Rodney Hood Duke 10-16-13
Duke forward Rodney Hood (left), who sat out last season after transferring from Mississippi State, is one of the top newcomers in the ACC this season.
(AP Photo | Nell Redmond)
Charlotte, N.C. — Rodney Hood could have turned in a fine career in relative anonymity at Mississippi State, a respectable program yet one that last reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament in 1996.
He was off to a solid start, averaging 10.3 points and 4.8 rebounds as a freshman for the Bulldogs. In the wake of a coaching change in Starkville, Hood explored his options outside his home state.
A little more than a year later, Hood is one of the ACC’s most anticipated arrivals and perhaps one of the league's top players, finally eligible after sitting out last season at Duke.
“Duke is a basketball school, a rich tradition,” Hood said Wednesday at the ACC’s basketball media day. “That’s why I came here. I fell in love with the tradition.”
He might be the perfect player to help burnish the Blue Devils’ substantial legacy under coach Mike Krzyzewski. At 6 feet 8 and 215 pounds, the forward is a threat both from the perimeter and to get to the basket off the dribble.
His potential as both an interior and perimeter defender is also significant, and it exemplifies just how different this Duke team could be from last year’s Elite Eight bunch. Gone are big men Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee, as well as guard Seth Curry. In their place are interchangeable pieces like Hood and highly touted freshman Jabari Parker.
“We had a great low-post scorer in Mason and we had Seth, who was a great shooter, running off screens,” Hood said. “We had a conventional offense. This year, we have a lot of wing players who can do multiple things. We’re going to try to create a lot of opportunities off our defense.”
While Parker is a newcomer to campus, Hood had a year to establish himself in Durham even if he wasn’t playing in games or going on road trips with the Blue Devils.
That meant a year of watching Curry, Kelly and Plumlee conduct business. It involved a full season of further developing the mental side of his game.
And it meant establishing himself with teammates who are only too eager to add his skill this season.
“Last year on our team, he was one of our best players in a practice setting and by far the best player on our scout team,” guard Tyler Thornton said. “Just some of the things he did, he solidified his rep within the team. The fans are going to be really excited to see what he can do and how he can play.”
It was telling Hood is already one of the Blue Devils’ captains and was selected to represent the program at the conference media day. He will be a critical part of Duke’s success this season, and he will do it in a spotlight he probably would not have experienced at Mississippi State.
After a wait of more than a year, he’s ready for all that comes with playing for the Blue Devils and one of the sport’s icons.
“The reason I came to Duke was to play under that pressure and to play for coach,” Hood said.