If you’ve been listening to Utah Jazz wing Rodney Hood since he was drafted by the team late in the first round in 2014, one thing is abundantly clear–he values his roots. It’s something he’s referenced on more than one occasion.
He’s spoken about his father, Ricky, being the director of the East Mississippi Boys & Girls Club and how the time he spent there helped him develop as a person. He’ll also tell you about the impact his mother, Vicky, had in raising a family and working as a teacher and principal, most recently at Newton High School in Hood’s hometown of Meridian, Mississippi.