It’s All Good: Zach Hodskins Balls So Hard One Arm Can’t Stop Him Posted by Max Pete on 08/21/13 | Filed under Opinion, Sports, Its All Good

These days, all you see and hear on the news is about which country is on the brink of war, the economic crisis and other information that drives fear into your everyday life. I’m tired of hearing nothing but bad news, that’s why I decided to write about positive and inspiring stories that are overlooked by the mainstream media in "It's All Good".

Before I jump into this week’s story, I wanted to give you all a reason why I chose this piece. To those who don’t know me in real life, don’t know that I was born without a left hand. Even though I was born with this obstacle, I never let it hold me back in anything I did. I love coming across stories like this because it shows that one I am not the only person that had to go through this growing up and two that it is inspiring to see people persevere through whatever life throws at them, and to come out on top anyhow. With that said, I hope you get inspired like I did by Zach’s story.

Zach Hodskins is not your normal high school basketball star. Zach was born without the lower half of his left arm because of a birth defect, which would seem to make a basketball career impossible. Not to Zach though, he took the challenge and proved that he deserved to be on the court just as much as anyone else.



Zach’s 2013 Summer AAU circuit was so impressive that one recruiting site selected him as the most impressive prospect among the nation’s top players. Not only did the recruiting site take notice, but so did Florida’s coach Billy Donovan as he offered Zach a walk –on spot on the team. The offer doesn’t include a scholarship, but it does offer a chance at one down the road, plus the opportunity to play at one of the nation’s top basketball programs is no easy task. Besides Florida, Alabama-Birmingham and Birmingham Southern are considering full scholarship offers.

"When I'm out [on the court], I forget my arm isn't there and just play ball," Hodskins told the News-Herald of northern Ohio. "Passion and love for the sport helps me overcome all obstacles. To this day. I haven't come across anything I can't do."