Lafrentz Injured

Sun., Dec. 28, 1997

Compiled From Wire Services

Kansas forward Raef LaFrentz will be sidelined for up to six weeks with a broken right index finger.

Coach Roy Williams said Eric Chenowith came across LaFrentz’s non-shooting hand when he went up for a shot during a scrimmage Friday in preparation for the Rainbow Classic. The No. 2 Jayhawks (14-1) play Ohio State today in the opening round of the eight-team tournament.

LaFrentz, a 6-foot-11 senior projected by some to be the No. 1 overall pick in June’s NBA draft, is averaging 21.2 points and 11.4 rebounds.

“It was a tough injury for us and probably tougher for Raef,” said Williams. “He probably would have been the fourth or fifth player picked in the NBA draft last year, but he came back because of the love of the college game.”

An orthopedic surgeon diagnosed the injury as a break between the knuckle and the tip of the finger.

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Lafrentz Injured

Jesse Tinsley

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