Fishers High School football and basketball star JonAnthony Hall will head to Stanford University this fall to play football as a receiver. He’ll major in communications, and is interested in broadcasting.
Born in Hawaii to a military family, Hall moved several times, eventually landing in Fishers and receiving praise from coaches, teammates and the community. He recalls the rush he felt in his youth at his flag football games.
“I got started in the third grade and it took off from there,” he said. “I started playing running back and I worked my way up. I was the new kid on the block and I can run really fast. I love scoring touchdowns. It’s my favorite thing in the world.”
It might surprise some, however, to learn that basketball was his first love.
“I thought basketball would be my ticket until my parents allowed me to play contact football,” Hall said. “I still love basketball. I wanted to finish my senior year with both sports.”
He’s formed a bond with both teams and said there’s a connection that only sports can provide.
“I’ve played with some of these guys from a young age,” Hall said. “I can truly call them my brothers. Looking back now, especially because we’re all going to graduate and go our different ways, I can think all the way back to rec football, and those friendships and bonds have stuck. Both basketball and football has been a real blessing.”
He said there haven’t been many setbacks through the years.
In fact, Hall has never missed a varsity game.
“I did have some surgeries over the summer,” he said. “I was away from football for a month or so. Mentally it’s tough because I really want to participate, and at that point I’m watching from the sidelines. You’ve got to not let it get to you mentally, and it makes me hungry to get back on the field.”
Close to walking away from his high school sports career in just a few months, Hall is proud of the accomplishments and the challenges the team has overcome.
“Since I started high school, we’ve not been able to beat Hamilton Southeastern High School [HSE] in football,” he said. “Coming into my senior year, that was one of my goals. I wanted to beat HSE. We did beat them this year, and what was most memorable about it was we saw them a second time this season and beat them again.”
Fishers High School won the sectional championship this fall, for the first time in seven years.
“It was really special to create a history like that,” Hall said. “We lost in regionals but we made it a respectable game, even though we lost.”
Not only has Hall been a star on the football field and the basketball court, but he also holds a 3.87 GPA and thanks his family for their support.
“We can give credit to my mom,” he said. “She’s always been on me about getting good grades and now I’m in the position I’m in. I’m very blessed.”
