The role of a lifetime awaited Charlie Hall at Friday's practice: Przemek Karnowski.
Hall, a sophomore walk-on for Northwestern, is 8 inches shorter and 95 pounds lighter than Gonzaga's center, but he tackled his assignment — as he does all of his scout team assignments, including Purdue's Caleb Swanigan and Wisconsin's Ethan Happ — with a method approach.
"I tried to eat as much as I can this morning, gain a little weight," Hall deadpanned. "But I'm a lefty, and he's a lefty, so it works out in that regard. I'll do my best to emulate his playing style."
As the Wildcats continue their run through their first NCAA Tournament, Hall's bit-player role has been getting more attention — primarily because he comes from a famous family. His father, Brad Hall, was a Saturday Night Live cast member and remains an actor, writer and director. His mother, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, earned national fame on the show Seinfeld and is currently the star of HBO series Veep.
Like any parents, they come to their son's games. Television cameras have picked up on them more as celebrity fans of Northwestern's team.
"I'm definitely hearing about it a little bit," Charlie Hall said. "My friends are texting me because I'm on TV a little more, too."
But family ties are hardly the most fascinating part of Hall, who studies film at Northwestern and walked onto the team in 2015. He has dreams of going into the family business after school — "I don't see myself playing in the NBA or anything" — but basketball always has been a serious passion for him.
He was a two-time all-CIF selection for Crossroads, the California school he attended from kindergarten through graduation, and helped lead the team to its best playoff finish in over 15 years. He averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds and five assists per game as a senior.
When he went to Northwestern (the alma mater of both of his parents), it was "never a question" that he also would play basketball, no matter what it took.
"The work ethic you put into it is going to help me outside of school, whatever work I decide to go into after basketball," he said. "It's something that can be easily applied to any profession. And being around these guys is amazing."
Hall has appeared in two games this season, so he's far from the star. But his personality has shined through in the last week as he's appeared more frequently as an interview, grilling teammates with tough questions. He did a bit Friday afternoon with fellow walk-on Tino Malnati, asking him what bench celebrations he had in store for Saturday's second-round game against Gonzaga.
Hall was hoping to score his first career points with the game's final shot in a Big Ten tournament game last week. Teammate Nate Taphorn instead took it, saying he only saw Hall out of the corner of his eye after he already had left his feet to shoot.
Armed with a microphone, Hall confronted him after the game, playing the straight man to perfection: "Taphorn, after the game we heard a lot of people calling you 'selfish' for a play that happened near the end. Can you describe what was going on?"
Taphorn couldn't help but laugh afterward.
"I think it was harder for me to sit there and take it," he said.
Hall's parents aren't a distraction within the locker room. Malnati calls them "just like any other parents," albeit ones that fly to and from work in between tournament games. They'll be back in the stands Saturday, likely with TV cameras following their every move.
Hall has his own work to do: figuring out how to play 95 pounds bigger than he is.
"He'll keep things light, but he knows when to get serious," Taphorn said. "He does a really good job of doing what they do — I think it goes unnoticed how well he conducts himself. If you talked to him for 15 minutes, you wouldn't know where he's from."
kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon
Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus gestures during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game between Wisconsin and Northwestern in the Big Ten tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2017, in Washington. Louis-Dreyfus' son is Northwestern forward Charlie Hall. Wisconsin won 76-48. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, right, waves during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game between Wisconsin and Northwestern in the Big Ten tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2017, in Washington. Louis-Dreyfus' son is Northwestern forward Charlie Hall. Wisconsin won 76-48. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Gonzaga coach Mark Few takes questions during the team's press conference at the NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Friday March 17, 2017.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Gonzaga coach Mark Few takes questions during the team's press conference at the NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Friday March 17, 2017.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Josh Perkins (13) takes questions during the team's press conference at the NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Friday March 17, 2017.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Gonzaga coach Mark Few takes questions during the team's press conference at the NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Friday March 17, 2017.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Silas Melson (0) takes questions during the team's press conference at the NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Friday March 17, 2017.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Gonzaga coach Mark Few takes questions during the team's press conference at the NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Friday March 17, 2017.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Josh Perkins (13) takes questions during the team's press conference at the NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Friday March 17, 2017.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Josh Perkins (13) takes questions during the team's press conference at the NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Friday March 17, 2017.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Josh Perkins (13) takes questions during the team's press conference at the NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Friday March 17, 2017.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Northwestern Wildcats center Dererk Pardon (5) Northwestern Wildcats guard Bryant McIntosh (30) and Northwestern Wildcats guard Sanjay Lumpkin (34) speak during a press conference at Vivint Smart Home Arena Friday March 17, 2017.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Northwestern Wildcats forward Charlie Hall (10) speaks during a press conference at Vivint Smart Home Arena Friday March 17, 2017.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Northwestern Wildcats center Dererk Pardon (5) Northwestern Wildcats guard Bryant McIntosh (30) and Northwestern Wildcats guard Sanjay Lumpkin (34) speak during a press conference at Vivint Smart Home Arena Friday March 17, 2017.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Northwestern Wildcats center Dererk Pardon (5) Northwestern Wildcats guard Bryant McIntosh (30) and Northwestern Wildcats guard Sanjay Lumpkin (34) speak during a press conference at Vivint Smart Home Arena Friday March 17, 2017.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Northwestern Wildcats center Dererk Pardon (5) Northwestern Wildcats guard Bryant McIntosh (30) and Northwestern Wildcats guard Sanjay Lumpkin (34) speak during a press conference at Vivint Smart Home Arena Friday March 17, 2017.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Northwestern Wildcats forward Charlie Hall (10) speaks during a press conference at Vivint Smart Home Arena Friday March 17, 2017.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Northwestern Wildcats head coach Chris Collins speaks during a press conference at Vivint Smart Home Arena Friday March 17, 2017.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Northwestern Wildcats head coach Chris Collins speaks during a press conference at Vivint Smart Home Arena Friday March 17, 2017.