Anonymous
Years ago

What happened to Aaron Bruce at Baylor?

In Aaron Bruce's first season at Baylor he averaged 18ppg on 47% shooting. The next season he averaged 13ppg at 37%. In his final season he averaged 8ppg at 40%. '

I know this is old now, but I'm curious to hear what happened to cause this drop in production. Did he suffer from injuries? Was it just a confidence thing?

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MACDUB  
Years ago

Injuries. A very long list of them from memory.

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Wasn't one of his teammates murdered, or he witnessed one, which had an obvious effect on him?

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Indominous-Rex  
Years ago

Is this is the same Aaron Bruce that played for the Sydney Kings?

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Dwayne Pipe  
Years ago

Rex, yes.

From memory, and I could be wrong, he went there shortly after the school had served an NCAA suspension, on the promise he would get good time. Over his four years, the program began to recruit better again, and he became less of a focal point. I remember there being NBA talk after his freshman year.

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Mark-e-Mark  
Years ago

He was talked up as being the next best thing, and turned out being merely serviceable at professional level. A lot of lessons can be learnt from him about over-hyping kids who are yet to show and prove.

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Didn't Adelaide pay him massive money to sign with them?

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Pretty sure they did I remember it being talked about he was on superstar money with the 36ers at least the first time round not sure about his second stint with the team.

I remember him either playing NBA summer league or at least working out for New Orleans after his college career. Never got drafted though.

I thought of him watching Shaun play the 36ers the other night. He was a real mystery man. I think he got married young in college and his wife's father was supposedly very wealthy. I heard he was deeply religious too?

Supposedly his American wife didn't like it in Adelaide and that was why he only lasted a season the first time, the year after that he took a year off from basketball and there was talk he retired and was working for her old man and then the marriage ended and he came back to the 36ers for one more year than two seasons with the Kings and then seemingly retired early.

Of all the guys that have played for the 36ers I've always found his history/career fascinating for how unconventional and shrouded in mystery it was. From projected first-round pick in the NBA to retired in about 7-8 years.

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Kobe24  
Years ago

What anon has said is exactly what I heard too... crazy story.

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Sounds like the makings of an ESPN 30 for 30 doco

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Happy Days  
Years ago

Works for a specialist recruitment company in Sydney these days.

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Next on ESPN 30 for 30. What If I Told You - that a player once predicted to play in the nba had his nbl career ended by an ex home and away star.

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Anonymous  
Years ago

If he had declared for draft in freshman year might have gone Kate forest mud second round as he was top 25 on most draft boards due to his stellar year. It all fell away after that as his personal life changed which may or may not have been a catalyst for his on court production.

He could have been a very good NBL player but his application da said the be lacking due to pressures away from the court.

He is a ripping bloke and all the best to him

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AK-47  
Years ago

I'll never forget Handle magazine doing a cover on Bruce after his Freshman season back when he was rocking the long hair. He was hyped after that freshman season as a lock to be a lottery pick. Baylor did have those sanctions lifted and after a nightmare run of injuries they eventually recruited over the top of him.

I'm not sure about the murder etc talked about above but I do recall something really tragic happening. It is amazing how far he fell. I remember watching a Baylor game in his Senior year where he turned the ball over twice down the stretch inbounding and it basically cost them the game.

I was so pumped when he came to the Sixers, at that stage he was one of my favourite players going round.

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Anonymous  
Years ago

One of the players murdered a team-mate. Shot him. The coaching staff tried to cover it up - the coach was Dave Bliss. Pretty horrible.

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Had the privilege of coaching against Aron when he played BIG V for Horsham as a 15/16 year old.

He was one of the best if not the best junior I have seen in those years, what he did on the court as youngster at BIG V level was outstanding!

Anybody who saw him them would have expected him to have a long and professional career at NBL level.

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Jack Toft  
Years ago

Aaron Bruce was very religious and his wife was Texan, so I think they split their time between here and the US of A. He is quite a genuine guy when you talk to him.

He is on twitter and looks like he is working for someone too.

https://twitter.com/aaronbruce11

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Anonymous  
Years ago

I was there watching their practice at Baylor last month and he has a big banner hanging in the rafters in their practice gym still. Not sure if his number is retired or they are just honoring him.

btw their mens team will be very good this year. A lot of size and athleticism! the women will be very good too actually. amazing set up too and a very nice campus in the middle of a fairly tough & rugged city

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LV  
Years ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Patrick_Dennehy

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LV  
Years ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baylor_University_basketball_scandal

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Anonymous  
Years ago

I tried to post that link and couldn't.

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mystro  
Years ago

Good read guys, thanks...

Reply #560613 | Report this post


Tom  
Years ago

Is he married? Lol. I live in Sydney and my partners best friend has been on Twitter dayes with him in the past

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Tom  
Years ago

Is he married? Lol. I live in Sydney and my partners best friend has been on Twitter dayes with him in the past

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Anonymous  
Years ago

i beleive he is no longer married, hence moving back from the USA a couple of years ago.

I beleive that was the case prior to his 2nd stint with the 36ers from what was reported at the time.

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Anonymous  
Years ago

I think all the hype and pressure didn't help but will be remembered by the baylor faithful for resurrecting a near dead program. And when a few more big fishes come along in the pond the spotlight shifts as well. Plus marrying into money may have taken some of the hunger away. He was the trailblazer really for the patty mills and dellavadovas in terms of aussie talent gaining notoriety, and yes I'm aware of gaze, Rillie, Rogers etc.

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