“When you’re hungry, you eat; when you’re a frog, you leap; if you’re scared, get a dog.” The timeless words of former Wolfpack great Julius Hodge resonate through the heart the way live, laugh, love seems to appeal to freshmen girls or the way fried shows up at the state fair.
The 2004 ACC Player of the Year, Julius Hodge, remains a huge part of the university, the basketball program and serves as a mentor for younger players, and admits he may be more incorporated with the university now, then when he was back in college.
“I’m probably more involved with the basketball program now than I was when I was playing, if that’s even possible,” Hodge said. “I’m in the gym with those guys everyday, always checking up on their progress, seeing how the guys are doing, talking to them, keeping them mentally ready for the season. I make sure everyone is working out, and when they’re not, I call them out.”
Hodge has gotten a chance not only to watch, but also play with the Pack’s highly touted freshman class that earned a No. 7 ranking nationally according to ESPN.com, and knows from first hand experience just how good this group of youngsters can be.
“I think we are going to be really good,” Hodge said. “I think those freshmen are going to play so well together. They have all been working really hard all summer. It’s exciting to say the least.
“When you look at a guy who is Ryan Harrow’s size with his ball handling and passing ability and then you see him jump out of the building it’s like wow. Then you got C.J. Leslie who is just probably the most athletic player in the ACC this coming year. And you add a complete player like Lorenzo Brown, oh man, we are about to dominate the ACC in terms of excitement.”
However, as talented as the freshman class may be, the self-proclaimed “best personality the ACC has ever seen,” does not plan on relinquishing his crown anytime soon.
“No, I don’t think you’re going to see another one of my kind come through with the personality,” Hodge said. “They have some personality to them, but they can’t match the Jules from Harlem, come on now.”
Students agree both that Hodge’s personality and his positive presence as part of the university makes him one of the greatest to roll through Raleigh. Kyle Jackson, a senior in history education said Hodge is unforgettable.
“Julius Hodge is so number one,” Jackson said. “He is still a presence on campus and is a notable force at every event he comes to. He always brings the ruckus when he is at a game and always has good things to say about N.C. State. He does a great job representing the Pack in the real world.”
Hodge was selected by the Denver Nuggets with the 20th pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, but had trouble settling in with an NBA franchise, bouncing from Denver to Milwaukee to Seattle before being released. Most recently Hodge played in Europe and Australia.
Although the 2004 NCAA Consensus Second Team All-American did not have a one hour ESPN special to let the world know where he will be playing in 2010-11, Hodge has decided to take his talents to China’s CBL where he will play against notable former NBA players Stephon Marbury and Stromile Swift.
“I’m very excited for this opportunity,” Hodge said. “There is a bunch of NBA talent on every team out there, so it’s no cupcake walk but I’m going to be sure I’m going to be the best point guard in that league. I have always looked up to Starbury since I was younger. He is giving me advice even though I’m going up against him. But I let him know that I’m going to be droppin’ buckets on him though.”
And Hodge will continue his work with the university today, as he will be making an appearance on campus as the emcee for the pep rally, in support of the football team’s game on Thursday night against the University of Cincinnati.
