DATE: Friday, June 27, 1997                 TAG: 9706270850

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C8   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   42 lines

HODGE LOOKS TO LAND A FREE-AGENT CONTRACT EX-ODU STAR WASN'T PICKED IN NBA DRAFT.

As the names were rattled off rapid-fire late in the NBA draft's second round, it seemed the television commentators discussed how every player chosen had improved his stock at the Chicago pre-draft camp.

That was not lost on Odell Hodge, as he watched and waited - in vain - to hear his name called Wednesday night.

``I think that weighs heavily on these scouts' minds,'' Hodge said. ``You've got to be in Chicago. You never hear anything about Phoenix or Portsmouth, it's always what he did in Chicago.''

Hodge did nothing more in Chicago, where he was an alternate, than undergo a physical. His agent spent Thursday on the phone with NBA teams attempting to secure free-agent tryouts for the 6-foot-9 former Old Dominion player.

Glenn Schwartzman said by early afternoon Thursday he had spoken to 13 NBA teams that wanted to have Hodge in for upcoming rookie and free-agent camps.

``We're trying to put together the best combination of things that will get him the best maximum exposure for the summer,'' Schwartzman said. ``There's definitely good interest.''

Schwartzman was working on juggling dates so Hodge could go to two or three teams' rookie and free-agent camps, coupling that with playing in NBA summer leagues in either Utah, Los Angeles or Atlanta.

Schwartzman said Hodge was better off going undrafted rather than being taken in the final few picks. Now they can sift through the free-agent invitations and try to select the right situation where a team is in need of depth at power forward, thereby enhancing Hodge's chances at a roster spot.

If things don't work out with an NBA team, look for Hodge to take his game overseas.

``I was expecting to go, but then again I was not expecting to go,'' Hodge said of the draft. ``I'm not too worried because I know I'll be playing ball somewhere next year.

``We'll just take it day by day from here on.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Odell Hodge has had 13 teams inquire about him trying out.

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