Kruger Gets First Recruit at OU

Point guard Sam Grooms signed a letter of intent on Wednesday.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:20 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Apr 13, 2011 8:9 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Okla. – Lon Kruger got his first signee as head coach of the Sooners on Wednesday as junior college point guard Sam Grooms signed a letter of intent to play at OU.

Grooms, a 6-1, 200-pound point guard, played at Chipola College in Marianna, Fla. for two seasons.

He averaged 11 points and five assists while earning first-team All-Panhandle Conference honors for the Indians, who went 25-6.

Kruger said Grooms is a throwback-type point guard that looks to pass first, but can score when he has to.

"Defensively, he's very good on the ball, applying pressure and setting the tone out front,” he said. “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."

Grooms joins Robert Goff of Hutchinson Community College (Kan.) as the two recruits in OU’s 2011 class.

"Sam's a good leader,” Kruger said. “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."