Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Baylor on October 10, 2025 , Loss , 74, to, 79
M Basketball
at Baylor
L 74-79
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Lucas Peltier/WAC
Grant-Foster makes cut for national POY award
3/21/2024 7:25:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
GCU guard won WAC scoring title to help Lopes to 29-4 record, NCAAs berth
SPOKANE, Wash. – Grand Canyon senior guard Tyon Grant-Foster's ongoing season has ranged from inspirational to sensational and now it is going national.
On the eve of Grant-Foster starting for GCU in an NCAA tournament game against Saint Mary's, the 6-foot-7 scoring phenom was named one of 20 finalists for the Lute Olson National Player of the Year award. The honor, named for the late Hall of Fame coach who led Arizona for 24 years, is given annually to the top Division I player.
Grant-Foster's road to GCU was remarkable after being held out of college basketball for two years following a halftime collapse during his DePaul debut in November 2022 and two ensuing heart surgeries. After being cleared to resume play last March, Grant-Foster signed with the Lopes and rebuilt his game to another level.
The Kansas City, Kansas, native is averaging 19.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocked shots and 1.7 steals per game this season. In the 2000s, the only previous college players with those averages for a season with at least 22 appearances were Duke's Zion Williamson (2018-19), Texas' Kevin Durant (2006-07) and Duke's Shane Battier (2000-01).
"I just hoop," Grant-Foster said. "That's what I grew up doing, and that's what I've been doing my whole life. This team really makes me play less for msyelf and play for these guys. They've made me a whole lot better at basketball than I have been these previous years."
Grant-Foster is shooting 45% from the field, 33% from 3-point range and 77% from the free throw line. With a previous career scoring high of 13 points for Kansas in December 2020, Grant-Foster set a career high with 30 points in his Lopes debut against Southeast Missouri on Nov. 6. He has scored in double figures in 30 of 32 appearances with illness affecting his pair of single-digit games.
After missing two seasons of college basketball, Grant-Foster appeared in 32 games and averaged 33.2 minutes without fouling out. His repertoire expanded with more rebounding, defensive and passing abilities and responsibilities.He posted three double-doubles, three five-assist games, two four-steal games, seven three-block games and a 14-for-14 free-throw shooting game.
"We talked a lot throughout the year that we're blessed to play basketball," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "Tyon's been out for two years. We just thank the Lord for them being together, being united, being healthy and having the chance to play for a (WAC) championship and now go to the NCAA tournament."
Grant-Foster also enters the NCAA tournament playing at his best, averaging 24.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocked shots and 2.0 steals over the past four games. He is 38 of 50 at the free throw line in those four games.
The winner of the Lute Olson National Player of the Year award will be announced in conjunction with the Final Four in Glendale, Arizona.
On the eve of Grant-Foster starting for GCU in an NCAA tournament game against Saint Mary's, the 6-foot-7 scoring phenom was named one of 20 finalists for the Lute Olson National Player of the Year award. The honor, named for the late Hall of Fame coach who led Arizona for 24 years, is given annually to the top Division I player.Grant-Foster's road to GCU was remarkable after being held out of college basketball for two years following a halftime collapse during his DePaul debut in November 2022 and two ensuing heart surgeries. After being cleared to resume play last March, Grant-Foster signed with the Lopes and rebuilt his game to another level.
The Kansas City, Kansas, native is averaging 19.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocked shots and 1.7 steals per game this season. In the 2000s, the only previous college players with those averages for a season with at least 22 appearances were Duke's Zion Williamson (2018-19), Texas' Kevin Durant (2006-07) and Duke's Shane Battier (2000-01).
"I just hoop," Grant-Foster said. "That's what I grew up doing, and that's what I've been doing my whole life. This team really makes me play less for msyelf and play for these guys. They've made me a whole lot better at basketball than I have been these previous years."
Grant-Foster is shooting 45% from the field, 33% from 3-point range and 77% from the free throw line. With a previous career scoring high of 13 points for Kansas in December 2020, Grant-Foster set a career high with 30 points in his Lopes debut against Southeast Missouri on Nov. 6. He has scored in double figures in 30 of 32 appearances with illness affecting his pair of single-digit games.After missing two seasons of college basketball, Grant-Foster appeared in 32 games and averaged 33.2 minutes without fouling out. His repertoire expanded with more rebounding, defensive and passing abilities and responsibilities.He posted three double-doubles, three five-assist games, two four-steal games, seven three-block games and a 14-for-14 free-throw shooting game.
"We talked a lot throughout the year that we're blessed to play basketball," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "Tyon's been out for two years. We just thank the Lord for them being together, being united, being healthy and having the chance to play for a (WAC) championship and now go to the NCAA tournament."
Grant-Foster also enters the NCAA tournament playing at his best, averaging 24.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocked shots and 2.0 steals over the past four games. He is 38 of 50 at the free throw line in those four games.
The winner of the Lute Olson National Player of the Year award will be announced in conjunction with the Final Four in Glendale, Arizona.
Lute Olson National Player of the Year finalists
- Boo Buie, 6-2, Northwestern
- Johni Broome, 6-10, Auburn
- Devin Carter, 6-3, Providence
- L.J. Cryer, 6-1, Houston
- RJ Davis, 6-0, North Carolina
- Tucker DeVries, 6-7, Drake
- Hunter Dickinson, 7-2, Kansas
- Zach Edey, 7-4, Purdue
- Terrence Edwards Jr., 6-6, James Madison
- Kyle Filipowski, 7-0, Duke
- Tyon Grant-Foster, 6-6, GCU
- DaRon Holmes II, 6-10, Dayton
- Meechie Johnson, 6-2, South Carolina
- Jaedon LeDee, 6-9, San Diego State
- Tamin Lipsey, 6-1, Iowa State
- Dalton Knecht, 6-6, Tennessee
- Tyler Kolek, 6-3. Marquette
- Caleb Love, 6-4, Arizona
- Kevin McCullar, 6-7, Kansas
- Tristen Newton, 6-5, UConn
- Great Osobor, 6-8, Utah State
- Mark Sears, 6-1, Alabama
- Baylor Scheierman, 6-7, Creighton
- Terrence Shannon Jr., 6-6, Illinois
- Reed Sheppard, 6-3, Kentucky
- Jamal Shead, 6-1, Houston
- Braden Smith, 6-0, Purdue
- Isaiah Stevens, 6-0, Colorado State
- Shahada Wells, 6-0, McNeese
- Vonterius Woolbright, 6-6, Western Carolina
Players Mentioned
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