Draft Profile: Rodney Hood
By Zach Oliver
With the NBA Draft Lottery behind us, we shift our focus directly to the June 26th NBA Draft. Over the next month we’ll look at some of the top prospects in the draft, along with players that the Magic either reportedly worked out, or interviewed at the NBA Draft Combine. High scoring Duke wingman Rodney Hood is next.
After sitting out one year due to transfer rules, Duke’s Rodney Hood enjoyed a very solid season which saw him bolt up draft boards. Hood, who originally started at Mississippi State, showed off a smooth and highly efficient offensive game behind the spotlight of Jabari Parker. Now both Hood and Parker are on their way to the next level with both projected to be lottery picks.
Points |
Rebounds
3 PT FG%
Usage %
TS%
2011-12
10.3
4.8
36.4
16.8
53.5
2013-14
16.1
3.9
42.0
23.8
59.0
After a somewhat disappointing freshman year at Mississippi State, Hood burst onto the scene at Duke. The smooth shooting sophomore scored at a very good rate, and did so in a highly efficient manner. In almost half of their games this season, Hood shot over 45 percent and scored in double-digits in all but five games.
Measurables
Height w/shoes |
Weight
Wingspan
Standing Reach
Max Vert
6’ 8.5”
208
6’ 8.5”
8’ 7”
36.0
Strengths
- Shooting
One of the better shooters in the draft, Hood can do it in a multitude of ways. He possesses one of the best shooting strokes in the draft, and can knock it down from almost anywhere thanks to his solid mechanics. Hood has a very high release point, and is able to knock down shots both off the dribble and spotting up. This past season, Hood shot 43 percent on pull up jumpers, which was first in DraftExpress’ Top-100.
- Offensive Intangibles
Hood doesn’t have to rely solely on his shooting on the offensive end. He’s a solid ball handler, and has a great feel for the game. Hood posted a 10.2 turnover rate to go along with a 13.2 assists rate, which shows he’s not only capable of finding his teammates, but is also able to do so in an efficient manner while taking care of the ball. Of all small forwards in DraftExpress’ Top-100, Hood posted a third highest Pure Point Rating last season. Hood is also able to slide down and play the power forward spot in small-ball lineups, which can cause some major mismatches for the opposition.
Weaknesses
- Defense
Arguably the biggest question mark with Hood is his defense. He struggled at Duke, thanks in large part to appearing to not being very interested as well as having a poor defensive stance. Quite often Hood was taken advantage of off the dribble, falling off balance more often than not. Hood also has short arms, which causes even more issues on the defensive end. His per-40 averages .9 steals, .3 blocks and 4.9 rebounds also rank amongst the worst at his position, according to DraftExpress.
- Strength
Another glaring weakness for Hood is his strength. He has a relatively frail body, which allows him to get pushed around quite easily at this point. His strength can be part of the reasoning he’s poor on the defensive end, but it also effects his offensive game. Hood seems to shy away from contact around the rim more often than not, and also doesn’t get to the line at an extremely high rate, attempting just 4.7 free throws per-40 minutes last season.
Conclusion
Hood is one of the best shooters in this draft, but his strengths offensively will only take him so far. He’s extremely smooth and does a handful of things well on that end of the floor, but will need to bulk up if he wants to continue to grow there and on the defensive end. He’s got a long ways to go, like many, on the defensive end, but could be turned into someone who’s more than serviceable on that end.
Holding the 12th pick, Hood would be in the range for the Magic. Selecting Hood would not only improve the team’s outside shooting, but also give them a dynamic offensive player which they can start or bring off the bench. With Maurice Harkless the only true small forward on the roster, bringing in Hood would help the team’s depth, and help them fill out a glaring need going forward.
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