Top 150 F Matthew Hodge recaps St. Mary's visit; talks Virginia Tech, Seton Hall, and more

Matthew Hodge is the No. 129 player in the recent 2024 On3 150 update. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 14.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks for a 23-5 Belmar (NJ) St. Rose team this season. He’s averaging 8.2 points on 38.3 percent from three for the PSA Cardinals on Nike’s EYBL Circuit.

“My shooting ability has improved,” Hodge told On3. “Playing on the EYBL, the speed of the game is much greater, so everything with my shot got quicker. I watch a lot of Michael Porter Jr. He knows when to shoot, how to set up his shot.”

On3 caught up with Matthew Hodge after a recent live viewing to talk about his recruitment.

Hodge talks St. Mary’s

I just took my first official to St. Mary’s,” Hodge said.

“I had a great time. It was a great place. I liked the staff a lot; they’re all great people. I enjoyed being around the players. We were all playing pick-up together, a great group. They’re all talented, there are no egos there, and they all want to win. Very competitive. They got a guy, Alex Ducas, going into his fifth year next year. They showed me stuff about him and their plans for me to come in and replace him in my class.”

Hodge talks recruitment

I’m setting visits with Virginia Tech and Old Dominion now,” Hodge said. “All the schools that have offered me, I want to try to get to see. I’m hearing a lot from Seton Hall too.”

Virginia Tech: “I like their winning mindset. They play in a great league with a lot of top players. The ACC is one of the best college basketball leagues in the country. They win, and they compete, and they play the right way. Everyone gets a chance. The best players play, and the ball moves. That sticks out to me.

Seton Hall: “I took an unofficial visit there recently. We all saw what Coach Shaheen (Holloway) did a couple of years ago with St. Peter’s. I’m all about the underdogs. They play in a great conference, and the Big East has great competition. Being able to make it to the tournament at a school like Seton Hall is a big deal.”

Old Dominion: “My dad played there, Odell Hodge. They want me to come in as a freshman and right away be one of the main guys. Being a key factor for the team early on is something that is pretty interesting for me.”

In His words

I want to narrow things down by some time in the Summer,” Hodge said. “I’d like to commit some time before my senior year basketball season starts. So right now, I’m aiming for November.

“I want to win. A program that goes to the tournament and trusts their freshman to come in and play. I want to play winning basketball and for a coach where the best players play.”

Matthew Hodge’s father, Odell Hodge, played at Old Dominion from 1992-97. The 6-foot-9 forward was twice named CAA Conference Player of the Year after twice leading the conference in both scoring and rebounding. Hodge is Old Dominion’s third all-time leading scorer (2,117 career points), rebounder (1,086 career boards), and shot blocker (286 career blocks).