Overview

After seeing no action in 2002-03 and appearing in just 11 games the following season, Hill quietly played a supporting role for the Friars as a sophomore and junior, averaging 18.4 minutes, 5.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game through his first 68 contests.

To call Hill a "late bloomer" would be an understatement. He was a relative unknown entering his final season at Providence, but by the time the year concluded, he was the scoring champion in the Big East Conference, finished second in the league in rebounds and shot 64.0 percent from the field. For his performance in 2006-07, he was named the nation's Most Improved Player by Collegehoops.net.

Earning Most Improved Player honors is nothing new for Hill. At Kinston (N.C.) High School, he was named the Most Improved Player in 2002. He lettered four times with the hoops team, averaging 14 points, nine rebounds and six blocks per game his senior season to help the team finish second in the state in 2001 and regional runner-up in 2002. He had a season-high 17 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocks in the same game his senior year.

Hill redshirted in 2002-03 at Providence and appeared in just 11 games the following year, scoring 11 points with eight rebounds, an assist and one blocked shot. He started 20 of 30 games as a sophomore, averaging 4.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He averaged 14.7 minutes per contest, scoring 145 points while grabbing 102 rebounds and blocking 45 shots. He was named the team's "unsung hero" after the season.

Shuttling between center and power forward in 2005-06, Hill started 12 of 27 games. He shot 58.6 percent from the field (99 of 160), averaging nine points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots per game. He scored 242 points, as 51 of his 130 rebounds came off the offensive boards. His 52 blocked shots led the team, as he also handed out 13 assists and had 30 steals. He was charged with 59 fouls and had 33 turnovers.

With those figures, few expected Hill to have the year that he had in 2006-07. For the first time in his career, he started every game (31), averaging 32 minutes per contest. He earned All-Big East Conference first-team and Big East Most Improved Team honors. He paced the league with an average of 18.1 points per game, scoring 560 points as he shot 64.0 percent (third-best in Schoolhistory) on 240 of 375 field goals. He grabbed 274 rebounds (8.8 rebounds per game), dished out 44 assists and had 30 steals. Hill ranked third in the league with 91 blocked shots, but was called for 90 fouls while turning the ball over 89 times.

Hill recorded 14 double-doubles, including a 20-point, 20-rebound effort in a win over George Washington on November 26. He became the first Friar to post a 20-20 game since Marvin Barnes accomplished the feat in 1974. On February 24, Hill recorded a career-high 29 points and registered 15 rebounds against Syracuse. He also registered 20 or more points 12 times that season. He helped the Friars post an 18-13 mark, as the team advanced to the NIT where they were defeated by Bradley, 90-78, in overtime on March 14.

In 99 games at Providence, Hill started 63 contests. He hit 410 of 668 field goals (61.4 percent) and 138 of 244 free throws (56.6 percent) for 958 points, an average of 9.7 points per game. He grabbed 514 rebounds (5.2 rpg), with 203 of those boards coming off the offensive glass. He collected 92 assists with 77 steals and 189 blocked shots (1.9 bpg). He had 155 turnovers and 216 personal fouls.

Scouting Report

Positives: Athletic big man with long arms and a frame that can carry additional bulk without it impacting his overall quickness...Has a nice shot underneath the basket, but has also developed the ability to connect from mid-range...Times his leaps well, coming up with a good amount of blocked shots and can also use his long arms to disrupt his man off the dribble...Sets up screens well and is an efficient shot-area passer...More likely a power forward at the next level, as he lacks the height and reach needed to play center, but shows good ease getting up and down the court...Does a nice job of fielding the pass and quickly dishing it out to the open outlet...Uses his long reach to keep the ball high on his drives to the basket...More comfortable shooting from his strong side...Plays better with his back to the basket, but has good hip swerve turning to execute the post-up move...Gets good elevation crashing the boards and shows good hesitation moves and pulling up for jumpers...Gets most of his scoring on tip-ins or when hitting his hook near the basket and is also quite capable of using that shot when playing against a zone or pressure defense...Has good timing when he gets elevated to block shots, especially from the weak side...Likes to put the ball on the floor, but is only effective when he does so in his face-up game...Has a fluid shooting motion with a high release point, firing the ball out quickly...Gives good second effort on the boards and will hustle to keep the ball in play...More alert to double teams playing the high post and has improved his vision locating the man to get the pass out to...Uses his lateral agility well when coming out of the paint to defend at the perimeter.

Negatives: Has a good mid-range shot that he uses when forced out of the paint, but seems hesitant or uncomfortable in this area...Must do a better job of establishing position going for the offensive rebound...Gets a little passive at times when asked to defend in the post...Must improve his lower-body strength to prevent defenders from rooting him out easily...Must keep his shoulders squared when parking himself under the net...Has to work to eliminate the hitch in his free-throw form, as he has a quick release, but his accuracy isn't great.

Compares To: ANTWAN JAMISON, Washington. Hill is just discovering his hidden scoring touch and showed that he is very accurate with his turnaround shot and working around the rim. He has the nimble feet to defend on the perimeter, but needs to get more confidence in his mid-range jumper. He is not as physical as he should be to get position under the basket, but is tenacious fighting for the rebound. His poor free-throw shooting is a liability, but he is a hard worker who will improve in time. Right now, he can give an NBA team a solid 15 minutes off the bench.

High School

Attended Kinston (N.C.) High School, where he was named the team's Most Improved Player in 2002...Lettered four times, averaging 14 points, nine rebounds and six blocks per game his senior season to help the team finish second in the state in 2001 and regional runner-up in 2002...Had a season-high 17 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocks in one game his senior year.

Personal

Social Science major...Son of Iris Brown and Herbert Hill, Jr...Born Herbert M. Hill on 10/01/84...Resides in Kinston, North Carolina.

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