Natalya Hodge is one of the most sought after athletes Bearden has ever seen.
Big college basketball programs from across the country are after the junior point guard.
“Natalya’s recruitment has the most college offers and most attention from college coaches since I have been here at Bearden,” Coach Justin Underwood said.
Hodge currently holds 25 Division 1 offers, many of those from schools in the SEC, ACC, and Big Ten. Hodge was in Coach Underwood’s starting lineup from her freshman year, and the Lady Bulldogs are 71-5 since she arrived on campus.
She and Florida State sophomore Avery Treadwell led Bearden to the state tournament when Hodge was a freshman, but they fell one win short of making it back to Murfreesboro last year.
Bearden (6-0) hosts Hardin Valley (4-2) in its first district home game of the season Friday at 6 p.m. The Lady Bulldogs beat HVA 63-37 last month in a non-district game at the Central Thanksgiving Classic.
Hodge has gone on several unofficial visits, but will not go on any official visits until the new year. For now, she is enjoying getting to travel to new places and exploring colleges.
“It’s fun traveling to places you have never been before,” she said.
After college basketball, Hodge hopes to play in the WNBA.
“I don’t want to stop after high school or college,” she said.
Hodge was the fastest to 1,000 points in Bearden girls basketball history. She hit that milestone midway through her sophomore year, averaging 22.2 points per game last season.
“Natalya is obsessed with working to improve her game and spends countless hours in the gym perfecting her craft,” Coach Underwood said.
No matter where she ends up, Coach Underwood believes that she will do well.
“I have no doubt she will be successful regardless of what school she chooses,” he said.
Hodge is grateful for the opportunities she has been given and even more thankful for the people who have gotten her to this point.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunities and my support system,” she said.
Hodge is excited for this next season with Bearden and said that the team is the closest they have ever been.
“This is the most connected we’ve ever been,” she said.
Added Coach Underwood: “Sometimes I think people are afraid to have high expectations for fear of failure. We don’t shy away from those goals and neither does Natalya.”