Rodney Hood

Rodney Michael Hood (born October 20, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Mississippi State University and Duke University.

Hood attended Meridian High School in Meridian, Mississippi. As a junior, he averaged 22.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game while leading his team to the Class 6A championship game. As a senior, he averaged 24.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 3.1 steals and 2.0 blocks per game as he guided Meridian to the Class 6A championship and a 29–2 record.

Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Hood was listed as the No. 5 small forward and the No. 16 player in the nation in 2011. In October 2010, he committed to Mississippi State University.

As a freshman at Mississippi State in 2011–12, Hood earned SEC All-Freshman Team. In 32 games (29 starts), he averaged 10.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 32.8 minutes per game.

In July 2012, Hood transferred to Duke University. He subsequently sat out the 2012–13 season due to NCAA transfer rules.

As a sophomore at Duke in 2013–14, Hood earned second-team All-ACC honors. In 35 games, he averaged 16.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 32.9 minutes per game.

In April 2014, Hood declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his final two years of college eligibility.

Utah Jazz (2014–present)

On June 26, 2014, Hood was selected with the 23rd overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. On July 11, 2014, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Jazz. On March 16, 2015, he had a season-best game with 24 points on 9-of-11 from the field and 5-of-5 from three-point range as he helped the Jazz record their sixth straight win with a 94–66 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

In 2015–16, Hood solidified his position in the starting lineup, as he started in all 79 games that he played. He established himself as a go-to offensive option and proved to be a valuable asset. He scored double digits in 61 games and he went for more than 20 points in 15 games. On January 2, 2016, he scored a career-high 32 points in a 92–87 overtime win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

In the Jazz's season opener on October 25, 2016, Hood scored 26 points in a 113–104 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. On December 16, 2016, he hit his first career game-winner after pulling up for a three-pointer in transition with 0.8 seconds left that gave the Jazz a 103–100 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Hood finished with 15 points. On January 13, 2017, he scored a season-high 27 points in a 110–77 win over the Detroit Pistons.

Regular season

On January 3, 2016, Hood's fiancée, Richa Jackson, gave birth to the couple's first child, a son named Rodney Jr.