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Naismith sculpture in place at University of Kansas

photo University of Kansas Foundation
photo University of Kansas Foundation

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A slightly larger-than-life bronze sculpture of late James Naismith has found a home on the University of Kansas’ Lawrence campus.

The sculpture depicting the creator of basketball seated with a basketball on his knee was installed Wednesday outside the DeBruce Center. Scheduled to open this spring, that’s the site that will house Naismith’s original 13 “Basket Ball” rules of 1892.

The 57-inch-tall, 322-pound statue was created by Lawrence sculptor and University of Kansas professor emeritus Elden Tefft, who was working on it when he died last year age 95. His son then finished the work.

The elder Tefft worked from photographs of Naismith to capture his likeness and wanted a sculpture that people could interact with, sit beside and be photographed with.

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