Former Meridian star Rodney Hood was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Utah Jazz Thursday afternoon as part of a three-team trade. Hood was selected by the Jazz with the No. 23 overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NBA draft.

Hood averaged 13.1 points per game during his four-year stint in Utah, and in 39 games this season, he is averaging 16.8 points per game and boasts a 42.4 field-goal shooting percentage.

Jones County Junior College coach Randy Bolden coached Hood at Meridian. Bolden said Hood’s trade to Cleveland, where he will play alongside LeBron James, will further help his development in the league. 

“I think Rodney knows the nature of the NBA business, so I don’t think it was a surprise,” Bolden said. “He kind of knew this was possible, so, it really wasn’t a surprise. The surprise is being what team, yes. With his going to Cleveland, I think it’s a great opportunity for Rodney to be able to play with the best player in the world and to understand and get the chance to see how he prepares, and how he goes about being a professional every day. That experience is going to be so valuable to him as he progresses in his career.”

In 2011, Hood helped lead Meridian to a 62-47 win over Vicksburg in the MHSAA Class 6A championship to give the Wildcats their first basketball title in 33 years.