A-10 Gunner Takes Game to Ivy League

Below, we put together a timeline of excerpts from various news articles showing the path of Max Groebe, a graduate of Miami Krop High School and a transfer from the University of Massachusetts. Groebe has three years of eligibility at Cornell commencing this season.

Miami Herald
December 1, 2003

[The] Northwestern Miami...Bulls return senior forward Tremaine Stevens, senior point guard Gerald Gillion and introduce young talents such as sophomore forward Jonathan Hall and freshman forward Max Groebe.

Miami Herald
December 10, 2004

For the first two quarters of Thursday night's showdown between Krop and South Miami, it looked as though the Lightning was going to shoot the top-ranked Cobras right out of the gym.

Krop sophomore Max Groebe was dropping three-pointers like they were holiday clearance items as the ninth-ranked Lightning jumped out to a 28-point halftime lead.

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Groebe, who finished with 17 points in the first quarter, connected on five consecutive three-pointers at one stretch, including the last that increased the Lightning's lead to 32-10 late in the quarter.

He finished with 30 points and eight threes.

Miami Herald
January 26, 2005

Max Groebe, a 6-5 sophomore forward who ranked among the leading scorers in Miami-Dade, confirmed Tuesday he has withdrawn from Miami Dr. Krop (14-4) because of differences with Lightning coach Marcos "Shakey" Rodriguez and has enrolled at Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna.

Groebe attended the American Heritage-Chaminade game Tuesday with his father, Helmut, sitting at his side and said he was looking forward to a new start at the Hollywood prep school.

While Groebe declined to comment on the developments that led to his decision, it was clear he had become disenchanted with events that took place at Dr. Krop within the past few weeks.

"It was a number of things over there. Maybe four or five of them," Groebe said. "Things were just shaky with the coach, players and everything. Next year, I will be ready to play. I am all right with it."

In 18 games this season, Groebe averaged 15 points and seven rebounds for the Lightning (14-4), which dropped out of the class 6A poll last week.

Groebe's transfer reunites him with Chaminade coach Baronton Terry, who coached him at Miami Northwestern last season. However, because of FHSAA transfer rules, Groebe will have to sit out the rest of the season before he would be eligible to play for the Lions (8-10).

Groebe, who has earned a reputation as a dead-eye shooter from three-point range, elevated his college stock with a breakout summer playing for AAU power Team Breakdown. Several colleges have shown interest in Groebe - including Florida, Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth.

"I am going to bring experience and shooting because they really can't shoot this year," Groebe said. "When other teams play zone against Chaminade, they just stop them. They need a couple shooters."

Rodriguez did not immediately return a call Tuesday seeking comment.

Ft. Lauderdale Sun Setinel
March 22, 2005

Chaminade-Madonna sophomore Max Groebe became the youngest basketball player to earn a roster spot on the 18-and-under German National Team.

Groebe, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, averaged 20 points during tryouts for the team, including 24 in a half of one game. He has been invited to play for Germany against Israel in Tel Aviv in May.

Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel
June 5, 2005

...Broward County sophomore Max Groebe played for the talented Tallahassee-based Team Breakdown. Groebe started as a freshman for the 2003 Northwestern team that went to the state final four that year. Last season, he transferred to Dr. Krop and averaged 17 points per game. Earlier this year, he transferred to Chaminade-Madonna and had to sit out the remainder of the season due to state rules.

According to Hoop Masters and Breakdown magazines, Groebe has been rated in the top 75 for the sophomore class around the country. Prep Stars' magazine has also given him an honorable mention. He has been offered scholarships from LSU and Florida, while Purdue and California are trying to recruit him.

"Tournaments like these prepare you for high school," Groebe said. "It makes it much easier to play [against high school competition]. You get to elevate your game to another level. I've really improved my ballhandling and my ability to go to the hoop. I've practiced harder than I ever have here."

Miami Herald
December 6, 2005

Chaminade-Madonna swingman Max Groebe made six three-pointers Friday in a boys' basketball game in Dallas. Groebe's 21 points helped the Lions beat Texas Heritage 75-71 in the Big D Classic. Chaminade is ranked No. 1 in The Herald's South Florida Top 10 boys' basketball poll.

Miami Herald
April 15, 2006

Chaminade juniors Max Groebe and Edwin Rios form a dynamic scoring duo on the court and a brotherly bond off it.

But friendships will take a back seat to country when the Lions' top two scorers compete in the Albert Schweitzer International Basketball Tournament, tipping off today in Manheim, Germany.

... Groebe, a 6-5 swingman with dual citizenship, will represent Germany in the 18-and-under, bi-annual tournament.

...this will mark Groebe's second appearance for Germany. Groebe, who visits Germany frequently with his family and speaks the language fluently, said he averaged six points as a reserve for the German 17-under team in the European championships last year. He expects to start and play a much bigger role this time around.

''Last year opened my eyes to the competition out there,'' said Groebe, Chaminade's second-leading scorer at 17 points per game.

Miami Herald
October 10, 2006

Krop senior Max Groebe, a 6-4 swingman, told The Miami Herald on Monday he has decided to commit to the University of Massachusetts.

''I made my mind up today,'' said Groebe, a transfer from Hollywood Chaminade who said Georgetown, USF, UCF and Richmond were also in the mix. ``I like their style of play, it's the same one we have here at Krop. They run up and down. They told me they'd want me handling the ball a little more in college and play either the 1 or the 2.''

Groebe is one of nearly a handful of Division I-A basketball recruits in Miami-Dade this year.

Miami Herald
October 15, 2006

Max Groebe, a 6-5 swingman for Miami Dr. Krop, made a verbal commitment to the University of Massachusetts.

Groebe, who averaged 17 points and six rebounds for Chaminade-Madonna last season before transferring back to Krop this past summer, selected the Minutemen over a list of suitors that included Georgetown, George Washington, South Florida, American, Penn and Virginia Commonwealth, among others.

''I want to be the guy coming off screens and shooting it,'' Groebe said. ``I like their system. The head coach was a shooter in college, he knows how to get people shots. I just wanted to get it over. With all the phone calls and everything it was getting annoying.''

Groebe, who played half of his sophomore season at Krop before transferring to Chaminade, is known mostly for his deep-shooting range.

Springfield (Mass.) Republican
August 22, 2007

Travis Ford stops short of saying he's relying on Max Groebe, but the University of Massachusetts men's basketball coach makes clear he's counting on him.

"Ricky Harris is a tremendous player," said Ford, effectively pre-empting any notion that Groebe, a 6-foot-4 freshman guard, will smoothly move into the shooting guard spot vacated by graduated senior James Life.

"Max is somebody we're very excited about, though. He's a mature player, and an obsessive worker. He understands what he wants."

Groebe's self-analysis may look a bit cocky when put to paper, but the words don't sound that way, when he's describing his own place in basketball. Born in Brazil, Groebe's father is from Germany, and Max played for the German under-18 national team. It's a source of immense pride, and one reason for his self-assurance.

"I've played against college players in the gym already," he said. "I'm used to that. Raja Bell (of the Phoenix Suns) is from Miami, and I've played against him."

Groebe also played for coach Shakey Rodriguez at Krop High School in Miami, a national top-50 program. A pure shooter, he is also one of two 4.0 students (with Matt Glass) to join the UMass program this year.

Ford's recruiting strategy places higher emphasis on pedigrees than statistics, most of the time. In Groebe, he sees a player who has flourished against tough competition, and for tough coaches.

"He played for one of the best high school coaches in America," Ford said. "He's 6-4, great (guard) size, athletic and strong.

"And he has a quality background, like Trey Lang (a UMass freshman forward and son of former NBA player Andrew Lang)."

Groebe was pursued by Georgetown, George Washington and a few Ivy League schools.

The graduation of Life left a perimeter shooting void that Harris, for all his talent, will not fill. A 6-2 sophomore who is expected to start, Harris will bring a slashing, attacking offensive style to the position.

Life was a different type of guard, and Groebe's 3-point touch makes him similar.

Last year, Life fired up 223 shots from 3-point range, making 39 percent. Ford wants even more of a 3-point impact this season, and Groebe fits that strategy well.

Groebe began his high school career at Krop High, transferred to Chaminade-Madonna High and then went back to Krop. That series of moves let Miami-area basketball know that, as Ford said, Groebe was determined to find what suited him.

He even allows himself a bit of post-UMass thought, though not much.

"Germany would be a great place to play, a place to go after UMass," he said. "Right now, I'm working to get better defensively, control the ball better and do a better job of getting past my man.

Of all the UMass freshmen, none comes off with a more serious approach than Groebe, who sees Amherst as the next logical stop for a player who has traveled the world already.

"I came to UMass because I liked the new system," he said. "It will be run-and-gun, like the Suns. I've played against, and seen, the best in the world, so that makes the transition easier."

Massachusetts Daily Collegian
November 14, 2007

...Guard Max Groebe will most likely see the most minutes among the freshmen this season. He is one of the team's best shooters and his ability to make the 3-point shot should make Groebe the most important offensive player off the bench.

"Groebe brings that dimension where he can score a lot of points very quickly," Ford said. "He will probably stand out among the freshmen."

Massachusetts Daily Collegian
November 14, 2007

Max Groebe-Despite coming off the bench, this 6-foot-5 freshman shooting guard just might challenge Harris for the most 3-point attempts on the team this season. Groebe has good size at the wing spot, and is a terrific catch-and-shoot player. Lowe's assist numbers are likely to rise when Harris and Groebe are on the floor.

With his shooting and athletic ability, coupled with his defensive skills, Groebe may lead the freshmen in minutes played.

He was a McDonald's All-American nominee his senior season in high school in Miami, averaging 22.3 points and seven rebounds per game. Groebe was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is a member of the German national team. He was recruited by perennial Division I power Georgetown, but opted for UMass instead.

Ford is pleased he did, and expects him to make a big contribution off the bench in his inaugural season.

Boston Globe
December 23, 2007

After pausing for a week of final exams, the University of Massachusetts Minutemen submitted to an eminently manageable test last night in the form of the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils. They wound up passing with flying colors, if not quite acing it, coming away with a 79-55 victory.

... Heralded freshman Max Groebe had his first real breakout game with 11 on 4-of-6 shooting, 3 of 4 behind the arc.

Springfield (Mass.) Republican
February 10, 2008

...Ford said freshman shooting guard Max Groebe is still learning the defensive end, and hasn't played much because UMass has faced some exceptional guards.

Springfield (Mass.) Republican
April 5, 2008

..Max Groebe played 104 minutes, but only 10 came after Atlantic 10 play began. In early March, the guard had to leave the team for a personal matter, but could return.

Springfield (Mass.) Republican
July 2, 2008

...As the roster evolves under the new coaching regime, one spot became open with the decision of Max Groebe, who played 19 games as a freshman guard last year, to transfer to Cornell.

Groebe averaged 2.1 points per game. He played 104 minutes, much of it early in the season.

In the final weeks, Groebe left the team because of a family matter. He did not play in either the Atlantic 10 tournament or the National Invitation Tournament.

He reportedly made his decision to transfer before Travis Ford left UMass to coach Oklahoma State. Groebe still returned to finish his semester course work, and leaves UMass for the Ivy League in strong academic standing.