Ailing youngster motivates KU’s Graves
Jeff Graves realizes his problems are minuscule compared to those of a youngster he and his Kansas University basketball teammates befriended Monday.
“Talking to him puts things in perspective. It makes me realize what I’ve got here and makes me cherish life every day. All people should cherish life every day,” Graves, KU’s senior center, said after Monday’s 78-46 victory over Binghamton University at Allen Fieldhouse.
Sitting behind the KU bench Monday night was a youngster named Grant (last name not available), a ninth-grader from Cold Springs, Ky., who has bone cancer.
He spent the day with the Jayhawks, dining next to Omar Wilkes and J.R. Giddens at the team meal in the James Naismith Room at Parrott Athletic Center.
Grant — he missed his entire eighth-grade year and has attended only a week of classes this year — watched the game with his mother and two other friends who made the drive from Kentucky for the game.
The Jayhawks, who will also entertain a youngster from the Make-A-Wish foundation for a game later this season, were happy to make Grant’s day.
“They contacted us (by letter) to see if he could come down here,” KU coach Bill Self said of Grant and his mother. “I really admire the young man. He has a good chance as long as things go well. His mother told me the survival rate is pretty high. He’s going through some intense stuff to try to get things right now. He’s got to be strong.”
As strong as Graves was Monday.
The 6-foot-9, 255-pounder scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds in 16 minutes, playing by far his best game since returning from a one-game suspension that kept him out of the Oregon game.
Kansas University's Jeff Graves reaches for the ball as Binghamton's Brandon Carter, top, and Nick Billings and KU's Keith Langford, right, close in. KU routed the Bearcats, 78-46, Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
“Conditioning-wise, I feel great. I’m just trying to get after it every play, come off the bench and go after loose balls and get every rebound,” Graves said.
At one point, Graves dove for a loose ball, forced a tie-up and received a pat on the back from Self, who pumped his fist wildly as Graves earned a loud ovation from the crowd.
“He said, ‘Good hustle play, good job, good job,'” Graves said of his coach. “It felt good to play well. As far as being in a little doghouse again, me shooting myself in my own butt … I think I’ve turned a negative into a positive.”
¢
Recruit in house: Josh Thornton, a 6-1 junior point guard from Camden-Wyoming, Del., attended with his parents on an unofficial recruiting visit. Thornton is considered one of the elite point guards in the high school class of 2005. Also, Matt Kleinmann, 6-11 senior from Blue Valley West, attended. Kleinmann is a serious candidate for a walk-on spot on next year’s team.
Meanwhile, Eric Price, a 6-2 junior from Blair Academy in New Jersey, told Shay Wildeboor of rivals.com he wants to attend Kansas and likely will accept a scholarship offer as soon as one is tendered by KU. Price officially is considering KU, Illinois, Florida, Kentucky and Arizona. He originally hails from Washington, D.C.
Kansas smothers Bearcats
6Sports video: Jayhawks defeat Binghamton
Hear Bill: KU-Binghamton postgame comments
See the photos: KU-BinghamtonAnd Marcus Johnson, a 6-6 junior from Los Angeles, told rivals.com he is down to KU, Syracuse, Arizona, UConn, Kentucky and UCLA and wants to visit KU.
¢
Lee to return at CU?: Michael Lee, KU’s junior guard from Portland, Ore., reiterated his hope to play in Monday’s game at Colorado. Lee, who has missed seven games since suffering a broken right collarbone, said he would have another round of X-rays Friday and hoped to be cleared to practice during the weekend. He has started shooting, but says it’s still a bit “awkward” hoisting shots, except from close range.
¢
Facts: Binghamton received guarantee money of $40,000. … Keith Langford moved into 40th place on KU’s all-time scoring list. … Binghamton’s 17.9 percent shooting in the first half was lowest by a KU nonconference foe since Jan. 10, 1991, when Maryland-Baltimore County shot 16.7 percent. … David Padgett had four blocks the first half and five for the game. … Moulaye Niang had a career-high eight points and tied a career high with three steals. … The Bearcats’ Alex Adediran had seven turnovers.