Graves decides to walk away
May 26, 2008 20:51:33 GMT -5
Post by Raider Country on May 26, 2008 20:51:33 GMT -5
Butler's Graves decides to walk away
By David Woods
May 24, 2008
The days of thrilling a packed arena with a dramatic 3-pointer are over now for A.J. Graves. On the other hand, the daily treatment for his constant foot pain is over now as well.
"I think my luck is running out," he said. "I think it's time to put it down."
Graves, who leaves Butler as one of the university's greatest players, decided to leave basketball behind. He accepted a job as a business analyst at AIT Laboratories.
The Indianapolis firm provides lab science in pharmacology and toxicology for health care, pharmaceutical, and forensic professions, according to its Web site.
Graves considered a pro career and said he received positive feedback from his play in an NBA predraft camp last month at Portsmouth, Va., where he averaged 7.7 points in three games and shot 7-for-17 on 3-pointers.
The two weeks after the camp were difficult, he said, "because I didn't know what to do."
Ultimately, he accepted an offer from AIT, which will pay for him to attend graduate school. Graves intends to enter the field of bio-statistics, a combination of mathematics and life science.
There was uncertainty whether Graves, at 6-1 and 160 pounds, could withstand the pounding of pro basketball, either in the NBA or in Europe. He had questions himself.
"I don't know, physically, if I could hold up another year," he conceded.
He played in 130 games at Butler, the most in school history. The one game he missed was in 2007 after oral surgery.
He said it is only now, six weeks after he stopped playing, that he can walk without discomfort. He has battled chronic foot pain for years, but always chose not to discuss the pain he was going through.
"I feel really lucky to have gotten through all that without any major setbacks," he said.
Graves is the only two-time Academic All-American in Butler history and was twice selected to the All-Horizon League first team. He became the face of a program that finished 29-7 in 2006-07 and 30-4 in 2007-08 -- the two winningest seasons for the Bulldogs.
Graves said he will miss the crowds and shared experiences with teammates.
"I'll keep them as friends," he said. "I'll stay in touch with them for the rest of my life. We'll find other things to do."
Two other Butler graduates, Mike Green and Pete Campbell, have signed with agents and are pursuing playing careers. Neither has been invited to next week's predraft camp at Orlando, Fla.
www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080524/SPORTS0605/805240427
By David Woods
May 24, 2008
The days of thrilling a packed arena with a dramatic 3-pointer are over now for A.J. Graves. On the other hand, the daily treatment for his constant foot pain is over now as well.
"I think my luck is running out," he said. "I think it's time to put it down."
Graves, who leaves Butler as one of the university's greatest players, decided to leave basketball behind. He accepted a job as a business analyst at AIT Laboratories.
The Indianapolis firm provides lab science in pharmacology and toxicology for health care, pharmaceutical, and forensic professions, according to its Web site.
Graves considered a pro career and said he received positive feedback from his play in an NBA predraft camp last month at Portsmouth, Va., where he averaged 7.7 points in three games and shot 7-for-17 on 3-pointers.
The two weeks after the camp were difficult, he said, "because I didn't know what to do."
Ultimately, he accepted an offer from AIT, which will pay for him to attend graduate school. Graves intends to enter the field of bio-statistics, a combination of mathematics and life science.
There was uncertainty whether Graves, at 6-1 and 160 pounds, could withstand the pounding of pro basketball, either in the NBA or in Europe. He had questions himself.
"I don't know, physically, if I could hold up another year," he conceded.
He played in 130 games at Butler, the most in school history. The one game he missed was in 2007 after oral surgery.
He said it is only now, six weeks after he stopped playing, that he can walk without discomfort. He has battled chronic foot pain for years, but always chose not to discuss the pain he was going through.
"I feel really lucky to have gotten through all that without any major setbacks," he said.
Graves is the only two-time Academic All-American in Butler history and was twice selected to the All-Horizon League first team. He became the face of a program that finished 29-7 in 2006-07 and 30-4 in 2007-08 -- the two winningest seasons for the Bulldogs.
Graves said he will miss the crowds and shared experiences with teammates.
"I'll keep them as friends," he said. "I'll stay in touch with them for the rest of my life. We'll find other things to do."
Two other Butler graduates, Mike Green and Pete Campbell, have signed with agents and are pursuing playing careers. Neither has been invited to next week's predraft camp at Orlando, Fla.
www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080524/SPORTS0605/805240427
