BELMAR — Matthew Hodge has played high-level basketball in his native Belgium, but the energy in the McCann Activities and Athletic Center at St. Rose High School Thursday night was something the Class of 2024 transfer has not experienced much, if at all, in his basketball travels.
As unique as the surroundings were during his new St. Rose team’s season-opener vs. Red Bank Catholic, Hodge got to do something rare for him on the court as well: play with his younger brother.
While Matt eased into the start of his junior season at St. Rose, freshman Jayden Hodge stole the show with a game-high 22 points as the Purple Roses — ranked No. 2 in the Shore Sports Network Preseason Top 10 — fought off a tough test from the visiting Caseys to get their anticipated season off on a winning note.
“There were some butterflies,” Matthew Hodge said. “Seeing the student section and the gym packed — to be honest, I never saw that in Belgium like that. There is a lot of noise and the game is close, so it was a new experience. There were some first-game nerves, so it was good to get them out and come out with the win.”
The Hodge brothers are two of six transfers on St. Rose’s roster, three of whom are eligible to open the season. Jayden Hodge, Matthew Hodge and sophomore Bryan Eberling — an international transfer from Italy — combined to score 38 of the 42 St. Rose points on Thursday, with Jayden Hodge accounting for more than half the total.
Jayden Hodge scored eight points in the first…
