Belgium-bred Matthew and Jayden Hodge had, for years, entertained the dream of settling into the United States and playing basketball at the highest level the country has to offer.
The NBA happens to be mainstream culture and entertainment in Belgium, where the boys’ father (6-foot-9 and 260-pound bruising former Old Dominion forward/center) Odell Hodge both played and coached professionally for 20 years.
After arriving on US soil in August, 6-foot-8 2024 prospect Matthew Hodge and 6-foot-5 2026 guard Jayden Hodge have invested in regimented workouts and sustained the focus of turning this once far fetched dream into a reality.
They’ve enrolled at St. Rose in Belmar, NJ, where they will play the 2022-23 season under Brian Lynch.
Lynch played alongside Odell Hodge throughout the Belgium pro leagues and even coached the boys father during the tail end of his pro career.
This week, the Hodge brothers decided they will play for the PSA Cardinals on the AAU circuit.
The vast number of NBA players PSA has helped produce and the program’s current crop of Division-I players and prospects was a factor influencing their decision.
PSA Cardinals director Terrance “Munch” Williams‘ emphasis on blanketing defensive pressure and the style of play employed by the program appealed to the Hodge brothers.
“I think (PSA’s) defensive style and communication and the style of play fits me perfectly, because I pride myself on really playing hard and going 100 percent and being a full throttle competitor,” said the Matthew Hodge, who averaged 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two blocks while playing for the Belgium based amateur team AARSCHOT last year.
“Recently, I’ve become a shot blocker and really the ability of blocking shots has become my forte on the court.”
Matthew Hodge continued, “Just the timing, the consistency of blocking shots, changing shots, that’s what intrigues me. I am a guy who likes attacking the basket, being a leader on both sides of the court, knocking down open shots. I thought that coach Munch and his program would fit me and better develop my game and my character.”
As a 6-foot-5 guard known for his hawking on ball defense, 2026 Jayden Hodge is still developing his offensive game.
Adapting to the intricacies of the American game hasn’t come without significant challenges.
The younger Hodge cites the American style of play as quicker paced. There’s tremendously more physicality and relentless competitive nature on the floor than he experienced in Belgium.
Hodge feels his experience with PSA will better acclimatize him to the rigors of this country’s style and eventually, a college ready game.
“Coach Munch told us about the (PSA) program and from learning about the culture and the style, I felt it was the best option for me to take to get better everyday,” Jayden Hodge explained.
Old Dominion has already offered both brothers. Matt Hodge currently has interest from the likes of Penn State, Loyola Chicago, George Mason, and South Dakota, despite just moving to the states this summer.
Matthew played on Belgium’s U-18 national team this summer.
Williams is intrigued with the forward’s blend of strength, know-how, and multi-positional style.
“Matthew brings a ton of versatility on the defensive and the offensive end of the floor,” said Williams, who has helped develop 107 Division I players and 11 professionals (most recently Stepinac HS product and Atlanta Hawks rookie AJ Griffin) during his time at the helm with PSA.
“I think he’s gonna be someone who brings rebounding, scoring, another offensive weapon to a team we have formulated. He brings a ton of character, leadership, winning. He adds on to the culture we have already established with that ’24 group in the last few years.”
Defensively, Matthew can be utilized as a jack of all trades all across the floor.
He can provide ball pressure with PSA’s 2-2-1 press.
The international prospect will likely be employed at the top of PSA’s 1-3-1, where he can block and influence shots and backbone the defense as a vocal leader who plays with boundless energy.
As a slim 6-foot-5 guard, Jayden Hodge is focusing on attaining an American style offensive repertoire.
He’s shown flashes in his ability to score it via the mid range, in pick and pop situations, and hit tape measure 3-pointers.
The high octane guard’s ability to post up on smaller players and also soften the defense with floor stretching 3-pointers are indicative of his offensive uniqueness.
Beyond the ODU offer, the freshman has garnered the interest of Seton Hall, Pittsburgh, Colorado State, George Mason, and Bowling Green.
“(Jayden) fits in seamlessly with the (PSA) group that’s already been assembled,” Williams said.
“With the lineage of guards we’ve had, we perceive him as being another one of those type of players.”
