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Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: Old Man and the Three
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GoCats105
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Posted: 3/22/2023 7:00 PM
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For any fellow basketball junkies, JJ Redick's podcast "Old Man and the Three" podcast is a really good listen.

Episode 69 (nice) is with Caris LeVert. He explains what happened with his Ohio/Michigan recruiting which I thought was super interesting. As we all know, he was signed to play here at Ohio. When Groce got the Illinois job, LeVert didn't find out until he saw it on SportsCenter the day it happened. He hadn't had any contact with Groce or an assistant until days later and was trying to get in touch with someone, but nobody was picking up the phone. When he eventually got hold of an Illinois assistant (he didn't mention who), they basically told him they didn't think he was going to be good enough to be a Big Ten player.

He was then able to get out of his LOI with Ohio and re-opened his recruitment. LeVert's high school coach sent film to Michigan assistant Bacari Alexander and at first Michigan didn't believe he was 6'4". They obviously didn't need another PG since they had Trey Burke. LeVert's coach convinced them to bring him up for a visit and that was that.
Cellis033
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Posted: 3/22/2023 7:18 PM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
For any fellow basketball junkies, JJ Redick's podcast "Old Man and the Three" podcast is a really good listen.

Episode 69 (nice) is with Caris LeVert. He explains what happened with his Ohio/Michigan recruiting which I thought was super interesting. As we all know, he was signed to play here at Ohio. When Groce got the Illinois job, LeVert didn't find out until he saw it on SportsCenter the day it happened. He hadn't had any contact with Groce or an assistant until days later and was trying to get in touch with someone, but nobody was picking up the phone. When he eventually got hold of an Illinois assistant (he didn't mention who), they basically told him they didn't think he was going to be good enough to be a Big Ten player.

He was then able to get out of his LOI with Ohio and re-opened his recruitment. LeVert's high school coach sent film to Michigan assistant Bacari Alexander and at first Michigan didn't believe he was 6'4". They obviously didn't need another PG since they had Trey Burke. LeVert's coach convinced them to bring him up for a visit and that was that.
Big what if is if Groce had stayed for 2012-13. Could have been a very good player for us.
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 3/22/2023 9:00 PM
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TOUGH. That one hurt a lot. Not just his Columbus ties, but just knowing the ELITE EIGHT was RIGHT THERE and JC was a good coach coming in.

If Groce stays...
Last Edited: 3/22/2023 9:01:38 PM by M.D.W.S.T
mid70sbobcat
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Posted: 3/22/2023 11:48 PM
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I see it differently. Groce didn't have the class to let his recruits know he as gone. No wonder LaVert couldn't get in touch with anyone. Leave a 17 year old kind just hanging. Not cool IMO. Greed wins. But now he's back in the MAC. Poetic justice.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 3/22/2023 11:56 PM
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mid70sbobcat wrote:expand_more
I see it differently. Groce didn't have the class to let his recruits know he as gone. No wonder LaVert couldn't get in touch with anyone. Leave a 17 year old kind just hanging. Not cool IMO. Greed wins. But now he's back in the MAC. Poetic justice.
Yes, lack of class is just who he is. Every time I see his antics on the sidelines with Akron, I'm glad he's no longer our coach, but at the time, yes, I wanted him to stay and coach OHIO another year or two. But, hindsight is perfect!
Obc2
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Posted: 3/23/2023 6:56 PM
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i REALLY wanted one more season with Groce with a sweet 16 team that was returning pretty much everyone.

was pretty optimistic with the Christian signing but quickly became happy he, too, left Athens.

loved Saul as a person, will always root for him.

then ecstatic Ohio signed Boals.

it's been a helluva decade+ for my fandom.
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