Maryland football will welcome a long list of top targets for Friday night’s game against Virginia, but Maryland basketball and head coach Kevin Willard continue a busy recruiting month as top target and St. Rose (NJ) forward Matthew Hodge arrives Friday for his official visit.
Hodge, a 6-foot-8 forward originally from Belgium, has been a consistent target since late spring as assistant Mike Jones has built on a relationship that began during his own playing days. Jones not only played with Odell Hodge, Matthew’s father, but were roommates when the duo played for Old Dominion. That connection set the stage for Maryland to begin recruiting the high three-star prospect as they’ve sat in the top group ever since.
“He’s someone I know I can trust, and he has my back no matter what,” Hodge told IBG about his relationship with Mike Jones.
As expected, Maryland made Hodge’s top ten last month alongside Alabama, Marquette, Old Dominion, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Seton Hall, Villanova, Virginia and Xavier. Hodge has already checked out several schools, starting with Xavier (Aug. 27), Penn State (Aug. 31), Marquette (Sept. 7) and will check out Virginia (Sept. 22), but Maryland has remained consistent throughout.
Maryland hosted a Zoom call with Hodge in late summer as the comfort between the two sides has gradually grown.
“[Kevin Willard] explained everything about his vision for me. It was awesome to get the chance to see that. And the whole coaching staff was on there so the feeling that they really wanted me was there and I got to get that feeling, which is important to me. Nothing bad I can say.”
Four-star Jaeden Mustaf, who committed to Georgia Tech on Thursday, was the first visitor of the month with 2025 four-star guard Efe Oliogu making his way to campus last weekend. With Hodge up next and five-star Derik Queen visiting Maryland next month, Willard and the staff will look to turn the tide to land their first commitment in the 2024 class.
Maryland was also originally expected to host IMG Academy (FL) four-star Khani Rooths for an official visit this weekend, but Rooths opted to cancel his visit and moved up his official visit to Georgia as he checks out Athens again beginning Friday.
Matthew Hodge is rated a three-star prospect and an 89 overall by On3, sitting as the fourth-best player in New Jersey. Hodge averaged 8.2 points and 2.5 rebounds with the PSA Cardinals (4-1) at Peach Jam.
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