ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 29, 1997 TAG: 9703310145
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: INDIANAPOLIS
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK THE ROANOKE TIMES
The NABC All-Star Game proves to be a promising showcase for two local basketball stars.
For Ace Custis and Odell Hodge, the rest of their basketball lives began Friday night on an NBA floor where they hope to play again.
Custis, of Virginia Tech, and Old Dominion's Hodge, a Martinsville (Va.) resident, were on opposing teams in the annual East-West All-Star Game, sponsored by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
The game, won by the East 105-94 at Market Square Arena, has become a staple of the Final Four weekend. Florida State guard James Collins, only 24 hours removed from an NIT championship game loss, was voted the ``Star of Stars'' with his 20-point effort.
In an example of skewed geography, Hodge scored six points with two rebounds for the West squad, while the 6-foot-7 Custis started for the East team and impressively finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
"It was a great experience, part of a fun weekend,'' said Tech's two-time All-Atlantic 10 forward. "I already knew some of the guys here, but getting the opportunity to play in a game like this means a lot.
"Just getting to see the Final Four is nice. We're going to the [semifinal] games [today]. We've been here not only to play, but to have a good time, too.''
Custis became the second Hokie to play in NABC games over 35 years, following Dale Solomon (1982). Hodge, the former Laurel Park High star, was the third ODU product (Mark West and Kenny Gattison were the others) to be an NABC star.
"Getting opportunities like this can only help me,'' Hodge said.
Marty Blake, the NBA's director of scouting, said both Virginia college products have a chance to play at the Indiana Pacers' home in the future, although the East-West game is only the first of upcoming auditions.
Blake said Custis "is a really good athlete, and one thing a lot of people don't realize, a very smart player. He knows how to play.
"Ace needs to work a little on improving his outside shot, but he has a real chance this year because there's a shortage of small forwards.''
Hodge, a two-time Colonial Athletic Association player of the year, "impressed me tonight,'' Blake said. "He made some nice moves inside.
"He wanted to come out last year, and leave Old Dominion even if he had to play in Europe for a year. I screamed at him, and told him he could make the same money this year.''
Next up for most NBA prospects is next weekend's Portsmouth (Va.) Invitational. The PIT is followed by the Nike Desert Classic in Phoenix in mid-April and the NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Chicago in late May. Custis and Hodge are scheduled to appear in all of those.
LENGTH: Medium: 57 linesby CNB