Zach Hodskins, a walk-on sophomore guard on the University of Florida's basketball team who was born without a left hand, scored the first basket of his collegiate career this week to the delight of Gator fans and social media.
Hodskins entered the game late in Florida's 89-65 victory over Jacksonville in the O'Connell Center Tuesday night. The guard, who earned a preferred walk-on spot with the Gators, drove past a Jacksonville guard and scored off a spin move in front of the basket in the
closing seconds, according to the Gainesville Sun.
Hodskins' teammates joined with many in the arena in cheering for Hodskins, who at that point had been 0-for-5 from the field in his brief collegiate basketball career after having a standout high school career in Georgia.
"Really happy for Zach," Florida coach Mike White said, according to the newspaper. "Great young man. Obviously overcoming a great deal of adversity. He's a very, very likable young man, you can tell by the decibel level in the O'Dome when he scored. It was a fun moment for our team and for Zach."
Steven Douglas, of TheBigLead.com, said that Hodskins actually drew the foul and went to the free throw line after the shot.
"Unfortunately, he missed the free throw," Douglas said. "Still, that's a great moment for any walk on playing D-I basketball anywhere in the country. Though this bucket may have been a bit more inspirational than most."
Hodskins found plenty of supports on the Internet as well.
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