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Watching Duke play this season, it's been hard for most to focus on anyone other than highly touted freshman Jabari Parker. I can't blame people for not looking past an electric scorer who can get out in transition and do things like this night in and night out. And while Parker was hogging all the spotlight, teammate and redshirt sophomore Rodney Hood was quietly putting together a strong season of his own.
More Draft Eligibles!
More Draft Eligibles!
After sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules Hood lit it up from the floor, averaging 16.1 points a night while shooting 42% from beyond the arc. For the Meridian, Mississippi native, those numbers were good enough for him to make the jump to the next level.
SNY.tv's Adam Zagoria is reporting he'll declare for the 2014 NBA Draft, and an announcement should be made in the coming days.
Duke's Rodney Hood will declare for the NBA Draft, sources told @SNYtv. Announcement may take a few days.
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 31, 2014
ESPN's Chad Ford has him 16th on his big board, Draft Express at 17th.
Back in February I went a little more in depth on why I like Hood for LB's "In Lieu of Jrue" series, and rated him 8th on our original big board. Admittedly, that was probably generous for a guy who hasn't shown he is much more than a shooter (but a damn good one at that). For a guy who's 6'8" he needs to be a whole lot more assertive on the defensive end. Averaging just under four rebounds a game sure as hell doesn't cut it at the amateur ranks, let alone the professional. He catches a little too much flack for his inability to drive to the basket, but bulking up should help in that department.
Hood is no slouch, but there are other guys not named Gary Harris or T.J. Warren I'd be more inclined to take over him.
