For Derek Hall, his new life continues to be a series of adjustments and discoveries both on and off the basketball court.

The former Northampton High School and Albright College basketball standout is back home this summer after he spent his second season playing in a Hungarian professional league. While there, the 7-footer dealt with his share of a range of experiences.

"This season was a roller coaster of a season team wise," he said. "We faced many obstacles playing our first seven games away and they were all five- to seven-hour rides. We had the youngest team in the league and got a new coach halfway through the season. "Our team brought in a few new players as the season went on."

Still, Hall was looking for ways to improve his game from coaches as well as other players who ventured overseas.

"I learned a lot from the other import players on the team," he added. "One was from Chicago, other from Arkansas and the other from Croatia, all with professional experience. I also learned a lot from our head coach Erno Sitku. He was a great player for the Hungarian national team playing over 150 games for them. We played the same position, a stretch 4, and with him being 6-10, he knew the correct drills to try to get me to reach my full potential."

"Overall, I didn't have to make really any adjustments to my game. The main thing was to stay focused all of the time and work hard in practice, so you are always ready for the game."

Hall also has appreciated the more basic approach to the game taken by the European community as opposed to the upbeat style of basketball here. His best game was a 24-point, 17-rebound effort against Körmend in December.

"Basketball here in the states is more one-on-one type game, and I feel like and over in Europe it is very team oriented and fundamentally sound. As far as the level of competition, it all depends where you are playing but the league I was in, if you aren't ready to play or if you make a lazy pass, the other team will capitalize on your mistakes right away."

Overall, life in Hungary takes a slow pace.

"The lifestyle has some similarities and differences," he added. "A lot of people ride bicycles over in Hungary, well all over Europe. I have seen a woman in her eighties in a dress pedaling thru the city going to the market, seeing things like that makes you take a double look at times. I loved the big historic buildings, cobblestone roads and everyone was very generous in the city I was in.

"In my free time over in Hungary I would play Xbox or watch Netflix. With some teammates we would go out bowling, get a bite to eat in the city center, go to the spa or even the zoo they had there.

"I kept in touch with all of my family and friends while I was in Hungary. It was easy using Skype of FaceTime to talk with my family/friends and it has made the transition easier.

"When I was in Körmend, it was special because that game was 10 minutes away from my grandmother's village. She lived there during WWII, and I had family attend the games that still live out there."

Hall plans to return to Hungary Aug. 24 when he will play in the same league, but be a member of the Falco team where he will be 10 minutes away from his family.

Until then, he has played in three different leagues and has been working out at CoreXCell in Northampton. Hall was a recent integral part of Roosevelt 21, a team that won the Stellar Adult Basketball Summer League and the squad is entered in Catasauqua's Tournament of Champions.

Overall, his new ventures have been a positive.

"I'm playing basketball and seeing Europe," he noted. "It's been a good life for me and I want to keep it going."