Groce's New Coaching Staff

[Blue & Gold]

24 minutes ago, mes102 said:

 

 

[Blue & Gold]

I'm more grateful to Duquesne with each passing day.

[ZipsVoice]

Okay, so looked up Byrne, and no he's not the Kvin Byrne from Stow, but...ironically he got his Masters degree from...wait for it...Duquesne!

[72 Roo]

When last season imploded there was great talk of much needed change, however you saw it. It seems the change we got was more eye-opening than most of us wanted, but I believe it will be the absolute best for us in the long run. Groce is putting together a kick-ass staff and that is the most important factor. Those guys know how to find and recruit talent. We all wanted an easier transition but it's not to be. Let's face it, we lost a lot of under-performing talent (Josh, Hughes, Noah maybe) or yet-to-be-proven talent (TDM, Hughes). Groce will do better. Unfortunately it will take him time, 1-2 years, but it will be worth it.

 

We weren't going any higher with KD. He admitted it by leaving. So let Groce do his thing and set a higher standard. I wish KD and all the leaving players well, but once you are gone you are out of my mind. I follow people who want to be here, not those who want to leave, coaches and players included.   

[mes102]

We're going to have to keep an eye across the northern border as well for recruiting. I found this out on twitter from a Canadian basketball expert on Fulford.
 

 

[NWAkron]

I guess we will need to nix the "Buffalo's in Canada" chant.  Not that the current version of the Rowdies used it effectively.

[akronzips71]

On 4/13/2017 at 10:54 PM, 72 Roo said:

When last season imploded there was great talk of much needed change, however you saw it. It seems the change we got was more eye-opening than most of us wanted, but I believe it will be the absolute best for us in the long run. Groce is putting together a kick-ass staff and that is the most important factor. Those guys know how to find and recruit talent. We all wanted an easier transition but it's not to be. Let's face it, we lost a lot of under-performing talent (Josh, Hughes, Noah maybe) or yet-to-be-proven talent (TDM, Hughes). Groce will do better. Unfortunately it will take him time, 1-2 years, but it will be worth it.

 

We weren't going any higher with KD. He admitted it by leaving. So let Groce do his thing and set a higher standard. I wish KD and all the leaving players well, but once you are gone you are out of my mind. I follow people who want to be here, not those who want to leave, coaches and players included.   

 

It is wrong, in my opinion, to take the players with you. While it is true that he recruited them, he did so FOR the University, using money SUPPLIED by the University, offering scholarships PAID by the University.

They are people are are not owned by anyone, but if this was a matter of contracts law, they would be obligated to UA and NOT to him.

 

[clarkwgriswold]

1 hour ago, akronzips71 said:

 

It is wrong, in my opinion, to take the players with you. While it is true that he recruited them, he did so FOR the University, using money SUPPLIED by the University, offering scholarships PAID by the University.

They are people are are not owned by anyone, but if this was a matter of contracts law, they would be obligated to UA and NOT to him.

 

...and it is a renewable one year contract that either party can terminate...

[akronzips71]

21 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

...and it is a renewable one year contract that either party can terminate...

 

Which really misses the point.

[clarkwgriswold]

1 hour ago, akronzips71 said:

 

Which really misses the point.

No, I get your point.  I agree KD shouldn't be poaching UA players.  My point is that the whole scholarship obligation thing is a two way street.

 

On another topic, let's say KD didn't initiate the contact.  He has an awful team he needs to rebuild, knows and likes a kid, and the kid is calling.  Should he hang up the phone?

[akronzips71]

43 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

No, I get your point.  I agree KD shouldn't be poaching UA players.  My point is that the whole scholarship obligation thing is a two way street.

 

On another topic, let's say KD didn't initiate the contact.  He has an awful team he needs to rebuild, knows and likes a kid, and the kid is calling.  Should he hang up the phone?

 

I can see where that is different. But KD recruited these kids as a representative of the University, on the University's money. It appears to me that his is in fact poaching, which is just wrong. UA paid to get those guys on board, the money did not come out of KD's pocket.

Which is probably why they have to sit out a year under NCAA rules. To at least discourage poaching.

[OU Dude]

for comparison:

 

when your new coach left a Sweet 16 roster to take a new job he didn't poach a single player. In fact, he even refused to take Caris LeVert with him who had committed to Ohio but was not enrolled yet. LeVert was angry about it, he said he told Groce to call him and he'd sign with Illinois but Groce never called him back.

 

when Jim Christian left not a single player followed him either, but its not because he didn't try, it was because nobody wanted to play for him. lol.

[Blackburn]

17 hours ago, OU Dude said:

for comparison:

 

when your new coach left a Sweet 16 roster to take a new job he didn't poach a single player. In fact, he even refused to take Caris LeVert with him who had committed to Ohio but was not enrolled yet. LeVert was angry about it, he said he told Groce to call him and he'd sign with Illinois but Groce never called him back.

 

when Jim Christian left not a single player followed him either, but its not because he didn't try, it was because nobody wanted to play for him. lol.

 

I have heard that about Christian... not only players, but staff. What was the fallout with Stewart?

[Rwbb54]

2017 Keith Clemons will visit Akron on Monday. Top available point guard averaged 16.9 ppg for Wesley Christian. @ZipsMBB @keithclemonss

 

Coach Fulford paying dividends already. This kid is an underrated point guard who played at Wesley against top tier national school talent. 

[akronzips71]

1 hour ago, Rwbb54 said:

2017 Keith Clemons will visit Akron on Monday. Top available point guard averaged 16.9 ppg for Wesley Christian. @ZipsMBB @keithclemonss

 

Coach Fulford paying dividends already. This kid is an underrated point guard who played at Wesley against top tier national school talent. 

 

http://www.courtsidefilms.com/news_article/show/727388?referrer_id=1227615

 

Looks small but listed at 6"2'

[mes102]

3 hours ago, Rwbb54 said:

2017 Keith Clemons will visit Akron on Monday. Top available point guard averaged 16.9 ppg for Wesley Christian. @ZipsMBB @keithclemonss

 

Coach Fulford paying dividends already. This kid is an underrated point guard who played at Wesley against top tier national school talent. 

 

 

[zippy5]

 

[Let'sGoZips94]

So based on these potential recruits, is it safe to say the days of 5'7" PGs are over? 

 

Clemons seems to have nice dribble-drive ability and fantastic vision. I like it. 

 

Christian Lorng is a 4-star recruit, with interest from Missouri. I wonder if Coach Fulford was the one recruiting him?

[Blue & Gold]

10 minutes ago, lilroodude said:

Christian Lorng is a 4-star recruit, with interest from Missouri. I wonder if Coach Fulford was the one recruiting him?

Link?

[Let'sGoZips94]

6 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

Link?

 

http://www.verbalcommits.com/players/christian-lorng

[Rwbb54]

Wesley Christians head coach Dave Meddings was an assistant at Huntington Prep under Rob. He's building a national powerhouse program there and that will be a great connection to have for Akron. 

[zippy5]

16 minutes ago, Rwbb54 said:

Wesley Christians head coach Dave Meddings was an assistant at Huntington Prep under Rob. He's building a national powerhouse program there and that will be a great connection to have for Akron. 

[LZIp]

Any other offers known about for Keith Clemons? I'm already liking this transparency in recruiting.

[kreed5120]

6 minutes ago, LZIp said:

Any other offers known about for Keith Clemons? I'm already liking this transparency in recruiting.

 

The Duquesne visit would have been before Dambrot.

 

 

[zippy5]

10 minutes ago, LZIp said:

Any other offers known about for Keith Clemons? I'm already liking this transparency in recruiting.

It's kind of like we're recruiting players that other teams also want. It's fun to follow