Jordan Geronimo left Indiana after three seasons and two head coaches, but it won’t be long before he makes a return trip to Bloomington.
The 6-foot-6 Geronimo announced a week ago he is staying in the Big Ten with Maryland, and the Terrapins will play at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall during the 2023-24 campaign.
During his time at IU, Geronimo saw many opponents come to Bloomington and contend with the challenging road environment.
“As a player at Indiana I always wondered what it was like to be a player on the other side at Assembly Hall,” Geronimo said on Friday on the Glenn Clark Radio Show.
The student section at IU has a track record of greeting former players in a less than friendly manner. But Geronimo could have a different experience. He was well-liked during his time at Indiana, and his departure makes sense on multiple levels. At least from his perspective, the return to the place he called home for three years is something he is looking forward to.
“I’ve got all love for Hoosier Nation, they were good to me,” Geronimo said. “I’m going to a different program, but it’s going to be fun going back to Assembly Hall.”
A New Jersey native, Geronimo said being closer to home fueled both his decision to leave IU and choose Maryland. He said there is actually a train that runs 10 minutes from his home to Maryland.
Geronimo said he wasn’t necessarily considering Maryland when he entered the portal, but upon being contacted by assistant coach David Cox, he was attracted to their style of play and sees himself being productive and efficient in their system.
Prior to the 2022-23 season, Geronimo worked on developing a wing-oriented skillset. But he seems best suited to be a stretch-four type of player. His comments on Friday seem to suggest he agrees with that assessment. He said Maryland’s 4-out, 1-in style with him at the four is an opportunity for him to showcase his ability at the power forward spot.
With Malik Reneau back for IU at the four and Oregon transfer Kel’el Ware at the five, it was going to be very difficult for Geronimo to carve-out a more significant role at IU in the front court.
He hopes Maryland provides that opportunity, and he heads to College Park with no ill-will towards IU.
“I just want a clean slate really, a place where I can have a new identity,” Geronimo said. “If there’s something I have to prove, I have to prove it to myself, which is to play to the level that I can play to. There’s no kind of ‘I’m on a revenge tour’ or whatever. I’m just looking for a new spot where I can grow, develop, and be the kind of player I know I can be.”
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