More than a home opener, it's a homecoming for Rod Rhodes.

Yes, this is Rodrick Rhodes.

Once A Wildcat...


Rodrick Rhodes and his Cordia Lions have their home opener tonight. It will also be Rhodes' debut as the Cordia Lions head coach in their home gym. The most unlikely of people to coach an Eastern Kentucky high school team, Rodrick Rhodes will lead his Lions onto the floor tonight, hoping that all those practices and camps he hypes on his facebook page everyday, have paid off.
Many people have varying opinions of Rhodes. Some say he slacked off, and didn't put forth the effort during his time at UK. Some say that he couldn't deal with the pressure of being at Kentucky, playing for the national power, and the absurd expectations that people put on the players. It went as far as people putting the tag of 'next Jordan' on him coming out of high school in Jersey City.(No fist pumps,but Bon Jovi is totally acceptable)
For my two cents, Rodrick Rhodes was a fine ball player, he had tremendous skill, and I was happy during his time as a Wildcat. He may not have been the player we expected, but he was a stand-out in my mind.
Rhodes was famously asked to red-shirt after his junior season by then coach Rick Pitino, which was an unheard of request to ask of a player. Pitino was obviously trying to maneuver Rhodes and his scholarship out of the program. Pitino was disappointed with what he considered Rhodes' lack of production and not meeting lofty expectations. Now, I will admit, that Rhodes seemed to be struggling with something during his time in Lexington, it was obvious after his Freshman year. But to say the guy was already finished and not even want him around anymore, well that is a bit too much. However, what would have been his senior season,1996, was the year that Kentucky had what may very well be the best college team of all-time. it seemed to work out ok.
Rhodes finished up at Southern California, appearing in another NCAA Tournament as a Trojan, and being drafted in the first round of the NBA draft by the Houston Rockets in 1997.
The small school located in Hazard, has taken to the former Cat, and he has taken to his new community just as much. He seems to love it there. I know they love him. It evident in all the community stuff he does, fundraisers, and the shear amount of people who tag him in pictures on facebook.
Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat, may never have rang more true than in Cordia.
Officially, Rodrick won his debut as a coach, when his Lions traveled to South Floyd, and defeated the Raiders in their home gym.