And as the cheers finally die on the court at the WHS gym, the court where TJ Halloran left the crowd in a standing ovation, a new chapter starts for the talented point guard and 2023 Westfield graduate in Troy, NY at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). At 6’3” tall, Halloran possesses excellent size for the point guard position and twitchy defensive reflexes.
Upon becoming a freshman at RPI, Halloran already showed promise as a productive college player. Not only does he have great court skills, but he also has a great character as he gains the admiration of his peers and coaches. As a freshman, Halloran was not able to play as much as he used to during his high school years at Westfield, and this season was more geared towards learning the college game. “My first year definitely had its ups and downs, but I wanted to make use of it and really work hard in practice and learn from the older guys and my coaches,” he said. Halloran’s positive mindset will surely be reflected in his future play.
Halloran’s trademark is gritty defense and winning plays, something that will always translate to the next level but might not always show up on the score sheet. One thing that drives Halloran through challenges is a commitment to winning and passion for work. He has a unique feel for the game and is an excellent passer, made clear by his 240 assists in his Blue Devil career. Halloran spent his freshman year learning and the offseason working and now looks ahead to a breakout sophomore season.
Halloran’s skills led him to a successful high school career, in which he saw multiple all county selections and 473 points, 291 rebounds and 240 assists. “I look back pretty fondly on my time at Westfield. We had some good seasons, and it was super fun. Some of those guys who I met then are definitely friends for life. Now, I want to look forward to having a similarly successful experience here at RPI,” said Halloran.
Theo Sica shares in his testimonial, “Back in high school it was great playing with TJ and it is even more exciting to see TJ grow as a basketball player.” Indeed, many feel honored to have seen Halloran play basketball at the high school stage and subsequently progress to the collegiate level.
Another former teammate, Tyshawn Pearson said, “TJ was a great inspiration for me and really took me under his wing coming into high school.” Pearson’s high regard for Halloran demonstrates his character and the type of positive influence he was as an excellent role model both on and off the court.
With heart and dedication, Halloran moves on to his sophomore season at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the Liberty League on his basketball journey.
