Why Wichita NCAA Tournament site means more to Mizzou guard Caleb Grill

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WICHITA, Kan. — Dennis Gates’ pitch to Missouri basketball fans was fairly simple.

Wichita is “drivable,” he told Missouri fans in Mizzou Arena after it was announced the 6-seeded Tigers would play 11-seed Drake in the Round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, so he better see them in the Kansas capital to support the team.

For the family of Missouri senior Caleb Grill, “drivable” is an understatement.

Grill was named the Kansas Male Athlete of the Year during his time playing basketball, baseball, quarterback in football and competing in track and field at Maize High School, just northwest of Wichita.

His father, Chris, played basketball for Wichita State. His mother, Lena, was a basketball player at Butler Community College, just a short drive up I-35 from Wichita in El Dorado, Kansas. His younger brothers, Kyle and Alec, currently attend Fort Hays State and Maize High in Kansas, respectively.

“You know, it’s exciting, just because of the amount of miles that my mom and my dad and my brothers have put in and the rest of my family members have put in,” Grill told local media after the field was announced Sunday. “So, having them be able to have a game close to them, and where I got to travel to them — I think that’s what I’m more excited about more than anything, is to see how many of those close friends, close family members that I’ve had come throughout the whole year, and being able to play within 10-15 minutes of where they live.

“I’m more excited about that part and being able to go back home.” 

There’s a chance this game could never have come. 

Grill needed a medical redshirt to be eligible to play this season. He broke his wrist — in a game against Wichita State — in December 2023 and missed the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign. He entered that year as an expected one-and-done transfer from Iowa State.

Then, this season, he injured his neck during a game against Lindenwood in December while challenging a rebound. He spent five…

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Publish date : 2025-03-19 08:06:00

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