In the current game of speed dating that Duke is employing in its last ditch effort to add more talent, a new name has surfaced. With just a few days removed from seeing Trey Zeigler, another transfer target turn down Duke for future ACC member Pitt, the Blue Devils now have their sights set on Rodney Hood, 6-foot-8 forward from Miss. State.
Hood averaged 10.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game this past season as a freshman for the Bulldogs who finished 21-12 (8-8 SEC) and lost in the first round of the NIT Tournament.
The Bulldogs fired coach Rick Stansbury and replaced him with Rick Ray and Stansbury's dismissal appears to be the reason that Hood has asked to leave the program.
Now with Hood looking for a new home and Duke still looking for a guy with his kind of size and athleticism on the wing it appears they could be a potential match. So far, at least the Blue Devils have initiated contact with Hood, though his level of interest is unknown.
Hood did not have Duke among his choices during his initial recruitment but depending on how strong his desire is to play at a top tier program with a chance to be a major contributor once eligible, Duke appears, at least on paper to be a good fit.
The Blue Devils have a couple of potential wings on the roster in Michael Gbinije and Alex Murphy but they don't have quite the same game or size as Hood. And Duke is still trying to land Shabazz Muhammad from the class of 2012 who likely wouldn't even be in Durham by the time Hood becomes eligible.
Still this is very early in the process but it is a name worth keeping an eye on especially with so many decisions pending.
Muhammad is expected to announce his college choice Wednesday morning while other targets Amile Jefferson is undecided and Tony Parker who was supposed to announce Tuesday, has decided to put off his decision to another day.
On top of all of that Duke is still awaiting the decision of Mason Plumlee on whether or not he will go to the NBA or stay for his senior season. The opinions have shifted from the idea that Plumlee would likely go to possibly he might be closer to staying.
But nothing official has been announced and until it is Duke is still in a waiting game and are moving from one table to another to see if they can land a date either for next year or down the road.
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