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D’Moi Hodge Interviewed With 19 NBA Teams
There’s a positive energy in D’Moi Hodge’s camp following his recent MBA showcase in Virginia, United States.
The British Virgin Islands guard has so far done interviews with 19 different NBA teams, proudly sharing his story – an island boy who has battled challenges for a chance to play in the NBA.
“So 30 NBA teams were there, NBA scouts, every NBA team was there. So I played three games. I went two in one. The one game we lose…we lose in double overtime. I averaged 19 points, I shot 50 (percent) from the three point line, 50 percent, 50 percent from the field goal, which is great. So there’s 30 NBA teams. I did 19 NBA interviews… with 19 different teams, which is great. Five teams called (but) I couldn’t put it in my schedule. I was too busy. I had 24 Interviews, but I did 19 of them. Talked about my stories, where I come from. Big up Tortola. They all loved my story, they all loved me,” he shared during a recent Live Facebook feed.
His performance caught the attention of sports writers and scouts. A writer from Noceilingnba wrote:
“His hands at the point of attack are dangerous, and he’ll poke the ball loose any time the opposing guard isn’t careful. Hodge is also a gifted scorer and he was letting it fly from three.”
At the moment, the 6′ 4″, 188 pounds former University of Missouri Tiger is waiting to see what happens next.
“So as of right now, I’m waiting to see what’s going on. I’m probably going to get invited to Chicago for the draft combine,” he shared. The NBA Draft Lottery and NBA Draft Combine is in Chicago in May.
The 2022 Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year is staying in shape, working hard on and off the court to impress the right people in the NBA.
“I’m going to Boston to work out for the Celtics next week. Then I’m going to work out for…the Grizzlies. Then I’m going to work out for San Antonio. More teams are calling. And I’m arranging everything so everything is looking good. But everything is straight right now man, every team looking real promising. I mean, gotta keep working.”
In April, Hodge announced he was entering the NBA draft following one of the Missouri Tiger’s most successful campaigns in years during the 2022-23 season. He finished second on the team with 14.7 points per game, establishing a new school record with 91 steals.
Hodge is the fifth Tiger to make 100 3-pointers in a single season and ranks fourth nationally with 2.60 steals per game, 32nd with 2.86 triples per game and 37th with a three-point clip of 40.0.
He thanks God, his family, friends and the wider BVI community for their continued support.
“God is always first. I interviewed with this NBA team. I ain’t going to call the team name… and I told him about the story…my story, like the hurricane and…about everything that happened when I was…in Tortola. One of the NBA team scouts that was interviewing me. He came up to me after the interview, like it was like, probably a couple hours after and called my phone. He wants to talk to me. So I had seen him at a restaurant, he was like “can I talk to you?” And he was like, I want to pray for you and your island and your family. So he prayed for me and the island of Tortola and stuff like that. So I feel like…I’m looking real good. He took his time to pray for me. That’s just how I feel like God is working. I mean, he didn’t have to come back to me later that night to do that.”
Hodge is staying grounded, but was happy to hear from NBA teams that “I should get drafted, in their opinion, but I was saying it’s not their choice, but they said they feel like I should. So hopefully I do get drafted. I’m going to be at the draft. I want to get my name called for the island, not just for me, but for the BVI. I mean, being first to ever do that. That’s the main goal for me just getting drafted. Not for me, but for everybody back home… supporting me.”
He has been described as a tenacious player who is comfortable on the dribble and able to move into shots effortlessly.
But Hodge is up against a group of very talented players from the United States and across the globe who are all working for a spot in the NBA.
“I see the motivation man. It’s never pressure when you love doing it and the winning hand is bigger than you. I’m saying it’s always, always been bigger than me. So I never looked at it as pressure on my whole life so I can’t do it now.”
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British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission Welcomes New Leadership
The British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVIFSC) has announced new appointments to its governing board, with Mr. Gerard St Clair Farara KC stepping in as Chairman and Ms. Patlian Johnson as Commissioner. The appointments, confirmed by the Ministry of Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, mark a new chapter for the commission as it seeks to strengthen the territory’s financial services sector.
Mr. Gerard St Clair Farara KC has been appointed to a three-year term as Chairman, effective August 1, 2024. A seasoned legal expert with a distinguished career, Farara currently serves as a Commercial Court Judge for the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and leads the litigation team at the BVI office of COLLAS CRILL, formerly Farara Kerins. Farara’s prominence in the legal community is further highlighted by his appointment as Queen’s Counsel in 1996, cementing his standing as a leading figure in the Virgin Islands Bar and the broader Eastern Caribbean.
Ms. Patlian Johnson will serve a one-year term as Commissioner, also beginning on August 1, 2024. Johnson, a Strategy and Policy Advisor with extensive experience, currently holds the position of National Coordinator for the UNDP Project Office. She brings an impressive academic background, including a Master of Science in Economics and Finance from the University of Bristol and a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Accounting with First Class Honours from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.
The pair will replace outgoing Chairman Mr. Robin F. Gaul and Commissioner Mr. Melvin A. Turnbull, whose terms have concluded. Minister of Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, Honourable Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), praised the new appointments, stating, “I am delighted to welcome Mr. Farara and Ms. Johnson to the BVIFSC Board of Commissioners. Their combined expertise will be invaluable as we continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities facing the financial services sector.”
Smith also expressed gratitude to the departing board members for their significant contributions to the growth and stability of the territory’s financial services industry. According to the Government Information Service (GIS), these appointments underscore the Virgin Islands’ commitment to maintaining a well-regulated and competitive financial services sector.
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