Walter Hodges biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

Walter Hodge (born September 21, 1986) is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player for ASVEL Basket of the LNB Pro A. Internationally, Hodge plays with the U.S. Virgin Islands national basketball team, due to eligibility arising from his Virgin Islander grandfather. A reserve point guard his first two seasons with the Gators, he became the starting point guard for the two-time defending national champions in the 2007–08 season. On June 5, 2013, in appreciation for his contribution to Zielona Góra, his jersey number was retired.

Early years

Hodge was born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. He attended Florida Air Academy in Melbourne, Florida, a private military academy, and played high school basketball for the Florida Air Falcons. The Falcons won state championships with undefeated teams during his sophomore and senior seasons.

College career

Hodge accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida, where he played for coach Billy Donovan’s Florida Gators men’s basketball team from 2005 to 2009. Playing a reserve role in 2005–06, Hodge averaged 3.9 points and 1.2 assists per game as a freshman. He started 8 games in Southeastern Conference (SEC) play and averaged 19 minutes per contest during the Gators’ first national title run.

Hodge had a decreased number of starts and minutes during the 2006–07 season, starting just three games but increasing his scoring average to 5.7 points per game as the Gators repeated as national champions. He had a career high of 17 points against Florida State, and finished the season hitting exactly .500 on three-point shots.

With the departure of Taurean Green to the NBA and Lee Humphrey to graduation/playing overseas, Hodge became the starting point guard for the Gators during the 2007–08 season.

Professional career

On August, 2010 he signed with the Polish League team Zielona Góra.

In April, 2012, Hodge was named the Most Valuable Player of the Polish Basketball League. As the Zastal Zielona Góra’s franchise player he won with his team the 2011–12 Polish League Bronze Medal. In 2012-13 season Zielona Góra’s team debuted in Eurocup and advanced to Last 16. Hodge was the team’s alpha-dog, scoring avg. 21.2 pts, 5.4 ast, 54% FG and 50% 3-PT FG (25/50). In week 6, he took the Eurocup Player of the Week honors. On February 25, 2013 Hodge was awarded the Polish-Czech All Star Game MVP (he scored 22 points in the game).

He was named to the All-Eurocup Second Team in 2013. In June, 2013 he won the Polish League Championship. It was the first national championship in Zielona Góra’s history.

On June 5, 2013 Basket Zielona Góra retired Hodge’s jersey number 15. He has become the first player in the club’s history to be honored with a jersey retirement.

In June 2013, Hodge signed a two-year deal with Laboral Kutxa Vitoria.

In February 2014, he was loaned to Capitanes de Arecibo for the rest of the season.

In August 2014, he parted ways with Laboral Kutxa and signed with Zenit Saint Petersburg.

On May 6, Hodge returned to Capitanes de Arecibo.

Awards and accomplishments

College

• 2x SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament Champion: (2006, 2007)
• 2x NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament Champion: (2006, 2007)

Zielona Góra

• Polish League Champion (2013)
• Polish League Regular Season MVP: (2012, 2013)
• Polish League Bronze Medalist: (2012)
• Polish League Bronze Medal Game MVP: (2012)
• Polish League All-Star Game MVP: (2013)
• Polish League All-Star Game Starting Lineup Top Vote-Getter: (2013)
• Polish League All-Star Game Participant: (2011, 2012, 2013)
• All-Polish League First Team: (2012, 2013)
• All-Polish League Third Team: (2011)
• Eurocup Last 16 Week 6 MVP: (2013)
• All-Eurocup Second Team: (2013)
• First player in Zielona Góra’s basketball history with a retired jersey (#15).

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7u7PRZ6WerF%2Bau3C8xKinpZ1frK6twMSrZKGnlJyybq7IqJ6rmaCdxm6ywJyrZpuRp7KmvoyarpqqlKh6r7HTZq6oqqSdeqK6w2ajop6VYsC1u9GyZg%3D%3D