ACC Legend Julius Hodge on NC State, NBA, his 1st Head Coaching Job, and Altercation with Chris Paul

In The Front Row with Mike Vaccaro

Julius Hodge grew up in Harlem and was named after NBA Hall of Famer Julius Erving. He fell in love with basketball after his dad took him to a New York Knicks game against Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers as a kid. Hodge's game flourished in high school where he was a McDonald's All-American and the New York State Mr. Basketball. He grew up a Syracuse fan but spurned the Orangemen for NC State where he played for Herb Sendek. In Raleigh, Hodge was a two-time All-American and the ACC Player of the Year as a junior. He was a first-round pick of the Denver Nuggets in 2005 and played alongside several future Hall of Famers. After 3 years in the NBA, Hodge spent 8 years playing overseas plus 2011 playing for the Antigua and Barbuda national team. After retiring, Hodge embarked on a coaching career with time spent as an assistant coach at Buffalo, Santa Clara (for Sendek), San Jose State and Arkansas Little Rock. This summer, Hodge was named head coach at Division II Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Hodge shares his journey including the unusual way he decided to attend NC State. Plus, he talks about the ACC rivals and adversaries like Chris Paul with whom he had an altercation during his time at State. Hodge also recounts the drive-by shooting during his rookie season that changed his perspective on life and tells us what he learned from his time playing overseas. Hodge also gives us insight on his kids and their own hoop dreams.