Four-Star Northwestern Commit Jayden Hodge Suffers A Torn ACL

Jayden Hodge, the four-star standout from Montverde Academy (FL) who committed to Northwestern, suffered a torn ACL, as confirmed by a statement from Hodge and his family and reported by ZAGSBLOG.

The Class of 20206 committed to Northwestern in October 2025, widely seen as another top recruit after Tre Singleton. Ranked 63rd in the 247Sports player rating, the 6-foot-6 wing played six games at Montverde, averaging 11.2 points and 5.8 rebounds. The injury will sideline him for the rest of his high school season. 

“This isn’t how I wanted my season to go, but I’m staying positive and focused on my recovery. I’m committed to the process and doing the work every day to come back better and stronger. Thank you to everyone for the love, prayers, and support — it really means a lot. I’ll be back,” Hodge said in a statement to ZAGSBLOG.

Before transferring to Montverde, Hodge had success at St. Rose High School (Belmar, NJ). He spent the first two years with his brother Matthew, who currently plays for Villanova as a redshirt freshman, winning two consecutive NJSIAA sectional titles.

During the 2024-25 NJSIAA Tournament, he averaged 19.5 points, 9.25 rebounds, and 3.25 assists, helping the team win its third-straight sectional title. He also led the team to a second straight conference title in the Shore Conference Tournament later on. After a fruitful season, he transferred to Montverde for his final high-school year.

Beyond the high school basketball in the United States, Hodge also has a profiled international experience. Born in Houthalen-Helchteren, Belgium, he has competed at multiple FIBA youth tournaments, where he has been a key contributor for the Belgian National Team. In 2022, he helped Belgium finish third at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket. In 2024 and 2025, he was selected to play the FIBA U18 EuroBasket in both years, averaging 14.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals combined. His international experience against elite global talent has helped refine his two-way game and demonstrated his capacity to adapt and compete at a high level

Hodge's commitment to Northwestern was notable, as he made the final decision over offers from elite programs, including Vanderbilt, Ohio State and Georgetown. With no timeline but about 10 months to recover, the goal for Hodge will be to regain his health and be ready to participate when he arrives on the Evanston campus with the Wildcats. If his rehab progresses well and no complications arise, he could realistically be cleared for team activities in time for the start of the 2026-27 collegiate season.