Salina ? Former Kansas University center Jeff Graves was fined Wednesday for missing practice with the USBL’s Kansas Cagerz.
A player is fined for a first missed practice. A second unexcused absence is grounds for dismissal, player personnel director Jeff Wells told the Associated Press.
The Cagerz put the 6-foot-9 Graves on the injured-reserve list Wednesday.
Wells said Graves missed practice because he was seeing a doctor in Lawrence about his sore knee. Graves didn’t dress for the Cagerz game Thursday night against the Storm in Enid, Okla. Ex-Jayhawk Jeff Boschee scored 39 points in a 130-124 victory.
“He went to see a doctor and got back last night,” Wells said. “He called from the hotel. He said he tried to make contact but was unable to do so.”
Graves had 10 points in the Cagerz’s first two games. His mom, Sharon, said this incident was blown way out of proportion.
“It still slays me people get half the information (then draw conclusions),” she said. “He was being evaluated by a doctor. He’s still with the Cagerz. He’s still staying in shape. This works out well for both Jeff and the team.”
Sharon Graves said her son had tendinitis. She also said she had heard that various NBA teams were interested in perhaps drafting Graves.