In his own words: Jake Hall talks about his decision to run it back with Lobo basketball

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A funny thing happened on the way to the demise of the University of New Mexico basketball program last week.

A shaggy blonde-haired teenager from San Diego decided to run it back, saving a proud Lobos fanbase from completely melting down (OK, some had already melted).

Jake Hall, the Mountain West Freshman of the Year and Lobos leading scorer last season, had entered the transfer portal, becoming what most figured would be the latest once-overlooked and under-recruited Lobo star to be plucked by the blue bloods of college basketball.

But with his family beside him in their home in San Diego, Hall jumped on a Facetime call with UNM coach Eric Olen, and reversed the narrative.

“I was like, man, ‘I’m super excited about the pieces you’re bringing in,’” Hall explained on a conference call with reporters on Monday morning, adding that he informed Olen during that phone call that he was withdrawing his name from the NCAA’s transfer portal to play another season with the Lobos. “‘I think we could really do something special. And, you know, I don’t want leave New Mexico without a championship.’

“And so I told him I was coming back. He was fired up. And, yeah, it was really cool. That’s something I’ll probably never forget.”

Neither will Lobo fans.

Especially after the past few years of star players such as guard Donovan Dent, forward JT Toppin and quarterback Devon Dampier, along with head coaches such as Bronco Mendenhall (football) and Richard Pitino (basketball) improving their market value in Albuquerque and leaving when the offer was too sweet to turn down.

Hall entered the transfer portal about 10 days ago, was courted by the best programs in the nation — ones that are disappointed when their season ends in the Sweet 16, he noted Monday — and had life-changing money thrown at him.

To be clear, Hall’s decision to stay isn’t exactly the type of sacrifice that will make him go hungry next year. He’s doing alright, though UNM does not disclose what players are being paid in this NIL and revenue-sharing era. But Hall most certainly did leave a lot on the table to stay in Albuquerque — better TV exposure, better competition, more money and a much easier path to deep NCAA Tournament run.

The fact that Dax Hall, Jake’s younger brother, had just signed a scholarship to be a Lobo is nice, but wasn’t the deciding factor in Jack’s return. Jake said he and Dax are there for each other, but also promised each other not to make their decisions based on the other —Jake staying to play with Dax or Dax going to UNM to play with Jake.

“He’s a great player. He’s a point guard, can really handle the ball, going to be a pest on defense,” Jake Hall said, maintaining for about the 10th time in the past couple months his firm belief that his younger brother is going to be a great Lobo.