Bree Hall: South Carolina’s Unsung Defensive Star Making History
Bree Hall has built an impressive resume during her time at South Carolina, earning two national championships, three SEC Tournament titles, and securing 142 wins in 148 games. Yet, despite her on-court success, her biggest collegiate accolades have come off the hardwood.
Hall’s achievements include:
- CSC Academic All-District (2023)
- SEC Academic Honor Roll (2022, 2023, 2024)
- SEC Basketball Leadership Council Vice Chair (2023-24)
- SEC Community Service Team (2024)
While her name may not appear on national defensive award lists, Dawn Staley has no doubt about Hall’s impact, especially on the defensive end.
An Elite Defender in a League of Her Own
Staley, who has coached some of the best defenders in women’s college basketball, places Hall among the elite—right alongside Aliyah Boston, Kamilla Cardoso, A’ja Wilson, Tiffany Mitchell, Brea Beal, Raven Johnson, and Sania Feagin.
“Bree’s an elite defender. It’s elite – the things that she does, the people that she has to guard,” Staley said. “In my 25 years of coaching, she’s on my all-time defensive team – all the players that I’ve coached – because she’s very consistent with it, and she relishes the challenge.”
Hall’s discipline on defense sets her apart. She has committed just 41 personal fouls across 35 games, averaging under 1.2 fouls per game while guarding top scorers.
Seat Belt Gang: Locking Down Opponents
Hall is a key member of South Carolina’s ‘Seat Belt Gang’, a defensive unit led by her and Raven Johnson.
“Before we start a game, we got the biggest defense assignment. So, let’s lock the other best players up,” Johnson said after the Gamecocks’ 66-56 win over LSU on Jan. 24. “We the co-hosts of Seat Belt Gang. Let’s do this.”
That defensive prowess was on full display against Indiana, where Hall guarded Yarden Garzon—despite a three-inch height disadvantage. She held Garzon to just two points on 1-5 shooting in the first half and limited her to 4-of-13 from the field for the game.
Staley praised Hall’s ability to make in-game adjustments.
“Breezy had to make an adjustment today because she was guarding Garzon like (Madison) Booker. There’s a little bit of a difference in what both of them can do. We probably needed Breezy to loosen up a little bit,” Staley said. “She told me. She actually finished my sentence. And then, in the second half, she really adjusted.”
Overlooked But Not Forgotten
Despite her defensive excellence, Hall won’t receive national defensive awards this year. However, Staley knows her contributions are recognized by true basketball minds.
“People are watching. It’s just not the people who will give credit like other people,” Staley said. “Fans and people who really understand what’s happening out there on the floor give her her flowers, and I’m happy that they do.”
While the awards may not come, Bree Hall’s legacy as one of South Carolina’s greatest defensive players is already cemented.
