SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State men’s basketball program added to its 2005-06 recruiting class with the signing of point guard Kris Groce, it was announced by head coach Jerome Jenkins today. Groce, who played at the University of Hawai’i last year, will redshirt this upcoming season because of NCAA Div. I transfer rules and be eligible to play for the 2006-07 season.Groce, a 5-10, 150-pound point guard from Pasco, Wash., played at Columbia Basin College during his freshman season (2003-04) before transferring to Hawai’i last year. Groce played in 11 games for Hawai’i last season in a backup role, including a season-high three assists and two steals vs. Mississippi Valley State.
During his freshman season at Columbia Basin College (Pasco, Wash.), Groce was named MVP of the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAAC) Eastern Region after averaging 21.4 points and 7.2 assists per game. Among league leaders, he ranked first in free-throw percentage (85.7 percent), second in assists and fourth in scoring while also shooting 43.4 percent (53-122) from beyond the three-point arc.
“I’m very excited because we now have an heir apparent to (current Sacramento State point guard and senior) DaShawn Freeman at the point guard position,” Jenkins said. “Kris will provide instant leadership on the floor and he will make the game easier for his teammates.
“He has very strong ball-handling skills, and if his teammates run the floor and get open, he will find them. Kris knows how to push the ball and will fit in very well to our wide-open system.”
A 2003 graduate of Pasco High School in Washington, Groce was named the Big Nine Most Valuable Player and was a first team all-state selection for the Bulldogs during his senior season. His first team all-state accolades marked the first time in 20 years that a member of the Pasco High School basketball squad had accomplished the feat.
Groce joins shooting guards Loren Leath (Los Angeles Valley Junior College) and Clark Woods (Lansing Community College) as the three players to sign with Sacramento State for the upcoming season. The Hornets are coming off a 2004-05 season in which the team finished 12-16 overall and a program-best 8-6 in the Big Sky Conference. Since Jenkins took over the head coaching duties at Sacramento State for the 2000-01 season, the Hornets have improved their conference record each year.
2005-2006 Sacramento State Signings
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown/Previous School
Kris Groce G 5-10 150 Jr. Pasco, Wash./University of Hawai’i
Loren Leath G 6-2 180 So. Oakland, Calif./Los Angeles Valley Junior College
Clark Woods G 6-4 180 Jr. Lansing, Mich./Lansing Community College
