OU Signs Junior College Point Guard Grooms

April 13, 2011

NORMAN, Okla. - Lon Kruger signed his first recruit today as Oklahoma's head men's basketball coach, inking junior college point guard Sam Grooms to a national letter of intent.

The 6-1, 200-pound Grooms, who is originally from Greensboro, N.C., started 50 games the last two seasons at Chipola College in Marianna, Fla. One of the highest-rated junior college point guards in the country, Grooms averaged 11 points and five assists while earning first-team All-Panhandle Conference honors for the 25-6 league champion Indians. Chipola advanced to the NJCAA Region VIII title game.

"Sam's a terrific young guy who very badly wants to be here at OU," said Kruger. "He's a throwback type of point guard in that he looks to pass first. He can score enough to keep defenses honest, but he's really into making his teammates better.

"Defensively, he's very good on the ball, applying pressure and setting the tone out front. Defense is always important from the point guard and Sam takes a lot of pride in taking on really good opposing players. He's very strong and has a naturally strong frame."

Kruger concluded his praise of Grooms by commenting on the way the point guard embraces the leadership role and how he's an extension of the coaching staff on the court.

"Sam's a good leader. He really takes pride in the way the team executes and in its performance. It's not just about his performance -- he's out there on the floor making sure everyone's executing what they need to."

Grooms joins fellow junior college standout Robert Goff of Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, who signed in November, as members of OU's 2011 recruiting class. Both Grooms and Goff will have two seasons of eligibility at Oklahoma.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

OU Signs Junior College Point Guard Grooms

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