Augusta Prep's Hull worked early and often Augusta Prep star focusing on track

What is there left to know about Jim Hull?

//

I wrestled with the question while driving to Augusta Prep on Wednesday for the senior's signing. In the two weeks prior, I'd written his Independent Schools All-Area Player of the Year story and his County Player of the Year story. Before that, it was the Cavaliers' run to a region tournament title.

Three things I knew before Wednesday's signing:

1. Hull scored a bunch of points as a basketball player.

2. He had decided to pursue track and would be defending state titles in three events this spring.

3. People probably wanted to read something different.

There was a man I didn't recognize at Hull's signing with the University of Richmond. He and Hull talked, hugged and shook hands and then he was gone before everyone else.

"That's the guy who started working me out when I was in sixth grade," Hull said.

Bingo.

Demetrius Jones is the man behind the scene of Hull's success. Hull started working with Jones when Hull's dad decided it was time for his son to be more active.

Jones started Hull on a workout plan that involved running a mile or two and light weightlifting.

"I didn't do anything too serious," Hull said. "It didn't stunt my growth or anything."

Hull's work ethic grew. He began waking up on his own to run and spent hours shooting in the gym unprompted.

He is Prep's all-time leading scorer and played basketball year-round until this year.

He said he always wanted to play a sport at the Division I level. Track gave him that chance.

Hull said there was a "very, very low chance" he'd try to play basketball for the Spiders. He wants to devote all of his attention to running. When he does that, look out.

Augusta Prep track coach Tom Holodak probably wishes he didn't have to share Hull with the basketball team for four years, although he wasn't going to try to sway him.

Hull would run cross country, play a full basketball season and start track the day hoops was through.

"The best is yet to come," Holodak said. "When he gets to Richmond, this will be his main focus, not basketball. We know he will get that preseason training in and he will only get better."

Holodak said Hull has made up for any lack of training with "God-given talent," and that once he gets with the Spiders' program and applies the work ethic of those 6 o'clock mornings, Hull will experience similar success to what he's had as an All-State selection in three sports at Augusta Prep.