VI basketball star D'Moi M. Hodge eager to get going for Cleveland State University
D'Moi is particularly anxious since he will be featuring with a new team, Cleveland State University, which he has not seen as yet.
In an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News Online, D'Moi spoke about his experience at State College of Florida and how he has been coping during this pandemic.
D'Moi made his mark @ State College of Florida
At State College of Florida, D'Moi, who has made his mark in the Hon Julian Fraser Save The Seed League representing teams such as Splash Brothers and West Gunners, where he won a Championship, was one of the leading basketball players for his team in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), averaging nearly 20 points per game.
One of his highlights at State College Florida was scoring 50 points against Miami Dade during his freshman year in 2018, a feat D'Moi regards as one of his most memorable moments.
Apart from winning a number of player of the week and player of the month accolades, D'Moi also etched his name in the history books for State College of Florida when he broke the all-time scoring record and single season scoring record in his sophomore season.
Added to that D'Moi was also able to balance his academics with athletics.
“The two years at State College Florida was very interesting. I didn’t expect to accomplish all that I did to be honest, but as my freshman year went by I realised that I could really accomplish a lot. It was very good, my two years there.”
Reflecting on his two years at State College of Florida, D'Moi said he is grateful for everyone who played a part in making his time there a success and a memorable one.
“They all had a part to play in my college experience there.”
The journey continues
Having completed his two years on scholarship at State College of Florida, D'Moi is now a team member of Cleveland State University and while he is yet to play with his team or even seen some of his teammates, D'Moi has high hopes of also making a positive impression when the basketball season reopens.
“I would like to make it to the March Madness Tournament and make a big run in it, D'Moi shared.
Before committing to Cleveland State University, D'Moi had a number of schools seeking his talented services, including Florida Gulf Coast, Bethune-Cookman, Coastal Carolina, Illinois State, and Eastern Kentucky.
D'Moi will be joining fellow Virgin Islander Franklyn L. Penn Jr at Cleveland.
NBA dreams
The gifted and disciplined young man’s ultimate goal in basketball; however, is to one day play in the NBA.
No doubt he would prefer to play for Golden State Warriors, his favourite NBA team, which also one time featured his favourite NBA player, Kevin W. Durant, who now represents Brooklyn Nets.
D'Moi shared that he started playing basketball after seeing his uncle and cousins play the sport.
“In the early stages of playing basketball, some people that helped me was Jr, Gola, Bash, Morris, Saf.”
Setback
Relating on how the coronavirus pandemic has affected him, D'Moi said: “It set me back from working with my trainers and so on.”
The young man is currently home in the Virgin Islands but said he has still been able to keep his physical and mental conditioning during the lockdown.
‘Put in the work’
Sharing some advice to persons who are also aspiring of taking their game to another level, D'Moi implored them to put in the work, “even if you don’t feel like it you have to because people are out here working for that same spot.”
To his fellow sportsmen in lockdown or restricted from playing their game at this time, D'Moi encourages them to “keep working out” and do their best to keep their game up.
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