Hard work. Whether it is in an office in a high-rise building, in the factories of a industrial city or on the hard wood, it will take you a lot of places. For University of 
Minnesota Crookston senior guard Xavier Hall, it is what defines his game. As one of just two seniors, along with Riley Rice, on a team full of youth and hope moving forward with the program, Hall has tried to use his work ethic and his team-first attitude to guide the Golden Eagles this season and into the future. 

"The first objective I have when I step out on to the court is obviously to win," Hall said. "Beyond that, I just want to get better as a player on the court and as a 
teammate and a person. No matter what the score is you have to play hard. No matter how much time is left you have to play hard. That is the big picture for me and I really strive for that."

His statistics aren't going to going jump off of a page when you look at the box score. He averages 3.1 points per game and 1.6 assists per game. However, those don't tell the whole story of Hall as a player. It is his defense, his work ethic, his attitude and his leadership that defines the player. The most impressive statistic he has produced was a school-record tying 10 assists against Waldorf University. An unselfish statistic. It defines the man on and off of the court. 

A Tartan High School product, Hall was originally recruited by the previous staff to play at the University of Minnesota Crookston. However, he decided to start his career in North Platte, Neb. at North Platte Community College. 

"Out of high school I was really recruited by Minnesota Crookston but I chose to go the junior college route and ended up at North Platte Community College in 
Nebraska," Hall said. "After two years at junior college, I chose to come back to the state of Minnesota. I wanted to be closer to home but also wanted to be far enough away where I didn't go home every weekend."

It was in North Platte, Neb. that he met Riley Rice, a Nebraska native. Their paths would collide at the confluence of the North and South Platte Rivers, and would guide them into their next stop in the Red River Valley at Minnesota Crookston. 

"It is a big advantage for me having Riley here with me," Hall said. "It helps me to be more comfortable on the court. I know that I have someone to fall back on. He knows the ropes that we were taught at our junior college and we know each other pretty well on the court and off of the court we are best friends."

Along with Rice, Hall has had another connection that both led him to the Golden Eagles and has remained a helping hand to him to this day. That person is Tim Lubke. A former high school teammate at Tartan High School. Lubke went on to play for Minnesota Crookston from 2011-15, graduating the semester before Hall arrived.

"When Tim was a senior, I was a freshman at Tartan High School," Hall said. "I played junior varsity as a freshman when Tim was on varsity, so we practiced together. Tim and I had a very good relationship in high school and it has carried on since then. He really influenced me to come here and I thank him for that. It was really nice for him to help guide me here."

Hall was part of the first full recruiting class for Head Coach Dan Weisse heading into the 2015-16 season. Though he came in with several younger players, he was quickly thrust into a leadership role this season. He has embraced the opportunity to guide the way as the Golden Eagles mold the program into a contender in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

"I try to instill in the guys to play hard no matter what," Hall said. "Playing hard will defeat a lot of other things. If you play hard, nine times out of ten, good things are going to come from it."

The last two years haven't always been the easiest. Though the Golden Eagles have gotten key wins including a thrilling victory over St. Cloud State University, they have also had a lot of tough losses, including last-second ones like a soul-crushing defeat to now nationally ranked Minnesota State University Moorhead on a hail mary shot by Ayob Ayob. However, it is the bigger picture of the transformation that Hall has tried to focus on. 

"It is really eye opening. Last year was pretty tough," Hall said. "This year most of our games have come down to the last five minutes of the game. Those are the games that hurt the most because you know you are right there. But at the end of the day, you know you are taking steps forward and that we are moving in the right direction. This program is going to be in a nice position in the future."

Hall will run out on to the court at Lysaker Gymnasium for the last time this weekend. His journey will soon end and he is currently focused on what he can do to end the season on a great note. However, after that he is excited to come back through the doors of "The Hersch" and to see where the program has come and to look back and be proud of the part he played in the journey to get there.

"I am really looking forward to coming back to see what progress has been made in the program. It is very humbling to know that we are turning it around right now. It is great to know that I had something to do with this. It is very humbling and I am ready to see what is next."

After he gets the University of Minnesota degree, Hall plans to turn his focus to the real world and a future for himself that he is currently unsure of.

"I am still trying to feel it out," Hall said. "I have been told I would be a good coach, so maybe that. Other than that, I might just want to do some marketing for a professional organization. I am not really sure right now. Those are the two options I am looking at right now."

Though his statistics might not jump off of the page or he might not be the first player to catch your eye when watching the Golden Eagles, he is the one of the main figures behind the journey. His leadership and work ethic have paved the way. So while his expedition in Crookston might almost be over, the hard work he has put in to theprogram is something that fans will look back at when the long-term destination of where this program can go is truly met.