CSU's Ross Hodge again honored for recruiting prowess

Ross Hodge, remarkable recruiter.

If you’ve been following Colorado State Rams men’s basketball over the last few years, you know how great a recruiter assistant coach Hodge is.

J.J. Avila and Stanton Kidd were two of his recruited junior college players; they were two-thirds of the three-headed monster which led the Rams to their school-record 27 wins in 2014-15.

Last year, Antwan Scott set the Rams single-season record for 3-pointers made, and Gian Clavell led the team in scoring before being injured and being forced to sit for most of the season. Also, forward Emmanuel Omogbo was a consistent double-double threat; they’re all young men who were recruited and landed by Hodge.

Now, it seems those nationally are catching onto Hodge’s ability to find diamonds in the rough from the JUCO level.

In early March, ESPN named him a top-10 recruiter outside the Power 5.

And more recently, CoachStat.net named him in their top-25 recruiters at the mid-major level. From the piece:

Hodge is seemingly always on the grind, looking to improve the future of the program.

Guard Devocio Butler committed back in October, and then he got combo guard Leon Gilmore III to commit last week.

20 Hour day 😳 🏠🚙✈️🚓🏀🚓✈️🚙🏠

— Ross Hodge (@coachrosshodge) March 29, 2016

Hodge’s 20 hour day? He traveled to Twin Falls, Idaho, chasing after another combo guard in Pape Diatta. That day paid off in a visit by Diatta which will happen on Thursday, April 7.

Not only is he an amazing recruiter, players like Hodge’s approachable nature. He’s regularly seen on the court pre game and after halftime, instructing players on how to improve in the moment, encouraging them with words of positivity.

Simply stated, Colorado State Rams men’s basketball couldn’t enjoy the success they’ve seen in recent years without Hodge. So, Ram Nation should embrace him fully, enjoy him before he’s possibly stolen away as a rising coaching talent.