<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">FORT MILL, S.C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff liked what he saw Monday morning from N.C. State's Julius Hodge -- enough to give Hodge the best compliment a draft hopeful can hear this time of year. "I think he's moving up; I really do," Bickerstaff said after Hodge worked out. "He's one of the toughest guys I've been around," Bickerstaff said. "He just keeps coming after you. ... Because of his toughness defensively, he can really help a team in terms of getting you more possessions." Hodge, the third-leading scorer in State history with 2,040 points, was completing his 16th workout in preparation for the June 28 draft. Since leading the Wolfpack to the NCAA round of 16 in March and graduating in April, Hodge's goal has been to become a solid first-round pick. First-round picks get guaranteed money; second-round picks do not. The 6-foot-7 Hodge originally planned to work out for as many NBA teams as possible and attend the Chicago pre-draft camp. Turns out he did so well during his workouts he didn't attend the camp. "I don't want to make predictions," Hodge said. "But I guess not playing in Chicago is a sign I can go in the first round. I hope that's true." Hodge was in great spirits on Monday, enough to joke about preparing for the draft. "My body is aching right now, but I'm going to work out no matter what," said Hodge, who will work out for San Antonio today and Boston on Friday. "I don't know about any other guys, but I'm going to work out."</div> Source
This is great for hodge in the season scouts were saying he wasnt good enough at shooting and now hes making everything in the workouts according to nbadraft.net
