Iowa Western Coach: KU an Easy Choice for Graves

Jeff Graves, a beefy 6-9, 262 pound power forward/center from Iowa Western C.C. in Council Bluffs, Ia., has committed to Kansas.

JUCO Junction/Rivalshoops.com has confirmed this commitment with both Iowa Western Head Coach Jim Morris and Asst. Coach James Bankhead.

Graves visited Kansas this past weekend for the Jayhawks' "Late Night with Roy Williams" Midnight Madness festivities. He had initially been slated to attend Florida State this past weekend on a visit, but he scuttled that in favor of the KU trip.

"I think Coach Williams does a great job and I have a lot of respect for him," Morris said. "As far as what he does with his program. I think Jeff will do a great job there and that Coach Williams will really develop him into a top line player."

Graves visited Long Beach State (Aug. 31-Sept. 2) and Illinois (Oct. 5-7) prior to visiting Kansas this past weekend. Louisville and Florida State were the other two finalists for Graves' services.

However, in the end, Graves' ties to the Jayhawks proved to be too strong for the other contenders to overcome.

"Kansas has always been a favorite of his, as he used to go to basketball camp there when he was a kid. It's very close to Lees Summit (Graves' hometown in Western Missouri), so instead of going to Missouri basketball camp, he used to go to Kansas. Obviously, there's some history there that goes back a little ways.

Graves averaged eight points and five rebounds per game as a freshman last year at Iowa Western. While those numbers might sound pedestrian, one needs to remember that Graves played alongside St. Louis University recruit Kenny Brown last winter for the Reivers.

JUCO Junction had a chance to catch Graves in action at a pair of events last year -- the Central Missouri State Jamboree in Warrensburg, Mo., and the State Fair Thanksgiving Tournament in Sedalia, Mo.

Graves especially impressed us with his size, hands and footwork, though conditioning has always been a nagging issue with him. Graves arrived at Iowa Western last year and tipped the scales at 260, according to Coach Bankhead.

Graves should be able to provide KU with a back to the basket physical presence next year, and Coach Morris feels his strengths should be utilized well in the Kansas system.

"When you watch KU play, they do a lot of things," Morris said. "They get the ball swung. They seal inside and dump it in. And with his wide body, that's ideal for him to be able to do that -- when they can get the ball reversed and get him sealing people inside. I think that's ideal for Jeff. I think they are probably looking at him to play the four."

Graves will sign early with Kansas. He is the second Iowa Western player to commit early, as 6-6 teammate Justin Albrecht has orally pledged to Tennessee.