'11 IL F Devon Hodges (Wisconsin Verbal)

[TroyD92]

Devon Hodges




Romeoville(IL) Romeoville
AAU-Illinois Wolves

HT:6'8
WT:200

Statistics (10 games): 7 pts (47% 2, 0%3), 6 rebs, 3 blks....is what MaxPreps shows....but lately his stats have been increasing significantly

Originally Posted by ChicagoHoops

Hodges, a 6'8" forward, who excels with his skill level and versatility on the basketball court. In the loaded Illinois Class of 2011, Hodges rates with Egwu and James Siakam (Brehm Prep) as the Top 3 post prospects. Hodges, who missed the spring with an injury, came back strong during the month of July, and was terrific in helping to lead the Wolves to the USSSA 15-U National Championship.

Originally Posted by ChicagoTribune

Devon Hodges, Romeoville, So., 6-7, C: A rising prospect in the state's most talent-laden class, chicagohoops.com ranks him No. 19 in Illinois.

Notes:
- a full year younger than most kids in his grade
- really come on as of late subsequent to a slow start
- AAU teammate of Wisconsin recruits Diamond Taylor, Chasson Randle, Nnana Egwu
- transferred from Nequa Valley immediately prior to freshman season

Offers: Wisconsin

[TroyD92]

Romeoville's Hodges delivers a winner

Hodges scored a game-high 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting to lead the Spartans to a 67-61 win over the Cougars......
Hodges scored 9 first-quarter points when the Spartans (14-8, 7-4) ran to a 21-15 lead. He then added 10 points in the fourth quarter when Romeoville tallied 24 points.

"Devon has really stepped up during the last few weeks," Romeoville coach Jeff Bambule said. "He is only 14 and he is playing against kids three, and in some cases, four years older than he is.

Romeoville made 9 of its first 10 shots in the fourth quarter, including 4-of-4 from Hodges. Romeoville shot 69.2 percent (9-of-13) in the fourth quarter 52.9 percent (27-of-51) for the game.

[Heavystarch]

Is this our first offer for 2011?

[TroyD92]

Originally Posted by Heavystarch

Is this our first offer for 2011?

him along with Chasson Randle and Nnana Egwu

[landoc88]

Devon Hodges has becomes wisconsin first verbal for the class of 2011

[Bernini]

Wow, he might be our youngest player who has verballed to the basketball program ever. He's only 14, so even though he's classified as a sophomore, is actually a youngish freshman in age. I'll try to scrounge up more information.

Head Coach Bo Ryan, And The University Of Wisconsin Land Class Of 2011 Romeoville High School Star Devon Hodges Of The Illinois Wolves

Class of 2011 Romeoville High School star Devon Hodges of the Illinois Wolves has given a verbal commitment to play his college basketball in the Big 10 conference for head coach Bo Ryan, and the University of Wisconsin.

Hodges, a 6'7" forward, is a highly versatile player who brings a strong all-around skill set to the table. A lefty, Hodges has the ability to step out, and make things happen on the perimeter, but also plays strong inside with his scoring and rebounding.

Hodges has been a varsity standout for Romeoville as both a freshman, and now as a sophomore. Hodges missed the spring on the travel team circuit with the Illinois Wolves ahead of playing extremely strong for the Wolves in July, and was instrumental in helping the team win the USSSA 15-U National Championship.

Hodges is part of a super-strong Illinois Wolves squad that also features Chasson Randle (Rock Island), 6'9" Nnanna Egwu (Chicago St. Ignatius) and 6'5" Jacob Williams (Bartlett). Mike Mullins of the Illinois Wolves confirmed Hodges' commitment to Wisconsin.

Hodges is a stellar student in the classroom. He had already been on campus at Wisconsin for an unofficial visit earlier this year. Hodges was offered a scholarship last week.

Highly regarded University of Wisconsin assistant coach Howard Moore, a Chicago native, factored huge in the recruitment of Hodges for the Badgers.

Hodges joins Chicago Mount Carmel's Tracy Abrams (Illinois), and East Aurora's Ryan Boatright (USC) as prospects from the Illinois Class of 2011 who have already decided on their collegiate destinations.

[badgerbasketball33]

Hopefully he can help sway randle and egwu. Can't believe we got a commit so soon. Sure hope he stays committed for the next 2.5 years

[TroyD92]

This is a nice potentially great get Devon seems to be a very talented wing already and he is what 6'7 or 6'8 and only 14 and has been really coming around as a sophomore lately....I wonder how this potentially helps us with Egwu and of course mister Randle.

[landoc88]

hmm... all i know i really cant find any info on the mr. hodges.. hes only a sophmore and probably gonna go nuts with summer on aau for all i know.

[TroyD92]

Originally Posted by landoc88

hmm... all i know i really cant find any info on the mr. hodges.. hes only a sophmore and probably gonna go nuts with summer on aau for all i know.

The Illinois Wolves won the 15U USSSA national championship last year Im not sure if he was on that team or not but just some food for thought.

[TheFresher]

Originally Posted by TroyD92

This is a nice potentially great get Devon seems to be a very talented wing already and he is what 6'7 or 6'8 and only 14 and has been really coming around as a sophomore lately....I wonder how this potentially helps us with Egwu and of course mister Randle.

couldn't he grow out of being a wing?

if he gets to 6'10 is he gonna be too tall for the wing?

[TroyD92]

Originally Posted by TheFresher

couldn't he grow out of being a wing?

if he gets to 6'10 is he gonna be too tall for the wing?

I dont think you can get to tall per say look at Lamar Odom who is 6'10, Rudy Gay who is 6'9, or Earl Clark who is at Louisville is 6'10 there are more those are just who I thought of the top of my head....what will matter is how he decides to develop his game...does he try to develop his post game or stick to playing wing...The other thing I would look for is if as he grows that he can maintain his current speed and quickness also what his weight goes up to....right now he is at about 190-200lbs which means he is very light right now but he is only 14 so who knows how he develops.

[Heavystarch]

I like this commitment. At 14, he will likely at least grow 1-2 inches and add 20 pounds at the very least. He is regarded as a smart kid, which is always a plus. As mentioned before, if he can help sway Randle and Egwu I will be even more ecstatic.

I don't think its far fetched to think we can land both Egwu and Randle. They all came down to visit on the same day, meaning they should have all had the same positive experience. And if they are friends/close, which I would think is the case, that even gives us more to be optimistic about.

Anyone else wondering if the assist on this commitment might go to Diamond Taylor?

[Heavystarch]

Originally Posted by TheFresher

couldn't he grow out of being a wing?

if he gets to 6'10 is he gonna be too tall for the wing?

If we had more size right now Leuer would be a fairly natural 6'10" wing. I guess the only reason to think not would be for defensive purposes

[Bernini]

Originally Posted by Heavystarch

If we had more size right now Leuer would be a fairly natural 6'10" wing. I guess the only reason to think not would be for defensive purposes

Which is the primary factor that defines what position you are....who you can guard. Leuer would be wholly incapable of playing in front of athletic swingmen laterally. And sticking him at that position would also take away his ability to create mismatches on the perimeter, as he does now. Evan Turner wouldn't have any problems guarding him there. Leuer could remain in the post, but that would mean a big man with less perimeter skills is drawn out of his comfort zone. Otherwise there would be far too much congestion in the post.

Factoring in Hodge's height, weight, age, and skill-set (to some extent, although it's certainly alterable); he projects to power forward for the Badgers. If he grows as much as I did following age 18, we'll have the next Yao Ming on our hands by the time he arrives in Madison. Even if he just fills out at a pretty natural rate he'll be about 6-8/230. Krabbenhoft and Landry were 200 and 205 respectively, as high school seniors, and they're realistically both around 230 now (no way Krabbe is only 219, he's thick). As far as skill-set, Hodges is not listed as having taken a 3 this season by MaxPreps, and shoots 59 percent from the line. On defense he's averaging 3 blocks per game. That screams inside player. If he develops an outside shot it just becomes a bonus.

And it's not like power forward isn't a need. It might be our biggest need, actually. The only other player in the mix who even might project to power forward in my eyes is Bruiser. Berggren, Markolf, and Anderson don't move in space well enough to guard 4's and are low post players primarily on offense. If Gavinski isn't asked back for his senior year I'd almost prefer addressing the power forward position with Kelm over a wing like Barnes or Davis (although Barnes might be too talented to ignore hypothetically).

2010

SG/PG Blue
C Anderson
PF Kelm

2011

PF Hodges
PG Bradley- absence of a true point otherwise after Taylor graduates, if he doesn't develop then Randle is cool
SF ?? Someone who can shoot and be a solid defender, sort of a rich man's Jarmusz, maybe Jesperson (Fresher, now would be the time to inform us on his skill-set and capability in his thread)
C/PF Egwu


Would fill out the roster quite nicely....