Signing day was a mere formality for Kenny Hall, the latest recruit to officially join the Tennessee men's basketball team.

“Kenny has been committed to us for so long, we already felt he was a part of our family,' said UT coach Bruce Pearl, who received a verbal commitment from the 6-foot-8 Hall in March. “I really like getting a guy that wants to play for us and play Tennessee basketball.''

Hall, rated as the 29th overall player in the Class of 2009 by Scout.com, committed to the Vols the week after he visited Duke.

“I went to Duke, and it was cool,'' said Hall, who attends high school in Stone Mountain, Ga. “But when I came to Tennessee I knew that was it for me.

“When I got back from Knoxville, everyone was like, `You committed to Tennessee over Duke?' ''

Yes, and UCLA, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia Tech and Georgia were all over Hall, too.

“He's a big man who can do things inside and outside, on offense and defense,'' Pearl said. “Kenny is a hard worker, both on offense and defense.''

Hall is the only commitment in the Class of 2009, though the Vols have another scholarship available. Pearl said at this point, he does not expect to add another player to this class. But, he added, ``that could change.''

Hall averaged 24 points and 13 rebounds per game last season at Stone Mountain, and he has been considered a natural choice to succeed Tyler Smith at power forward.

“My mid-range jump shot is on point, and I can shoot beyond the perimeter,'' Hall said. “I'm working on my handles, because I want to be a slasher.''

Like Tyler Smith?

“Yeah,'' Hall said, “That's where I'd like to play. I'm confident in my game, but I also work a lot on my game.''

Hall didn't start playing organized basketball until he was in eighth grade, after he and his mother moved to Georgia from Los Angeles.

“I'd been a football player, my last year I was at tight end and defensive end,'' Hall said. “When I first moved to Georgia I was 5-10, then in eighth grade I was 6-2 and in ninth grade I went up to 6-5.

“When I started getting tall, people put basketball in my ear. I think that (height) is the only reason I made the team; they didn't say it, but I knew I was pretty sorry.''

Hall said footwork has always come natural to him, but he has had to continue to work hard at all of his other skills.

That hard work has led him to become one of the top prospects in talent-heavy Georgia and earn natural recognition on the AAU trails with the Georgia Stars.

“I've bought some orange stuff and I've been wearing it around every now and again,'' Hall said. “I've gotten myself a Tennessee jacket I wear now.''

No doubt, Wednesday's signing was a mere formality.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.