Season of Work: Jayden Hodgson

The sixth installment of the Season of Work series spotlights Bradley Basketball freshman guard Jayden Hodgson

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications Men's Basketball 7/21/2016 3:28:00 PM

In order to fill the days before Bradley Basketball officially begins the NCAA Championship segment of its season with its first full practice of the segment Sept. 30, BradleyBraves.com continues to profile each of the team's 15 players in a weekly spotlight entitled Season of Work. Each spotlight includes a video breakdown session with Braves head coach Brian Wardle. The sixth installment of the Season of Work series features freshman guard Jayden Hodgson.

Season of Work: Jayden Hodgson

Full Name: Jayden Ward Hodgson
Class: Freshman
Position: Guard
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 185 lbs
Major:  Communications (Sports Comm)
Hometown: Gosford, New South Wales, Australia (Central Coast Adventist School)

OVERVIEW
Point guard was a priority in Bradley's 2016 recruiting class and the Braves brought in two freshmen to fill the position – Hodgson and Darrell Brown, Jr. Hodgson excelled as a prepster in Australia, playing for his country's Under 17 National Team in 2014 during the U17 World Championships in Dubai, and he was selected to study and train at Australia's prestigious Centre of Excellence in 2014-15. As Hodgson prepared for the 2015-16 season, he signed a development contract with the Sydney Kings in Australia's National Basketball League, an arrangement that allowed him to train with a professional basketball team, but maintain his amateur status for collegiate eligibility.

PREP TEAMMATES TO BRADLEY
With a goal of playing college basketball in the United States, Hodgson moved to Jacksonville, FL last winter, where he attended Arlington Country Day School and teamed with fellow Bradley freshman Koch Bar for the elite prep school program. Hodgson made a smooth transition, earning second-team all-conference in the tough Sunshine Independent Athletic Association by averaging 15.1 points and six assists per game.

IN HIS WORDS
What do you like most about Bradley Athletics: "Everything is put together and made for us to get better as a player and a person and to achieve what we want in this sport."
What do you like most about Bradley University: "The facilities are very good, as well as the people. Everyone is very nice and wants what is best for you."
What does it mean to you to be a Brave: "It's a dream and goal (playing college basketball) I've been striving for for many years now, so to be a Brave makes me very proud and thankful."

PERSONALLY SPEAKING
Nickname(s): Jay, Pepi
How I got my nickname: Mustache (from a coach back home)
Favorite movie:  The Hobbit (series)
Favorite sports movie: Remember the Titans, Kobe Bryant's Muse
Favorite TV show: Game of Thrones
Hobbies: Call of Duty
My biggest fear:  Failing to achieve my goals and dreams
The first thing I thought when meeting Coach Wardle for the first time: He looks just like my old soccer coach
Favorite Coach Wardle phrase: Play with emotion, don't let emotion play with you
Planned post-basketball career: Coaching
Before every game, I:  Talk as little as possible to anyone
Most people don't know this, but: I have four dogs
My motto is:  Live in the moment and control what you can control
Nobody believes me when I tell them: I am part Aboriginal
I wear my uniform number (35), because: It is a sign of respect to a former coach, a sign of friendship

SEASON OF WORK FEATURES
Thursday, June 16:  Junior forward Donte Thomas (Direct Link)
Thursday, June 23:  Sophomore forward Luuk van Bree (Direct Link)
Friday, June 30:  Freshman forward Jerome Merritt (Direct Link)
Thursday, July 7:  Sophomore guard Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye (Direct Link)
Thursday, July 14: Freshman guard Nate Kennell (Direct Link)
Thursday, July 28:  Sophomore center Callum Barker

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