What former Zip player would Groce recruit?

[Illini Zip]

On 2/4/2018 at 1:34 PM, clarkwgriswold said:

Groce had some head cases at OU and Illinois, equal to or greater than Tree or Diggs.  Their problems were off the court, but when they were on the court they went 100% and had an edge we've seen none of from this squad.  Diggs also had the heart to work his way back to the team as I recall.

 

These are true statements and I addressed the first one once before. But I am trying to think if I can remember Groce ever pursuing a recruit with a publicly known reputation. And I don't think so. Carlton Bragg and Cliff Alexander had a few issues when they got into college, but I'm going to blame both of those on Kansas.    When you recruit the personality Groce likes there will likely be a few who go astray. Also note that not all head-cases have a violent streak. I think only two players had that specific issue and I mentioned them before, Leron "the Savage" Black and Kendrick Nunn. I shared before that Black seemed to have had a come-to-Jesus moment and so far so good. He starts for Illinois and is often our leading scorer, even double-doubles. Nunn transferred to Oakland University, sat out a year and did something bad enough to anger his new coach. From what I read, the coach said to Nunn if you push me, you're gone and if you're gone from Oakland you are likely done playing basketball forever, period. Nunn is currently one of the best shooting guards in the nation. If Groce had him on the roster last year, he is likely still coaching at Illinois.

 

http://www.goldengrizzlies.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/020618aab.html

 

Oakland's Kendrick Nunn has been selected as one of 10 candidates for the 2018 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award announced by The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Tuesday.

 

Nunn, a redshirt senior from Chicago, Ill., is one of the nation's top three-point shooters, leading the NCAA in three-pointers per game (4.64) and NCAA in three-point attempts (256). The shooting guard also ranks second nationally in points per game at 26.0 and total three-pointers made (102).

 

 

Edited February 9, 2018 by Illini Zip