By ADAM ZAGORIA
With the Big 12 Tournament a little more than a week away, and the NCAA Tournament beginning later this month, Iowa State has cut ties with one of its its leading scorers.
Caleb Grill, who has started 22 games and is the team’s leading 3-point scorer, is no longer with the team due to a failure to “meet the program’s expectations.” He is no longer on the team’s website.
“We hold our players to high standards and there are expectations that our student-athletes are held accountable for,” coach T.J. Otzelberger said in a brief statement, via CycloneFanatic’s Chris Williams.
Grill was averaging 9.5 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 37% from deep.
Grill initially committed to Otzelberger when he was at South Dakota State and then transferred twice to play for him — to both UNLV and then Iowa State
“Just not a great teammate,” one source close to the situation said, adding it was “best for the program” that he is no longer with the team.
Grill issued a statement, which said in part to Otzelberger, “You are the big brother I never had and I love you more than I could express to you.”
Iowa State is 17-12, 8-9 in the Big 12 and has lost four in a row and six of seven. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has them as a 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram And Like ZAGS on FacebookCaleb Grill says he said something that he regrets. Asks forgiveness.
— Keith Murphy (@MurphyKeith) March 1, 2023
Also says he’s been in a dark place.
Expresses love for all things Iowa State, and Cyclone basketball.
Much more from Caleb here. https://t.co/4QK7Ku1CtL
