9 Jul
Catching Up With Ohio hoops coach John Groce
- I had the chance to chat with John Groce, who was the road in Indianapolis watching several recruits during the July evaluation period.
- After a thrilling end to the 2009-2010 season, Groce said he was able to get away from basketball with his wife and also had the opportunity to take his kids to the beach.
- All four incoming freshmen have been campus for nearly three weeks and have hit the mid-point of the summer session of classes at Ohio. Coaches are not allowed to work out with the players or watch open gyms, but Groce is excited about the fresh talent. “Really, all four of them, their bodies are a little bit more developed at this juncture than our 2009 class. So our strength coach (Mike Basgier) is excited about that because he has a lot to work with.”
- Tipton, Indiana native Ethan Jacobs measured in at 6-11, 218 pounds, Groce said.
- As for Armon Bassett, Groce has obviously stayed in contact with last year’s leading scorer. Bassett is on the roster for the New Orleans Hornets’ summer league team. “He’s got a good opportunity with the Hornets camp, and hopefully he makes the best of it,” Groce said. “I think he’ll certainly have options. What they are, I don’t know.”
- Bassett obviously could land somwhere overseas, but Groce did not rule out Bassett playing in the NBA’s Developmental League next season.
- I asked Groce whether bringing Basssett to Ohio was worth it, given the way he ended his tenure in Athens. Bassett has a hearing schedule before Judge William Grim in Athens on Monday stemming from an assault charge in May outside an Athens bar. “It’s a little bit unfortunate in that, obviously the trouble at the end, I think people will say ‘hey he was the same guy before he came in that he is now.’ And that’s not true. I’ve seen a lot of growth in him in the time he was at Ohio in a lot of different areas.”
- Another departed Bobcat, Kenneth van Kempen, has signed on to play for Upstairs/Weert in The Netherlands. His father coached that club for sevearl years and will be an assistant coach this upcomign season.. “It gives him a chance to go back home, but I think the biggest thing is it affords him the opportunity to continue his schooling.”
- Groce said KVK has thought about going to medical school or even going the pharmacy school route. “He’s a very bring young man, and he’s one of those guys that’s going to do whatever he puts his mind to. We’re looking forward to seeing how his career moves forward.”
- As for walk-on Adetunji Adedipe’s future, Groce does not know if he will return next season. “He has not (decided) at this point. He and I are in discussions regarding that, and I expect a decision here somewhat shortly.”
- Marquis Horne, who quit the team in November, was enrolled at Ohio University spring quarter to finish the year. Groce does not know where the Princeton H.S. (Cincinnati) native will go next year.
- Freshman guard Jay Kinney, who was kicked off the team after multiple run-ins with the law last school year, left at winter quarter. Groce said Kinney is in talks with a few junior colleges, and that his future plans are still undecided.
- Steve Coleman did indeed get a redshirt after playing in just 10 of 37 games thanks to a hand injury. He will be a redshirt-sophomore next season and is in good shape right now, according to the ‘Cats coach. “Steve’s healthy and doing well. He seems to be getting more and more confidence in that right hand. I’d say he’s a full go right now.”
- Does Ohio’s non-conference schedule, which features just two true road games, get the Green and White ready for MAC play in January? “Without question, yeah. That’s what we put it together for,” Groce said. “I think it’s a schedule that fits this team really well. I like the spacing of the schedule, and I think its without question going to get us ready for league play.”
- Ohio will return it’s Bracketbuster matchup versus Wright State during the 2011-2012 season in Dayton. This season, Ohio will play a road game in its Bracketbuster. The skip is by design so that each team has one home game and one road game annually in its Bracketbuster set up, whether that’s the actual Bracketbuster game or a return game from a previous year.
- By the way, it’s worth noting Ohio men’s hoops released the non-conference portion of its schedule for this coming season on July 6. Last year, the 09-10 non-conference schedule was released on August 18.
- As for recruiting, as it stands right now, Ohio has two seniors (DeVaughn Washington, Tommy Freeman) and one junior (Alex Kellog), meaning the ‘Cats have three scholarships to give over the next two years. Groce said he could sign two kids for 2011, or just one and save two for 2012. “We’re in a situation where we’ve got three to give in 2011 and 2012. We’ve got different scenarios that we are looking at. Then we’ve got some bigger classes in 2013 and ’14. So I’ve got a chance to see some young guys and starting to develop some thoughts there.”
- Groce knows the types of players he’ll be targeting this summer on the recruiting trail. “One things for sure, at some point here—whether it’s ’11 or ’12—we’ve have to think about getting a point guard. The second one of those three will probably be either a power forward or skilled, athletic forward. And then the third of those three would be best available.”
- Groce will be visiting the following cities over the next few days and weeks to recruit: Columbus, Louisville, Milwaukee, Morgantown, and Augusta, Georgia.