Throughout the summer, the top high school basketball players in the country travel around playing tournament games in front of Division I coaches. One of those many players was Green Hope’s Kody Frey (‘25), who committed to continue his basketball career at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU).
Frey initially began his basketball career at the early age of 6 years old, in Albuquerque New Mexico. The first grader played daily, working on the fundamentals that would eventually advance him to the level he’s at today. “I first started playing when I was six, and after that [first] day, I played pretty much every day until I got hurt,” shares Frey. Once he got cleared, however, he immediately continued with the sport he loved, allowing him to further his basketball career through college.
A new student to Green Hope, Frey intends on playing for the school this coming season while continuing to play basketball for his AAU team. “I play for 1 of 1 Elite, Lamelo Ball’s AAU team,” he explains. “Over the summer my training schedule involved working out two to three times a day during the week and then playing on the weekends.”
Like many athletes, Frey has a pregame ritual that he follows to assist in his success. “My pregame ritual is pretty typical, I mainly just listen to music for almost the whole day. Then, I’ll put my left foot in my shoes before my right, and put on a t-shirt under my jersey to support my brother that passed away.”
Fairleigh Dickinson University first found Frey at the Puma Live Session in Indianapolis, Indiana, a competitive basketball tournament with lots of college coaches watching. After being put into contact with the school, he was able to learn about the environment and community that would come with his commitment. “I picked FDU because of the coaches and the support that they give their players. As well as the guys, it was a great group of guys that made it feel like a home. It is a place where I can grow not only as a basketball player but also as a person.”
Frey acknowledged the many people who helped him reach this point in his basketball career but highlighted one person in particular. “One of the many people that inspired me to play basketball was my dad. He played at Xavier and started all four years. After that, he played pro for 10 years all over the country. Some could say it’s in my blood and I was built to play at the next level. I am fortunate to have him in my corner and that he teaches me everything he knows about the game of basketball.”
Throughout his journey, he has shown lots of grit to keep playing the sport of basketball. Unlike most athletes, Frey encountered a major obstacle that threatened to interfere with his success- a torn ACL. “I tore my ACL my freshman year, I was driving baseline when I felt a pop,” he explains. Despite the long-term recovery he faced as a result of his injury, he refused to let this set him back. When asked if it affected his return to the sport, Frey shared, “I would probably say not too much, the hardest part was getting comfortable with my knee again and seeing if I could really trust it.” What is often a detrimental injury for many only strengthened Frey’s love for his sport, showcasing his perseverance and determination in the recovery process.
Kody Frey will start his Divison I basketball career for Fairleigh Dickinson University after his graduation in June of 2025. Until then, he hopes to finish off his high school career by making playoffs and “going on a deep run.”
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