Caleb Grill is about to begin his fourth year of college basketball.
He’s transferred twice. He started at Iowa State and later returned with the head coach that recruited him away.
It’s one of the most unique paths in college basketball, and it’s brought Grill a plethora of opportunities to gain experience in a number of ways that could help aid the Cyclones in 2022-23.
“I’ve been around so many different players and so many different teams,” Grill said. “My freshman year, I learned from the best leader I’ve ever played with in Tyrese Haliburton. Just watching what he did every day and just trying to develop those habits and develop what he did as a leader in mentoring people, including me.”
That’s a big part of what Grill will be expected to do this season. In the second year of his return to Ames, leadership will be a mainstay need with the loss of Isaiah Brockington.
Coach T.J. Otzelberger knows that, and while he doesn’t think it needs to fall on a single player, it will be an integral part of the team’s success in similar ways to last year.
“The great thing is we have a lot of experience across our lineup,” Otzelberger said. “Whether its a guy like (Gabe) Kalscheur, who’s been here with us… or (Jaren) Holmes, who has a dynamic personality and a lot of leadership skills. You’ve got other guys that can share that role – Caleb Grill is in his fourth year of college basketball. I don’t necessarily think anything has to fall on one person’s shoulders or they have to do a certain job, but by collective effort, we can all work together to put those guys in great position to be successful.”
Grill has leaned on his connection to Haliburton throughout his career.
The pair were roommates in Ames and stay in touch to this day.
“Just having that throughout my whole career – he’s always been in communication with me and always giving me advice,” Grill said. “He’s been one of my great friends (since) we were roommates back then. Just learning from him, I feel like I’ve grown into a leadership role.”
It rubs off on his teammates, too – even the older ones.
Grill and senior Aljaz Kunc have a connection between their families.
“He’s been huge – not just for me, but for everybody,” Kunc said. “He has a lot of experience and a lot of knowledge that he shares with us. He’s been a great friend. I couldn’t go home for Christmas, so his family was nice enough to take me in for a bit. We had a great four days. They’re amazing – I love them. I feel like they’re my second family here in the states.”
At a time when transfers are more popular than ever, Grill has found himself learning his way into the role he’s now in alongside the same head coach going on their third year now.
That facet, and the connection the pair share, is what makes the situation so unique.
“The trust that we have within one another is really helpful,” Grill said. “From all the stops that he’s made – Brookings, Las Vegas and here – he’s wanted me to come with him to all three spots. I just feel like I have a unique relationship with him in that way.
“T.J. was the very first person to ever recruit me, the very first person to offer me a scholarship,” Grill said. “That’s really special to me. How similar we are and how we (both) see life, that’s what makes us really unique together.”
He related it to being hard-working every day and outplaying the expectations set for themselves on the court.
That type of mindset was obviously apparent in the Sweet 16 season Iowa State is coming off of.
“As a team, getting back to where we got next year,” Grill said in response about his goals for the year. “Hopefully we can improve our Big 12 record a little bit. I think that’s been a thing of emphasis for us. We went 7-11 maybe last year. We want to try to get over .500 this year.”
Grill added that he wants to continue to develop and expand his game, as well as increase his numbers from a stat sheet perspective.
Although, that might not be as important if the leadership role suits him as well as it possibly can.
“Being able to have that leadership role – it may not be in my numbers where my improvement is, but maybe that role is where I’ll help make other winning plays and bring other guys up,” Grill said.
He’ll get his first shot on the court at Hilton on Monday, November 7 when his squad takes on IUPUI.
