While most schools are focused on the money aspect of college sports now-a days with constant re-alignment and battles over jersey sales, it’s nice to hear a story like Zach Hodskins being offered a preferred walk-on spot with the Florida Gators.
Hodskins excels on the hardwood despite a birth defect that robbed him of not having any part of his arm below the left elbow. In spite of the disability, he has become a budding superstar for national powerhouse Alpharetta Milton High School in Georgia, known most recently for being the home of NCAA stars Xavier Johnson and HS dunk phenom Shaquille Johnson, who was recently dismissed from Auburn.
He’s prolific from behind the 3 point arc and has some amazing handles, not just for a player with one hand. Zach has recently showed his talent playing for the AAU Tennessee Playmakers and having a agreat outing at the Scouts Focus All American Camp alongside some of the nation’s top prospects.
Not to be mistaken for charity, coach Billy Donovan thinks so much of the talented Hodskins that he offered him a walk on spot for a program that has annual Final Four aspirations.
This season, behind a mix of upperclassmen in Patric Young, Casey Prather, and Scotty Wilbekin, as well as a talented incoming freshman class led by elite PG Kasey Hill and the still ineligible Chris Young, a potential Lottery pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, look for the Gators to be in the National Title hunt.
Hodskins is still mulling over his options heading into his senior campaign, since he still would have to pay his way at Florida, and reportedly has full scholarship offers from some smaller Division I programs like University of Alabama-Birmingham and Birmingham Southern.
The 6’4 and 190lb shooting guard just finished his junior season in Georgia and apparently has an offer to play at a legit high major program for the ’14-’15 season. Good luck Zach, and much respect for your accomplishments.
Check out Zach Hodskins inspirational story and his junior season mixtape….
Zach Hodskins 2013 Junior Season Mixtape:
Zach Hodskins’ Inspirational Story:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
