That’s why Illini head coach John Groce refused to waste any more time and offered Verge a scholarship on Monday. The phone call brought on a joyful reaction from Verge, who talked about what the offer meant to him.
“I was excited. I was excited because that’s where I’m from. I’m just grateful to have that opportunity,” he said. “I think it’s a good program. That is definitely a school that I’ve been looking at.” ...
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There is a lot to like about the fit at Illinois. Groce’s ball-screen offense would intertwine perfectly with Verge’s dribble-drive game. The Illini have added high-level shooters to surround the wing. And Verge could be part of a group of in-state products to change the landscape in Champaign. But that isn’t how Groce approached his talk with Verge on Monday.
Verge’s mom, Tricia Moncrief, talked a little bit about the conversation and her early impressions of the Illini program.
“I think it is a very nice program,” she said. “With the conversations with Coach Groce, I can tell he is more interested in Alonzo as a person—not so much just basketball. That’s what interests me about him and it tells me a little bit about the program.”
Moncrief said that kind of dedication to the player-coach relationship on and off the floor is exactly what she is looking for at the next level.
“The most important thing to me is someone who can support him and develop him as a young man,” she said. “He can go anywhere and pretty much fit into a basketball program just with his knowledge and basketball IQ. So what I will be looking for is how you’re going to develop him outside of basketball. How will you support him in developing him as a young man?”
Groce will get an opportunity to show Verge and Moncrief his plan to do just that, as they will take an unofficial visit to Champaign on Sunday.
“I’m excited for that. I wanna see the campus and see how it feels,” Verge said.
For Moncrief, it is an opportunity to learn more about Illinois and also give her son something tangible to drive him.
“The main reason for the visit so soon was just to give Alonzo a feel of what he has to look forward to. Giving him something to reach higher for and that was kind of my thought behind this visit,” she said. “Just to kind of give him the opportunity to see how things can be for him. To get focused on that dream and showing him that it’s reachable.”
“I’m really excited to see the facility and sit down and talk with the coaching staff and seeing their vision for Alonzo. And how they can develop Alonzo as a player and as a person off the court.”
Verge also has someone to look up to in his mom, who was a pretty good basketball player back in the day. Moncrief played basketball at Lincoln College (Ill.) during the same time that Illini assistant coach Paris Parham was there.
“Paris and I went to the same junior college, and he played there as well. He’s always been a stand-up guy and he’s always been nice and seems like a hard worker,” Moncrief said. “So I’ve always gotten along with him.”
Verge on the Illini.
“I was excited. I was excited because that’s where I’m from. I’m just grateful to have that opportunity,” he said. “I think it’s a good program. That is definitely a school that I’ve been looking at.” ...
...
There is a lot to like about the fit at Illinois. Groce’s ball-screen offense would intertwine perfectly with Verge’s dribble-drive game. The Illini have added high-level shooters to surround the wing. And Verge could be part of a group of in-state products to change the landscape in Champaign. But that isn’t how Groce approached his talk with Verge on Monday.
Verge’s mom, Tricia Moncrief, talked a little bit about the conversation and her early impressions of the Illini program.
“I think it is a very nice program,” she said. “With the conversations with Coach Groce, I can tell he is more interested in Alonzo as a person—not so much just basketball. That’s what interests me about him and it tells me a little bit about the program.”
Moncrief said that kind of dedication to the player-coach relationship on and off the floor is exactly what she is looking for at the next level.
“The most important thing to me is someone who can support him and develop him as a young man,” she said. “He can go anywhere and pretty much fit into a basketball program just with his knowledge and basketball IQ. So what I will be looking for is how you’re going to develop him outside of basketball. How will you support him in developing him as a young man?”
Groce will get an opportunity to show Verge and Moncrief his plan to do just that, as they will take an unofficial visit to Champaign on Sunday.
“I’m excited for that. I wanna see the campus and see how it feels,” Verge said.
For Moncrief, it is an opportunity to learn more about Illinois and also give her son something tangible to drive him.
“The main reason for the visit so soon was just to give Alonzo a feel of what he has to look forward to. Giving him something to reach higher for and that was kind of my thought behind this visit,” she said. “Just to kind of give him the opportunity to see how things can be for him. To get focused on that dream and showing him that it’s reachable.”
“I’m really excited to see the facility and sit down and talk with the coaching staff and seeing their vision for Alonzo. And how they can develop Alonzo as a player and as a person off the court.”
Verge also has someone to look up to in his mom, who was a pretty good basketball player back in the day. Moncrief played basketball at Lincoln College (Ill.) during the same time that Illini assistant coach Paris Parham was there.
“Paris and I went to the same junior college, and he played there as well. He’s always been a stand-up guy and he’s always been nice and seems like a hard worker,” Moncrief said. “So I’ve always gotten along with him.”
Verge on the Illini.
