Four-star SG Jayden Hodge down to 8 schools

Jayden Hodge, a four-star shooting guard in the 2026 class, has narrowed his list of schools down to eight, he told Rivals. Moving forward, the 6-foot-6 risings senior of Montverde Academy (FL) will consider Georgetown, Mississippi State, Northwestern, Old Dominion, Penn State, Vanderbilt, VCU, andVirginia.

Hodge, a native of Belmar, NJ, is ranked as the No. 61 overall player in the class, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. He’s also the No. 16 shooting guard.

Northwestern and Georgetown hosted him for official visits this summer. He currently doesn’t have any other official visits scheduled. Several programs have hosted him for unofficial visits, including Old Dominion and Penn State.

He does not have any other official visits currently scheduled.

Prior to cutting his list down, Hodge also received offers from Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Rutgers, TCU, and others.

He averaged 21.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.7 steals per game this season as a junior for St. Rose (NJ), his former high school. This summer on the Under Armour circuit, he averaged 15.7 points per game

Hodge recaps his official visits to Georgetown and Northwestern

In a previous interview with Rivals’ Jamie Shaw, Hodge discussed his visits to Georgetown and Northwestern.

GEORGETOWN: “First of all, the area was great. I’ve never been there in D.C. before. It’s very beautiful. Then, just building the relationship with the coaching staff. They’ve been recruiting me for a while now, so I’m just continuing to build that relationship. Seeing that the way they play kind of fits my style.

“They have an open offense, run the floor, just freedom to play basketball. I kind of learned a lot of things about them on my visit. My relationship with Coach (Ed) Cooley has grown a lot. We get on the phone from time to time. They watch a lot of my games, and they text me every time after games. Our relationship has really grown over the past months.”

NORTHWESTERN: “First of all, I didn’t know how beautiful it was over there. The first thing you hear is Chicago, and you don’t know a lot about it, but it’s beautiful over there. The campus is right by the river. They have a little beach over there. It was definitely beautiful, just the way they play. They also have big guards, combo guards. While I was watching them practice, I could just see myself being there and being on that floor. I really like the way they play.

“My relationship with Coach (Chris) Collins is very good. It started with the assistant coach Shane (Southwell), and then it went over to the head coach. He saw me play a couple of months ago, and ever since then, we’ve built a great relationship with each other. He’s obviously a great coach and has coached at a very high level, so we have a great relationship.” 

Hodge talks his game

In that same previous interview with Rivals’ Jamie Shaw, Hodge discussed his game.

“I’m a two-way guard who does a bit of everything,” Hodge told On3. “I can facilitate, knock down threes, get to the rim, and finish. Getting to the rim is probably my best attribute. But I take pride in my defense. In high school, I can guard mostly the one through four. I’m shooting the ball a lot better this year, that is something I focused all off-season on. I’m making a lot more which is making it a lot easier to get to the rim. I watch a lot of Josh Hart. I love how he plays. He plays hard and with so much energy, playing defense and attacking the offensive glass. I watch some Jayson Tatum too, I like how he scores.”

What he’s looking for in a school

Hodge also discussed what he wants in a college program.

“I want to have a good connection with the coaches and know that they want me, that they need what I bring to the table, not that they’re just recruiting me for whatever reason. I’d want my mom and dad to feel welcome and I want them to agree with my decision. I want it to feel like home, family is big for me.

“Also, I don’t want to sit. I’d like to go somewhere I will get the opportunity to come in and play. I like to play fast, and I am comfortable in a free-flowing-style offense. I want to have some sets and structure as well, and a team that wants to guard.”