Former N.J. prep star ‘frustrated’ by NCAA ineligibility at Villanova: ‘The uncertainty weighs on me’

Villanova freshman forward Matthew Hodge remains ineligible according to the NCAA - pending an appeal by the school - and says he's "frustrated" about his status.

"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."

Hodge was denied his initial eligibility waiver to attain qualifier status by the NCAA, Villanova announced Friday . On 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. That committee is expected to render its final and binding decision next Wednesday, November 13, Villanova said.

If the appeal is denied, Hodge 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 be essentially a required redshirt year.

On Oct. 27, Villanova released a statement saying that the 6-foot-8 Hodge was ineligible for their exhibition game with Robert Morris "pending completion of the NCAA Initial Eligibility Process," and Hodge hasn't played as the Wildcats have gotten off to a 1-1 start, including a home loss to Columbia. They host NJIT on Friday.

"The NCAA Eligibility Center reviewed his transcripts from both his time in Belgium and the United States and ruled that Hodge was deficient in meeting its qualifier requirements," according to Villanova's statement. "Under NCAA rule, student athletes must complete 10 core courses, seven of which must be in English, math and science, before the start of their fourth year of high school. Hodge spent four years in high school in Belgium, taking English, French, Ethics and a general studies class that encompassed subjects such as math, science and social studies. St. Rose considered all of his classes from Belgium and upon review, deemed Hodge a high school junior upon his arrival in New Jersey.

"The NCAA initially deemed Hodge a non-qualifier, but in conjunction with the Indianapolis-based law firm, Church Church Hittle and Antrim, Villanova was able to file a waiver, and resubmitted for consideration other coursework, including the ethics class that Hodge took in Belgium. However, that left Hodge well short of the 10/7 standard applied by the NCAA and the national governing body's staff determined that he would be an academic redshirt and ineligible for competition."

Villanova filed an appeal to that decision, arguing mitigating circumstances that included:

- Hodge's ability to pass advanced math and science courses in New Jersey (including Algebra II and biology) that proved he had received the educational foundation necessary in Belgium to be a successful high school student in the United States. That he could be successful in such advanced classes also refutes the general principle of the eligibility denial – that Hodge is incapable of handling collegiate work

- Hodge has no say in determining his standing in the U.S. high school system, and that the New Jersey school system deemed his Belgium coursework and grades good enough to make him a junior in good standing.

- COVID severely disrupted Hodge's studies in Belgium, as schools there shut down for a long period of time and later went to online courses.

Listed as examples of mitigating factors on the NCAA initial-eligIbility waiver directive are personal hardship, mis advisement, education-impacting disability and international academic track. The NCAA, however, denied that appeal, leaving the committee's decision Hodge's only recourse.

Hodge was born in Belgium and played there before coming over to the U.S. in August 2022 to join his younger brother Jayden, now a junior at St. Rose, under coach Brian Lynch.

Matthew lived with Lynch and his wife, former tennis star Kim Clijsters , in Belmar, N.J. after coming over from Belgium, and Jayden still does.

Matthew Hodge committed to Villanova in September 2023, choosing the Wildcats over Maryland, Seton Hall , Penn State and Marquette. Villanova assistant coach Mike Nardi, a former star at St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, was the lead recruiter for Hodge.

Villanova assistant Ashley Howard attended Hodge's last high school game this past March, when he went for 14 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks as St. Rose eviscerated Montclair Immaculate , 73-29, to capture the New Jersey Non-Public B state championship at Jersey Mike's Arena.

"I think he'll be [at Villanova] just like what you see him [doing] now, the ultimate team player," Odell Hodge, who scored more than 2,000 points at ODU and is now an assistant coach there, told NJ Advance Media that night . "You see tonight, he rebounded the basketball. He affects the game in so many different ways. He's an unselfish player. He's not searching for points like most of these athletes, they're searching for points because that's what sells.

"But he defends, he passes the ball, he rebounds, so he plays the game the right way. That's why a lot of people like playing with him, and at the next level they're going to enjoy playing with him because the plays the right way."

For now, Matthew Hodge continues to wait on the NCAA for the start of his college career.