Thomas Wolfe once wrote, “You can never go home again.” But for Coach Grant Hodges, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
A native of Hiddenite — a small, tight-knit community nestled in the picturesque foothills of Alexander County — Hodges embodies everything that’s right about high school basketball. The county’s main geographic feature, the Brushy Mountains — or the “Brushies,” as locals call them — reflects the rugged, grounded nature of the people who call it home, and Hodges fits that mold perfectly.
From 2007 to 2017, Hodges served as an assistant coach under Ed Wills before taking over as head coach at Lake Norman High School. During his six-year tenure, Hodges compiled an impressive 110–44 record, capturing three conference championships and three conference tournament titles. Under his leadership, Lake Norman became one of the top 4A programs in the state and a favorite to win the NCHSAA 4A Championship — before their season was unfortunately cut short due to a player eligibility issue.
At Lake Norman, Hodges built excitement around the program with his “Lake Show” mantra, bringing energy and pride to both the team and community.
This past offseason, Coach Hodges made the decision to return home — to his roots, his people, and a program ready for renewal. While many say you can’t recreate the past, Hodges is proof that you can still build something special when heart, loyalty, and purpose lead the way. Known across the state as one of the “good guys” in the coaching profession, he continues to promote his players relentlessly, always putting their future opportunities above his own interests.
Alexander Central has gone 24–28 over the past two seasons, and optimism was high with the return of 6’7 rising senior Jayon Connor, who averaged 27.8 points per game last year as a sophomore. However, after a strong summer on the travel circuit, Connor transferred and reclassified at a private school. Instead of dwelling on the loss, Hodges supported Connor’s decision — prioritizing the player’s best interest — and immediately turned his focus to the group returning for the Cougars.
Now competing in the newly formed Northwestern 6A/7A Conference, Alexander Central returns 5’9 senior Jaheim Redmond (5.9 PPG), 6’1 senior Koa Mikeal (4.5 PPG), and 6’2 senior Dillon Church (3.7 PPG) — roughly a quarter of last season’s offensive output. The addition of 6’4 senior sharpshooter Noah VanBeurden, a proven scorer and leader, brings much-needed experience to the roster.
Recognizing the personnel shift, Hodges is reinventing the Cougars’ identity with a fast-paced, up-tempo style designed to energize both players and fans. His offensive philosophy of pushing the pace and running to “kill spots” proved effective in recent scrimmages — particularly when VanBeurden knocked down four consecutive 3-pointers from the top of the key.
While rebuilding a program takes time, Hodges seems right at home doing what he does best: teaching, motivating, and maximizing effort. He embraces the underdog role, and his teams consistently play above expectations. This year should be no different.
Players to Watch
6’4 Senior Noah VanBeurden
VanBeurden’s game fits seamlessly with Coach Hodges’ system. A high-IQ player with a scorer’s mindset, he consistently knocks down shots from deep and creates for others with his ball-handling and court vision. He uses both hands well off the dribble and shows great craft finishing around the rim, including reverse layups that use the basket as protection.
6’6 Sophomore Kade Flowers
Flowers impressed with his length, athleticism, and aggressiveness. He displays sound shooting mechanics with good extension and rotation, and he’s a willing passer out of the post — kicking to open shooters when defenses collapse. Defensively, he times rebounds well and can initiate transition offense with his outlet passing.
6’4 Sophomore Zach Driver-Davis
Driver-Davis adds another perimeter weapon to Hodges’ offense. He can stretch the floor and score in bunches from beyond the arc, giving the Cougars an additional threat in their up-tempo attack.
5’9 Senior Jaheim Redmond
The floor general and emotional leader of the team, Redmond, is quick, experienced, and confident with the ball. He pushes the tempo, sees the floor well, and can both score and distribute the ball effectively. His ability to penetrate and kick to shooters will be vital to Alexander Central’s success this season.