DeAngelo Hall Explains How He Shut Down JJ Redick During AAU Days

DeAngelo Hall has gone from widely loathed to universally loved since joining the Redskins midway through last season after lasting just eight games (and $8 million!) in Oakland. And I'll be honest, I was front and center in the "MeAngelo is more dime back than Pro Bowler" PR blitz.

Now, though, I'll happily admit that he's a completely different player. Hey, people change. One thing that remains the same, though, is Hall's love for gum-flapping. And this time, he can even back it up. Sort of.

The Sports Bog's Dan Steinberg talked to DeAngelo about his successful AAU basketball career, and specifically the one time he outplayed the even more hateable J.J. Redick.

"He was like the best player in the state," Hall recalled. "He had averaged like 32 a game. I went for like 31, he had like 12....He was so easy [to guard]. You just deny him the ball. You know what I'm saying, he wasn't quicker than me, more athletic than me. I don't know why guys didn't just do that the whole season, just deny him the ball. We went box and 1, that's all we did, and I manned him up."

Apparently, somebody asked Redick about his memories of the game and he disputed Hall's account.

"I said, 'Man, you crazy, I whooped y'all ass, that's how I got a state championship and you don't,' " Hall said. "We was just joking back and forth. I mean, the [stuff's] documented. He had 12 points, I had 32. I checked him. I shut him down. I mean, you can lie about it all you want, but it's on film."

One thing we can all agree on: Hall's assessment of Redick, NFL cornerback: "Oh, he doesn't stand a chance," Hall said. "Does. Not. Stand. A. Chance."