Recoiling from an accumulation of blows that would fell a lesser person, John Groce is back on his feet and wading relentlessly into another autumn recruiting season.
He sustained another right cross to the jaw Wednesday morning when Lima Central Catholic guard Xavier Simpson revealed a stunning turnaround intention to attend Michigan. Groce flew to Ohio late Tuesday in hopes of hearing better news at a 6 a.m. meeting in the Simpson home.
Whereas Illinois had a long-standing relationship with Simpson, and followed him throughout the summer AAU season, the Wolverines weren’t known to be in the chase until Simpson left his Wisconsin visit early last weekend and traveled to Ann Arbor.