Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 7, 1993 TAG: 9303070175
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
A BRIGHT ODU FUTURE FOR HODGE
Like all impressive young people with a plan, Odell Hodge has a goal."Individually, I want to dominate the Colonial [Athletic Association] in the next couple of years," said Old Dominion's freshman center from Martinsville.
ODU coach Oliver Purnell said Hodge already has been to his land of promise on some nights, but Saturday wasn't one of them.
"He's been 16-for-20 [shooting]; he's had 37 and 34 points; he's had 18 and 16 rebounds," Purnell said. "How much he can do that consistently only depends on how hard he wants to work."
Already, opposing coaches are seeking a way to dodge Hodge, one of the young lions among the Monarchs. It doesn't hurt that he's part of the best front line in state college basketball, with fellow freshman Mario Mullen and sophomore Petey Sessoms.
The 6-foot-9 former Laurel Park High star was voted CAA Rookie of the Year, but his potential is much more lofty. When Hodge is through in this league, he is likely to be mentioned with a David who has been this league's only true Goliath.
Hodge should be in Mr. Robinson's neighborhood. Despite the Monarchs upset loss to East Carolina in the first round of the CAA tournament, Hodge has helped ODU to its first 20-win season since 1985-86. For the NIT-bound Monarchs, he is averaging 15 points, nine rebounds and a league-best 2.5 blocks.
"I'd like to have a chance to play out on the wings a little more," said Hodge, reminded that one thing he hadn't done this season was launch a 3-pointer.
"I know, but you won't see me take one unless we're blowing somebody out."
Early in the season, Hodge took a licking in the post. Now, he is just as pushy as everybody else. He has gained 20 pounds, to 245, since arriving at ODU; he wants to add another 10. He still is growing vertically, too, closing in on 6 feet 10.
With no apologies to a star of another era, Hodge's teammates call him "The Big O."
"What pleases me the most is that I was able to come in and contribute right away," Hodge said. "I knew the competition would be better, but it was higher than I expected.
"In high school, I was bigger than everybody else. Playing center, I didn't have people my own size bumping me, putting hands in my face. That was really different for me, until I realized I was just as big as these other guys."
Hodge is as enthused about the play of his former team as he is his current one. Even without Hodge, the once-beaten Lancers have reached the Group AA state tournament. "I told people early on they were going to be good again," he said.
What troubles Hodge most about college life is being away from home, particularly his father. Melvin Hodge has been bedridden for most of his son's freshman season with heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. He has kidney dialysis several times a week.
Odell wanted to donate a kidney to his father, but the 19-year-old center knew what the answer would be. Like a lot of people, Melvin Hodge is thinking of Odell's future.
Purnell said Hodge has made the academic transition to college, too, applying the same work ethic he does on the court. Recruiters shied away from Hodge because he had a learning disability, but Hodge, a recreation major, had a 3.0 grade-point average in his first semester.
"Odell is just a good kid," Purnell said. "He does things right. He's mannerly. He's on time. He loves to talk to people. He's just a breath of fresh air."
It isn't only the Monarchs' coach who raves about Hodge. James Madison coach Lefty Driesell likes Hodge's ability to run the floor for a big man. Other CAA coaches talk about Hodge's shot-blocking ability.
"Defensively, he's a coming force," Purnell said of Hodge. "He's rebounding better, and he blocks more shots than I thought he would. That's because he's so quick with his feet.
"At this level of basketball, Odell has been a better player early at this school than Mark West and Kenny Gattison [who have been solid NBA players] were. That says something."
Another positive for Hodge is his 80 percent free-throw shooting. Big men aren't often that accurate at the stripe. He can be a shooter as well as a scorer.
He certainly wasn't among the highest-rated recruits - talent scout Bob Gibbons ranked him 51st in the nation - but finding other true freshmen with Hodge's production is as difficult as guarding him.
"The thing that surprises me now is that so many guys still try to play behind me," Hodge said. "That's why I'm working more on my moves down low.
"I thought more people would front me, or at least three-quarters me. But they're letting me catch the ball."
As Purnell says, making passes into the post "often can be dangerous." With the good-hands Hodge, only opponents are at peril.
The letters on his uniform may say ODU, but Hodge has NBA written all over him.