley is working to sharpen his pass-rushing game while pushing for snaps, and the outcome of that fight will help define how disruptive UCF can be off the edge when the season opens. With the Knights still sorting through options, the job is there for someone to claim, and the pressure on that group is only going to rise as the opener gets closer. [Read more 🡒]