After apparently choosing Penn, Hodgson is still in the dark

Much-heralded basketball recruit Rob Hodgson has single-handedly proved that truth can be stranger than fiction. After months of indecision, the Indiana transfer and third all-time leading scorer in New York State high school basketball history, had seemingly chosen to play basketball at Penn this season. He arrived on campus Thursday evening with a bag full of clothing and signed in at the front desk of High Rise East to receive his room keys. Hodgson, who still has at least three and a half years of eligibility, had dinner with Bill Guthrie Thursday. Guthrie intends to rejoin the men's basketball team this year, after quitting last January. Hodgson spent the night being shown around campus by several teammates. Mysteriously, though, Hodgson interrupted a conversation with roommate and potential future teammate George Mboya at about 4 a.m. to use the telephone in the lobby of HRE. Mboya fell asleep while Hodgson was gone and awoke to find Hodgson and all of his belongings gone early the next morning. "This is unprecedented," Penn coach Fran Dunphy said last night. "I can't say where he is in his decision making process. I don't know why he left. He had a bag full of clothes with him, so I assume he had planned on staying." Since add period officially ended on PARIS Friday night, Dunphy is not sure that Hodgson could enroll in classes even if he wanted to this semester. Rutgers and potentially Fordham have also been mentioned as schools Hodgson is interested in. University Registrar Ronald Sanders, who was unaware of the Hodgson case specifically, said last night that permission could be granted to Hodgson to enroll unconventionally, but that the dean of Hodgeson's school -- which is reported to be Wharton -- would need a compelling reason to do so. "It's not something under normal conditions that I think they would allow," Sanders said. "[But] there are always allowances that can be made for just about every situation as long as there is a good reason for it." As of late last night, Hodgson was still undecided about his plans for the upcoming semester and beyond, according to his father, Bob, who is hoping the issue will be resolved as soon as possible. "Rob is very confused right now," the elder Hodgson said. "We had hoped to bring this to a close last week, and as of now, Rob still does not know where he's going. He has not ruled Penn out and he would still like to enroll somewhere [for the upcoming term]." Dunphy said Hodgson is still welcome to join the Quakers as far as he is concerned, but, "only if he wants to. He has to be sold on the fact that this is the best place for him. If things work out, he could definitely make up the work. He's a very bright kid." Just not a very decisive one.