High-octane Hodges
‘Dynamic’ Michigan City sophomore guard lets his game do the talking
Michigan City’s Jamie Hodges doesn’t talk much.
There is one subject, however, that yields an answer that is at least a paragraph long.
His first dunk.
It came for the 5-foot-9 sophomore during an AAU game in Indianapolis over the summer.
Hodges tipped the ball to the backcourt, got it at the freethrow line, took two steps and slammed it.
His reaction?
“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. He still doesn’t quite believe it, but it’s not a surprise to people who have watched him.
Hodges is the most electrifying player in Northwest Indiana.
The only attribute Hodges lacks for a typical basketball player is height.
Michigan City coach Tom Wells is looking at a four-year starter who will not have to develop into a good player. Hodges arrived ready-made. He averaged a team-leading 14 points, three assists and two steals while shooting 55% from the field in 2019-20.
Hodges was all-conference in the Duneland Athletic and was Michigan City’s MVP.
If Hodges stays, it’s only going to get better. Wells, who has coached for 32 years, said he’s never had a player like Hodges.
“He is a dynamic, unique kid for only being 15,” Wells said. “I have had kids that have been quick, and I have had kids that were strong. But I’ve never had the combination of strength and quickness that he brings along with his skill at handling the basketball.”
The Wolves (2-0) run the perfect system for Hodges. Games are an all-out sprint.
Against Marquette, Hodges had 20 points, five rebounds and three assists with no turnovers in a 111-65 victory.
He followed that with 24 points in a 105-55 win over Lighthouse.
The Wolves use four guards, and only one, Tahari Watson, is over 5-9. He’s 5-10. Omarion Hatch and Warren Sails are 5-8 and 5-9, respectively.
Since he started playing in grade school, Hodges always has been the smallest guy on the floor.
He compensated for his size by being ultracompetitive and driving to the basket, where Wells said Hodges “needs just a little space” to get his shot off or draw a foul.
The only part of Hodges’ game that needs work is his 3-point shooting, according to Wells.
Hodges spent the summer extending his range. It’s not that he can’t make 3-pointers. It’s that he hasn’t had to shoot them much.
“Once he develops that part of his game, he’ll just be that much harder to guard,” Wells said.
The Wolves’ size will be challenged Saturday when they play West Side (1-0), the Post-Tribune’s top-ranked team. The Cougars start Jalen Washington, a 6-9 junior, and Mason Nicholson, a 6-9 senior.
“That’s going to be a tough game,” Hodges said. “They have some really good big players.”
Kyle Ross returns: Lake Central plays at Andrean on Friday, and it’s a return home of sorts for Kyle Ross.
Ross, a 6-7 forward, led the 59ers to the Class 2A state title in 2019. He averaged 17 points and seven rebounds. Ross played one game for the 59ers last season and then withdrew from the school, eventually transferring to Lake Central.
Andrean coach Brad Stangel said Wednesday the only thing he was worried about was figuring out a way to guard Ross.
“I haven’t talked to our players about it,” he said. “We are treating it as just another game.”
Postponed games: Friday’s scheduled game between Munster and Hammond has been moved to a date to be determined, according to Munster athletic director Ira Zimmer.
Munster won’t play its first game until Dec. 18, when the Mustangs are scheduled to play Crown Point, according to coach Mike Hackett. Valparaiso will play its first game Dec. 11 against Lowell, according to Valparaiso athletic director Stacy Adams. The Vikings were supposed to open Nov. 25 against West Side.
Valparaiso’s games were moved because of COVID-19 contact tracing and because three football players are key contributors. The Vikings’ football season ended Nov. 20 in a Class 5A semistate loss to Zionsville.