Zach Hodskins: One-Armed Basketball Player Offered spot with Florida Gators
Hodskins, a guard who has a preternatural touch from behind 3-point range, has excelled without any part of his left arm below the elbow, a birth defect that he refused to let end his prep basketball career.
Hodskins was offered a preferred walk-on offer by the University of Florida. Such an offer would guarantee Hodskins a spot on the team without a full scholarship, meaning that the Gators would have a one-handed player on their bench beginning with the 2014-15 season.http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/inspiring-one-armed…
August 15th, 2013 at 11:36 PM ^
That is all.
August 16th, 2013 at 1:29 AM ^
August 16th, 2013 at 3:49 AM ^
I really wish the NCAA would get around to banning sham-ateurism in time for him to cash in on his position, but I doubt that it will happen that fast.
Imagine how cool it would be if he had the right to accept money on the free market, and hit a couple of shots on national TV.
August 16th, 2013 at 9:17 AM ^
Eh? He does have the "right" to accept as much money as the free market will offer. He just can't do that and remain an amateur basketball player. Duh!
If your argument is that amateur sports should professionalize so this guy can make money, because no actual pro team would ever pay him, then you don't understand the free market at all.
August 16th, 2013 at 8:55 AM ^
+1,000,000,000,000
August 16th, 2013 at 9:20 AM ^
Dick.
August 16th, 2013 at 9:46 AM ^
Man, it'll be just like that time Michigan signed Jim Abbott! He'll get a strike-out, ESPN will go nuts... And then he'll go win an Olympic gold medal, skip the minor leagues, pitch for 11 seasons in the MLB, and throw a no-hitter for the Yankees.
Come on. People with disabilities aren't gimmicks. If this kid can play, put him out there.
August 16th, 2013 at 10:10 AM ^
We gave one to Jim.
August 17th, 2013 at 10:14 AM ^
"He'll bet in one ime, make a baket"...
Don't make fun of a guy who shoots better with one arm than you type with two.
August 15th, 2013 at 11:38 PM ^
August 16th, 2013 at 12:29 AM ^
Def Leppard drummer joke to be made, but I agree, this is too awesome to make it.
August 16th, 2013 at 8:47 AM ^
I believe you're thinking of:
"What has nine arms and can't spell?"
August 15th, 2013 at 11:51 PM ^
This is really awesome.
And I was pumped when someone forced him left (dick move) and he took the rock to the hole. He can play.
August 16th, 2013 at 12:20 AM ^
I think it'd be a more of a dick move to patronize him and blissfully pretend that he's got this sick left-to-right crossover.
August 16th, 2013 at 6:17 AM ^
August 16th, 2013 at 12:05 AM ^
August 16th, 2013 at 1:49 AM ^
August 16th, 2013 at 5:01 AM ^
August 16th, 2013 at 8:00 AM ^
Yeah, to add to the cool stories, when i was in high school, our coach was effectively one-armed because of childhood polio (he had a very stunted, short right arm). That guy played in college - Alma? Albion? - and he could still play with us in his 30s.
August 16th, 2013 at 9:18 AM ^
The kid can play. I obviously don't know the level of competition he's going against, but he seemed quicker than any other kid on the court and had a smooth shot. Wishing him the best and hope to see him on the court after earning some PT.
August 16th, 2013 at 10:04 AM ^
There are guys who play college ball who are pretty lousy at dribbling with their off hand and do fine. This guy just takes that to the extreme by necessity, but I'm sure he's compensated with some pretty sweet moves, and you can make up for a lot by being quicker than the guy defending you.
August 16th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^
/cool story bro
August 16th, 2013 at 11:21 AM ^
August 16th, 2013 at 11:23 AM ^
I recommend watching the video if you haven't already. The guy can play.