Saying Goodbye: Chris Kramer and Keaton Grant

In this world of NBA Draft early entry and one-and-done freshman, it is difficult to become attached to a college star. They simply don't hang around long enough. But when they do, there is an attachment to that player that is difficult to explain. For me, there will always be a soft spot in my heart for guys like Kirk King and Khalid El-Amin, as I'm sure there is for any fan of any team.

We reached out to some of the blogosphere's best, and over the next couple of weeks we will be running a series of posts saying goodbye to some of the country's best seniors.

Today, Boiled Sports says goodbye to Keaton Grant and Chris Kramer.

In '09-'10, Purdue's basketball team saw major injuries to two starters, one of the season-ending variety. But, Purdue still won a share of the Big Ten title, was ranked in the top-10 for most of the season and went to the round of 16, thanks in large part to this year's senior class. Keaton Grant and Chris Kramer finished their careers at Purdue as the winningest class in Purdue basketball history with 103 wins. And their classmate, walk-on Mark Wohlford was a major contributor in the stead of the injured Lewis Jackson early in the season.

Chris Kramer and Keaton Grant got the Purdue program back to the top of the Big Ten.
(photo credit: AP)

Both Kramer & Grant were 3-star athletes, according to Rivals. Grant came to West Lafayette via Bridgton Academy Prep in Maine. He was offered by a slew of SEC programs who knew him from his HS career in Florida, but decided to come play for Purdue. Kramer was known in the AAU ranks for his athleticism and ability to defend and break people down off the dribble. He was also known for his exploits on the football field as he passed for over 1,300 yards and ran for around 1,000.

They both played a ton as Freshman, and honestly, they had to. Purdue's depth was depleted from a myriad of factors. But from the very beginning, they understood what Painter expected defensively. Many would argue the 4-time All-Big Ten Defensive Team member, Kramer was the face and embodiment of Matt Painter's club. His defense made him the most-beloved player on campus, and hated off of it. But at the same time, the more casual fan might remember CK3 best for his 15-foot shot from his knees in the NCAA tournament his freshman year. Keaton Grant also had some noteworthy shots, especially his sophomore year, as he shot 44% from behind the arc that season.

One thing that much of the Purdue family feels is that things simply don't come easily to this program and that might be why we, as fans, liked these two so much. They both fought through injuries and didn't miss many games, both did the little things and almost reveled in giving the spotlight to their teammates, and both were winners. Their four years in West Lafayette have gone too quickly, and they've helped repave the way for a bright future for Purdue basketball. Many Purdue fans are already excited about the '10-'11 season, and if Purdue achieves what many of us think they will, much of the thanks should be directed toward Kramer and Grant.