Healthy Hood Ready to Emerge on National Scene

DURHAM, N.C. – After a year on the sidelines following his transfer from Mississippi State, Duke sophomore Rodney Hood is eager to get out on the court to compete against someone not wearing a Blue Devil jersey. The 6-8, 215-pound wing was expected get that opportunity this summer in the World University games but he suffered a foot injury a couple of days into training camp and elected to return to Durham to rehab and train with his Duke teammates.

Fully healthy now and with several workouts with Duke’s returnees as well as a talented incoming freshman class, Hood sat down with The Blue Devil Network this week to talk about his USA Basketball training camp experience, his health and Duke’s prospects heading into the 2013-14 season.

Hood is already being tabbed as an All-America candidate by many national pundits and he is eager to get out on the court to showcase his game. As a freshman at Mississippi State, he averaged 10.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists while earning SEC All-Freshman team honors.

In 2013-14, Hood will look to build upon those numbers and establish himself as a leader on and off the court.

The son of the Director of the Boys & Girls Club of East Mississippi, Hood has spent time this summer at the Emily K Center in Durham. When asked about his time at the center at a recent event Hood simply said, “"I grew up in a center like this. I wanted to help kids and answer any questions."