DATE: Saturday, March 1, 1997               TAG: 9703010623

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: RICHMOND                          LENGTH:   67 lines

ODU'S HODGE IS NAMED CAA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Old Dominion's Odell Hodge spoke frankly a couple of weeks ago about how he was somewhat disappointed in his performance during his senior season.

Hodge is his own harshest critic.

Others, however, are less critical as evidenced by Hodge's selection Friday as the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year.

It was the second time Hodge has won the award and the third time he's been named first-team all-conference. He also was the Player of the Year in 1994 as a sophomore.

The following year Hodge suffered a season-ending knee injury, which he battled back from to become only the third player to win the CAA's top honors more than once.

Navy's David Robinson won it three times - once when the league was known as the ECAC South - while James Madison's Steve Hood won it twice.

Joining Hodge on the first team were James Madison's Chatney Howard, George Mason's Nate Langley, Virginia Commonwealth's Patrick Lee and UNC Wilmington's Bill Mayew.

Richmond's Marseilles Brown was the Rookie of the Year, while UNC Wilmington's Jerry Wainwright won Coach of the Year honors.

Hodge, the CAA's leading shot-blocker with 74, was also named to the All-Defensive team.

He also led the league in field goal percentage (55.4) and was second in scoring (18.1 points per game) and rebounding (8.5).

Hodge recently became the first ODU player and the third in CAA history to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

``He had a great finish to his season,'' ODU coach Jeff Capel said earlier this week. ``The last couple of weeks he elevated his game and we were just riding on his shoulders.''

Hodge slumped at one point this season as he tried to adjust to double- and triple-teams.

``Everyone paid special attention to him,'' Capel said. ``He went through periods where he struggled a little bit and was indecisive in his decision making when he was doubled and tripled.

``The more it happened, the more he got accustomed to it and started making quick decisions kicking it to his teammates.''

In addition to the Player of the Year award, Hodge was the co-winner along with UNC Wilmington's Mayew of the Dean Ehlers Leadership Award. Hodge battled back tears when he received that award Friday.

Hodge was recognized for community service in speaking to youth and school groups, and for his character in achieving academically despite a learning disability. Hodge is scheduled to graduate in May.

``He means more to the program than just what he does on the basketball court,'' Capel said. ``He's a very, very special young man.''

Hodge hopes to finish his career in a special way.

He has never won a CAA championship or played in an NCAA tournament.

When ODU won the CAA in 1995 and beat Villanova in the NCAA tournament, Hodge was on the bench with a knee injury.

``I think I've had a real good senior year,'' Hodge said. ``I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish out of my senior year so far. It's not complete yet, the only way to complete it is to win the CAA championship.

``I'm tired of hanging up individual awards. I want to hang up a team award.'' ILLUSTRATION: It's second time Hodge has won the award and third

time he's been named first-team all-conference.

CAA MEN'S HONORS

GRAPHIC

[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.]

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