Intro: D’Moi Hodge (2018)
D’Moi Hodge authored a 40-point, five-assist, four-block performance during Arlington Country Day’s recent win over DME Academy’s post-graduate team. For those who have witnessed Hodge’s killer instinct before, much of the same is expected in his post-graduate season in Jacksonville, Fla.
At now-defunct Faith Baptist (GA) last season, the 6-foot-4 Hodge was one of the state and SIAA-FL conference’s best scorers. Hodge erupted for 40 points during Faith Baptist’s 78-72 win over Liberty Heights (N.C.) in Orlando.
The performance was a portent of what was to come for Hodge, who also bagged 10 3-pointers during a loss to The Conrad Academy (FL)’s post-graduate team. Hodge was fearless in that one, hitting difficult and heavily contested shots throughout.
Hodge’s ability to score the ball at will and knack for getting hot in a hurry was a necessity for a Faith Baptist team that struggled against the elite-level competition of the SIAA.
Hodge will have a bit more of a supporting cast this time at ACD, with 6-foot-4 Demetrick Coney (Columbia, S.C.) operating the point and 6-foot-9 Croatian forward Tino Sebalj putting his versatile tool-set on display.
“He is special, you can’t define him as just a shooter or just a scorer because he can do way more than just that,” said Terrell Eskridge, who coaches the post-graduate team at ACD after coaching Hodge at Faith Baptist last season.
“He gets in the passing lane with his long arms. He blocks shots. He will go out and get an assist. He grabs rebounds. He’s just a winner that refuses to lose. On top of it all, he has hit multiple game-winners.”
The one immeasurable intangible of Hodge’s game, an aspect which does not show up in the stat sheet, is his ability to fend off fatigue.
“He just has a relentless motor,” said Eskridge. “He just keeps coming at 100 miles per hour while everyone else gets tired.”
The late and legendary Rex Morgan, who starred at Jacksonville and later the Boston Celtics, helped build ACD into a national power during his time at the helm. While the program underwent a brutal transition year in which they were mired in the SIAA’s lower percentile, Eskridge will look to restore the national credibility associated with the program.
That starts with a fast-paced attack and several interchangeable pieces.