Looking Deep Inside Some of Purdue Recruiting Stories

Glenn Robinson could be credited for Gene Keady remaining head basketball coach at Purdue for 25 years.

The period between the Troy Lewis-Todd Mitchell-Everette Stephens teams that produced back-to-back Big Ten championships in 1987 and 1988, and when Robinson donned a Boilermaker uniform in 1992 was mediocre.

The 1990 squad that came within a loss at Michigan State of winning Keady a fourth Big Ten championship was the exception. The 1988-89 Boilermakers still had Melvin McCants and Kip Jones from the Big Ten title teams, but disappointing recruiting led to Keady’s first losing season at Purdue (15-16). Big Ten Player of the Year Stephen Scheffler and point guard Tony Jones sparked a brief revival with a 22-8 season in 1990.

But the following two seasons produced 17-12 and 18-15 records and some grumbling among the Purdue faithful.

One result of that 1988-89 disappointment was Keady’s decision to add Frank Kendrick to his staff just before the 1989-90 season.

“I wanted to improve the recruiting situation, and I thought a change was necessary,” Keady said. “He knows basketball and he knows talent. He wants to be a national champion.

“I think he has great salesmanship abilities and that’s what you need in recruiting. You need someone who can sell your program.”

At the top of Purdue’s wish list was Robinson and Brebeuf forward Alan Henderson. Robinson was ranked No. 1 in the 1991 high school recruiting class by Bob Gibbons – ahead of Chris Webber, who was headed to Michigan as the top prize among the Fab Five.

Gibbons also proclaimed that if Purdue landed Henderson, it would have the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class.

Gold and Black Illustrated carried the fantasy one step further when it published its Oct. 5, 1990, issue with a cover featuring Robinson, Henderson and Brandon Brantley inside a Tippecanoe County courtroom.

The Journal and Courier reported on Oct. 13 that the NCAA was taking an “interpretative review” of that front page. Three guesses who squawked to the Big Ten and the NCAA and the first two don’t count. (Hint: the coach’s initials were BK).

At the time, only the 6-8 Brantley of Andrean was committed to Purdue. Gold and Black publisher Ken Halloy told the Journal and Courier he had received the NCAA’s approval before publishing the photo. Nothing happened thanks to the First Amendment but it’s likely Keady had a few words for Halloy afterward.

Robinson crossed Indiana off his list quickly after an incident in Bob Knight’s office. While watching film with assistant coach Joby Wright, Knight entered the room and saw Robinson’s feet propped up. “Hey, get your feet off the desk,” Knight said according to a Los Angeles Times story.

Knight later claimed to be joking. Robinson didn’t laugh. Knight later told Robinson’s high school coach, Ron Heflin, that he believed the prank cost Indiana a chance with Robinson.

On Oct. 23, Kendrick’s main mission was accomplished when Robinson committed after canceling visits to Tennessee, UNLV and Syracuse. The class now consisted of Robinson, Brantley, Cuonzo Martin and Herb Dove with room for one more.

“I never doubted it,” Heflin told the Journal and Courier. “It was a good situation. He’s going to a first-class institution in Purdue. Academically, they’re very sound, and Gene has always done a great job. (Glenn’s) going to be around quality people and he knows that.”

A lesser-known recruiting expert, the well-read Matt Painter, was a sophomore guard when Robinson chose Purdue.

“I think Purdue landed the best player in Glenn Robinson since Joe Barry Carroll,” Painter said. “Right there we’re getting the best player in the nation, and I don’t know if we’ve ever even done that.”

On signing day, Keady said Robinson was “the closest to a program-turner that we’ve had here.”

Purdue was pinning its hopes of landing Henderson on the fact that he had attended and later worked at Keady’s summer basketball camp. But those dreams were dashed shortly after Robinson’s announcement, when Henderson canceled his official visit. Henderson would later choose Indiana.

“He just said he wasn’t interested anymore,” Keady said.

Robinson, whose on-the-court vindictiveness was like Michael Jordan’s, was diplomatic at the time.

“I’m not mad. I’m not disappointed that he went to Indiana,” the Journal and Courier reported. “I have to respect that that’s the team he thought would be best for him.”

Evidence that Robinson was not pleased with Henderson’s decision came months later in the Indiana state championship game between Gary Roosevelt and Brebeuf. Robinson’s 22 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots led Roosevelt to an easy 51-32 victory. In the final moments, the TV broadcast focused on Henderson crying on the Brebeuf bench.

Robinson was diplomatic after the victory, which locked up Indiana Mr. Basketball honors.

“Great players are always going to play great against each other, and I think we both took it calm,” Robinson said. “We never took it personal.”

This was not the last time fans would see Robinson’s wrath toward an opponent.

In the past 40 years, I cannot recall a single recruit for whom Purdue went out of its way to attract than 6-11 center Rashard Griffith of Chicago King High School.

On Halloween Night 1992, Purdue held a “Midnight Magic” event to open college basketball. The fans inside Mackey Arena were chanting “We want Rashard! We want Rashard!” according to Tom Perrin of the Journal and Courier.

By this time, Griffith was down to Purdue, Wisconsin and Oklahoma. Griffith came to West Lafayette for his official visit with his mother. Some media reports indicated that she preferred Purdue.

In addition to Keady and Kendrick, Purdue turned to Robinson to make the pitch.

“Glenn told me it was going to be like this,” Griffith told the Journal and Courier. “He told me they’re crazy about basketball down here. From what I’m seeing I’m believing.”

Wisconsin first-year coach Stu Jackson had already been reported to the Big Ten commissioner’s office by an unnamed school. During Griffith’s official visit he was taken to the Wisconsin press box before and during halftime of the Badgers’ football game against Ohio State.

NCAA rules at the time prohibited recruits watching a game from the press box. Wisconsin argued that Griffith was only visiting the press box as part of a tour. Naturally, nothing happened.

Griffith chose Wisconsin. Although he would never publicly admit it, Keady thought Jackson and assistant coach Ray McCallum broke NCAA rules during their recruitment of Griffith.

Robinson didn’t forget or forgive Griffith and the Badgers. In a 67-64 victory in Mackey Arena on Feb. 16, 1994, Robinson scored 13 of Purdue’s final 17 points to lead the Boilermakers to a 67-64 victory. Robinson finished with 27 points and 16 rebounds. Griffith, conveniently, sat out with back spasms.

In the aftermath of Purdue’s Elite Eight loss to Duke, Journal and Courier sports editor Jim Lefko wrote what many Boilermaker fans were asking: what if Griffith had chosen Purdue? What if Griffith was playing alongside Robinson and Cuonzo Martin?

“We could be undefeated and maybe the national champion,” assistant coach Frank Kendrick said. “He’d have been a great kid to have.”

Griffith, ironically, was taken by Robinson’s Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 1995 NBA Draft. Griffith did not sign with the Bucks, instead choosing a lengthy pro career overseas.

Next time: The recruiting loss that turned into Carsen Edwards.

Kenny Thompson is the former sports editor for the Lafayette Journal & Courier and an award-winning journalist. He has covered Purdue athletics for many years.