Villanova freshman Matt Hodge must redshirt after NCAA denies appeal

Villanova freshman forward and former St. Rose High School star Matthew Hodge will redshirt this season after the NCAA on Wednesday denied Villanova’s appeal on his behalf, a source with direct knowledge who was not authorized to speak publicly told NJ Advance Media.
The school announced the news after it was first reported by NJ Advance Media.
The 6-foot-8 Hodge, a four-star recruit per 247Sports.com, will not be permitted to compete this season. He will receive financial aid and be allowed to practice and travel with the team, but this will essentially be a required redshirt year.
“I would definitely redshirt,” Hodge said in a recent phone interview. “I talked with the staff that in case on Wednesday I hear bad news, that we will have a plan set right away for me which I just need to get better and get stronger, and starting next year I’ll be ready to go.”
The news is the latest blow for head coach Kyle Neptune and Villanova, which is 2-2 after non-conference losses to Columbia and Big 5 rival St. Joe’s.
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Hodge was denied his initial eligibility waiver to attain qualifier status by the NCAA, Villanova announced last Friday. Last Wednesday, the university submitted an appeal for reconsideration to the NCAA Division I Initial-Eligibility Waiver Committee made up of individuals from across NCAA membership institutions.
Hodge, who came to the U.S. from his native Belgium in 2022 to join his younger brother Jayden Hodge at St. Rose, previously said the “uncertainty” of the situation was weighing on him.
“We have been working with Villanova for a few months to answer every question the NCAA has had about my time at my school in Belgium three years ago,” the former St. Rose High School star posted on social media.
“My grades improved at St. Rose, I graduated on time and am off to a good start in my classes at Villanova. I’m genuinely frustrated and the uncertainty weighs on me when I’m not on the court. I respect the NCAA process. I just hope this is resolved soon.”
St. Rose declared him a high school junior when he arrived at the school, but Hodge said he did not think that was the problem. He said it had more to do with his transcripts from his time in Belgium.
“I think it was more when I was back in Belgium, it was also COVID, so some of my transcripts, there were some things missing, some stuff wasn’t complete, so because of COVID it was a difficult time,” he said by phone. “I wasn’t in school fully, I had more online classes than I had in-person classes, so that was something where my transcripts were incomplete and that was the transition from St. Rose to Villanova where the NCAA saw a red flag.”
Now Hodge must wait until next season to play.
“I think just playing 100 percent on both sides and my ability to shoot the ball and my versatility on both ends,” he said, “I think that’s the best way I can help the team.”
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.