| Recruiting is
absolutely fundamental to the success of a major college basketball
program. At Rice, recruiting takes on even more importance and
significance, because our academic requirements are more stringent
limiting our pool of qualified talent. We must have a much higher
“success rate” than our competition. We must and have been better at
the “recruiting game”, for the most part, than our competition. We
will continue to have success in this important area! Recruiting Success The greatest measure of our success or any program’s success during any period of time are contributions the student-athletes make to their respective communities when the ball has long stopped bouncing. In this regard, the Rice Basketball program can count itself among the nations elite programs. Our players have excelled as investment bankers, doctors, lawyers, and professional athletes as well as any program in the country. Quality Players We have had four recruiting classes ranked in the last ten years. 1997-#82 (Duke was #1), (Stanford was #33), (Vanderbilt was #43) 1995-#44 (Stanford was #43), (Duke was #38), (Northwestern was #68), (Virginia was #18) 1993-#30 (Duke was #3), (Virginia was #4), (Vanderbilt was #10), (Stanford was #24), (Northwestern was #55) 1992-#28 By Van Coleman Future Stars Report. While at Jacksonville, we had several classes ranked. Our last was 1989-#38. Quality Students As the level of athletic talent has improved, so has the level of academic talent. There are enough quality student-athletes who can qualify and excel at Rice University. As we have gotten better, the students we have recruited have gotten better. Recruiting and Graduation Rates Our graduation rates have been among the very best in the country and they will only get better! As important is the fact that our student-athletes are very much integrated into the Rice community. Our players are active in their Colleges and very much respected by their peers. This will continue and get even better. We have done a terrific job of “closing” on prospects we have had on campus. The student-athletes we have targeted love the people, location, beauty of the campus, environment, staff, and players on the team. The main reason we have been so successful with our official campus visits is our players have done an outstanding job of “selling” Rice. We have done a great job of developing players in our program. Those kids have turned into “impact” players with time. We have had 11 All SWC/WAC performers in 11 seasons. What we need to do a better job of is targeting 8-10 players each recruiting class that will get us to the Final Four. If we can sign just one of those kids each year, our recruiting and team success will be enhanced tremendously. Examples of “program turners” are Danny Ferry at Duke, Adam Keefe at Stanford, and Billy McCaffery at Vanderbilt. We must do a better job of signing the premier players in Houston. We have done a good job of signing some student-athletes who have and will be very good, but the “Top 25” caliber kid has alluded us. RECRUITING OBJECTIVES A. We must recruit the finest student athletes available who can help us achieve our championship goals. Continue to build the image of Rice University as nationally competitive and Top 25 program . B. Since we have academic considerations many other universities do not, we must be very current with every prospect’s academic situation. We cannot take anything for granted. 1. Let’s get 4th, 5th & 6th semester transcripts and stay updated with the NCAA Clearinghouse. C. To be successful, we must work twice as hard as every other staff through the mail and phone calls. Never take anything for granted! RECRUITING IS AN ONGOING PROCESS! D. Must stay current with all NCAA rules. E. Selling Rice University. 1. Athletics and Academics - the best of both worlds: 2. Many opportunities in a program that has established some tradition 3. Family program 4. Pressure style 5. Young staff 6. Best education for the future 7. Continued commitment by school 8. Tough place to play F. Super visits 1. We need to have organized, smooth visits in the homes of prospects and on campus. G. Recruiting summary - Contact, follow-up, contact, follow-up STYLE OF PLAY Rice University has established an intelligent, tough, competitive style of basketball. These ingredients have become the most important factors in attracting quality players to this program. Our goals are not only to continue along this path, but become the type of team that will always be the most prepared, the most enthusiastic and the most confident when the game is on the line. With the talent already present in the program the least that can be expected is to see a team of action! Things to expect: A. Extended multiple pressure defenses 1. Man to man a. Half court b. Full court 2. Match-up zone a. Half court b. 3/4 court B. Fastbreak/Early Offense Advantage C. High - Low continuity offense 1. Out of FB/EO 2. From specials D. Quick Hit Specials 1. Into high low continuity Recruiting Success 2002-2003 Morris Almond, 6’6: First Team All State, Georgia, US Global Team Selection, USA Today All American. Jason Okrzesik, 6’0: First Team All Catholic League, Chicago, IL Greg Killings, 6’11: All State (FL) Lorenzo Willims, 6’1: All State (TX) 2001-2002 Mike Kinsella, 7’00: First Team All State, Minnesota. Jamaal Moore, 6’5: First Team All State, Missouri. JR Harrison, 6’6: First Team All State, Texas. 2000-2001 Jason McKrieth, 6’4: First Team All State (NY), Runner-Up Mr. Basketball New York State, USA Today All American. Brock Gillespie, 6’1: All State (TN), Borderwars.com Top Ten Point Guards U.S. Michael Harris, 6’6: All State (TX), 2002 Freshman WAC Player of the Year, 2002 WAC All Newcomer Team, Insider.com. Freshman All American. 1998-1999 Jay Christian, 6’5: First Team All State (TX) Kevin Craig, 6-6: First Team All District (TX) Brandon Evans, 6-9: First Team All District (TX), Ron Briscoe Top 100 Players Michael Walton, 6’0: First Team All State (GA) Omar-Seli Mance, 6’2: Player of the Year (GA), USA Today All American, First Team All State (GA) 1997-1998 Ferron Morgan, 6’10: Van Coleman Top 15 Post Players in the country, All State (CO), All American USA Today, Ron Briscoe Top 100. Keenan Holmes, 6’2: First Team All Metro (Richmond, VA), All State (VA). TJ McKenzie, 6’10: First Team All State (CT), USA Today All American, Bob Gibbon’s Top 100, Capitol Classic Selection, Transfer Providence College. 1996-1997 Michael Wilks, 6’0: Mr. Basketball Wisconsin, First Team All WAC, Insider.com All American, Currently playing Minnesota Timberwolves. Derek Michaelis, 6’7: Ron Briscoe Top 100, First Team All State (TX), USA Today All American, Drafted 20th round Arizona Diamondbacks. Shawn Tyndell, 6’5: First Team All Metro (D.C., Maryland, Northern Virginia), McDonald’s Classic All American, USA Today All American. Jason Skaer, 6’7: TR Oklahoma State Universtiy, Bob Gibbons Top 44, First Team All State (TX), USA Today All American, WAC All Newcomer Team, Played professionally in Austria. Erik Cooper, 6’7: TR Loyloa University (MD), Bob Gibbons Top 150, First Team All State (NY), Freshman First Team All MAAC, Played professionally in Argentina. Hugh Thomson, 6’10: One of Austrailia’s Top Post Players. Recruiting Class Rated Top 80 By Bob Gibbons. 1995-1996 Alex Bougaieff, 6’11: Canadian World Games 22 and Under Team, First Team All Quebec, Canadian Macabia Games Team, Playing professionally in Italy. Recruiting Class Rated Top 40 By Bob Gibbons. 1994-1995 Bobby Crawford, 6’2: Rice’s first Parade and McDonald’s All American, Bob Gibbons Top 13 Players, Texas High School Player of the Year. Jarvis Kelly-Sanni, 6’9: Bob Gibbons Top 30 Players, First Team All State (TX), USA Today All American, Playing professionally in France. TJ Armsrtong, 6’5: First Team All State (VA), Virginia State Tournament MVP. Recruiting Class Rated Top 40 By Bob Gibbons. 1993-1994 Kevin Nanney, 6’9: B/C Scouting Service Top 12 Junior College Players (US), Junior College All American. Robert Johnson, 6’4: First Team All State (TX), First Team All WAC, Played professionally in France. Recruiting Class Rated Top 29 By Van Coleman. Recruiting Class Rated Top 30 By Bob Gibbons. 1992-1993 Jesse Cravens, 6’7: Bob Gibbons Top 64 Players, First Team All State (TX), USA Today All American. Eric Singletary, 6’2: Bob Gibbons Top 20 Guards, Second Team All Metro (D.C., Maryland, No. Virginia). Recruiting Class Rated Top 28 By Van Coleman. 1991-1992 Terrell Johnson, 6’9: First Team All State (GA). Artemus McClary, 6’4: First Team All Sun Belt Conference, First Team All State (FL), USA Today All American. Marcel Scott, 6’5: First Team All State (LA). Recruiting Class Rated Top 35 By Bob Gibbons. 1989-1991 Willie Fisher, 6’8: Bob Gibbons Top 35 Players, First Team All Sun Belt Conference, First Team All State (FL). Tim Burroughs, 6’8: Sporting News All American Honorable Mention, NCAA Division I second leading rebounder, Junior College All American 1990, NBA Second Round Draft, 1992, Minnesota Timberwolves. 1987-1988 Allen Powell, 6’8: Bob Gibbons Top 47 Players, McDonald’s All American, First Team All State (FL). Alonzo Harris, 6’5: Bob Gibbons Top 13 Small Forwards, Top 100, First Team All State (FL). Sean Byrd, 6’8: Sun Belt Conference Freshman Player of the Year, #1 Recruit SBC, McDonald’s All American, First Team All State (FL). Reggie Law, 6’8: Sun Belt Conference All Freshman Team, Second Team All State (TN), Playing Professionally overseas. Recruiting Class Rated Top 24 By Bob Gibbons. 1986-1987 Dee Brown, 6’2: NBA Draft First Round, 1990, Boston Celtics, NBA Slam Dunk Champion, 1990, Basketball Times, Basketball Weekly and Converse All American Honorable Mention. Emmett Smith, 7’0: Sun Belt Conference All Freshman Team, Second Team All State (GA). 1983-1985 Magnus Mattiasson, 6’10: First Team All State (WI). Ronald Robertson, 6’4: Second Team All State (IN), Indiana Long Jump Champion. 1981-1983 Ronnie Murphy, 6’5: NBA Draft 1987, 17th pick, First Round, Portland Trailblazers, 1984 Sporting News Top 5 Freshmen in the US, All American, First Team All Sun Belt Conference. Danny Pearson, 6’6: NBA Draft 1987, Third Round, Washington Bullets, First Team All Sun Belt Conference. Willie McDuffie, 6’8: Bob Gibbons Top 25 Players, Second Team All Sun Belt Conference, All American, CBA Pro Draft 14th Selection. Otis Smith, 6’5: NBA Draft 1986, Second Round, Denver Nuggets, First Team All Sun Belt Conference, All American. 1977-1981 James Harmon, 6’8: NAIA First Team All American, District 27 Player of the Year, Southern Conference Player of the Year. Willie Williams, 6’3: NAIA Second Team All American, First Team All District 27, First Team All Southern States Conference. Alan Gruman, 6’9: NAIA First Team All American, First Team All District 27, Academic All American, NAIA Student Athlete of the Year. Ralph Patton, 6’3: NAIA Honorable Mention All American.
Honors Won By Rice
Players (During Gross’ Tenure) |
|
The official
web presence of Rice assistant basketball coach Marty Gross.
|