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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Grant-Foster declares pursuit of NBA dream
4/16/2024 5:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
GCU's WAC Player of the Year posted nationally elite season
Tyon Grant-Foster led Grand Canyon to climbing the ladder to cut WAC Tournament championship nets and raising the program with its first NCAA Division I tournament victory. Now, he will seek another level.
Grant-Foster announced that he will pursue a NBA career after being chosen as WAC Player of the Year and one of 20 Lute Olson National Player of the Year finalists.
After consulting his family and coaches, Grant-Foster said he will pursue his lifelong dream of playing in the NBA.
"My journey has been filled with trials and tribulations, but thanks to him and my faith and family, I've made it this far," Grant-Foster wrote in social media post announcement. "I want to say thank you to the GCU staff for giving me a chance to get back on the court! I would also like to give a HUGE thanks to the Havocs for cheering us on all season."
The 6-foot-7 swingman has been watched all season by scouts from the NBA, whose two-round draft will be June 26. They watched his miraculous development after spending two years out of college basketball, a period that began with collapsing at halftime of a November 2021 season opener for DePaul and being cleared by the Mayo Clinic in 2023 following two heart surgeries.
GCU was one of the few programs that recruited Grant-Foster and the only campus that he visited.
The Kansas City, Kansas, returned with a career-high 30 points in his GCU debut on Nov. 6 against Southeast Missouri and proceeded to have a season in which he won the WAC scoring title at 20.1 points per game. He is only the player besides DeWayne Russsell (21.2 points per game, 2016-17) to average 20 points in the Lopes' Division I era since 2013-14.
Grant-Foster averaged 20.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, making him the only player besides Zion Williamson of Duke (2018-19) and Kevin Durant (2006-07) to average those numbers with at least in 20 games in a season since 2000.
Grant-Foster shot 45% from the field, 33% from 3-point range and 75% from the free throw line. With a previous career scoring high of 13 points for Kansas in December 2020, Grant-Foster scored in double figures in 32 of 34 appearances with illness affecting his pair of single-digit games.
He scored 25 points more in 10 games and recorded three double-doubles, eight games of three blocks, nine games of at least three steals and six games of at least four assists.
After missing two seasons of college basketball, Grant-Foster averaged 33.5 minutes per game without fouling out. He logged 38 minutes per game in four postseason appearances, when he averaged 25.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocked shots and 2.3 steals per game.
"It is time to take the next step in my journey and continue to write my story," Grant-Foster wrote. "It's been a long journey and I want to stay thank you to GCU and everybody who has been a part of it. Lopes up!"
Grant-Foster announced that he will pursue a NBA career after being chosen as WAC Player of the Year and one of 20 Lute Olson National Player of the Year finalists.After consulting his family and coaches, Grant-Foster said he will pursue his lifelong dream of playing in the NBA.
"My journey has been filled with trials and tribulations, but thanks to him and my faith and family, I've made it this far," Grant-Foster wrote in social media post announcement. "I want to say thank you to the GCU staff for giving me a chance to get back on the court! I would also like to give a HUGE thanks to the Havocs for cheering us on all season."
The 6-foot-7 swingman has been watched all season by scouts from the NBA, whose two-round draft will be June 26. They watched his miraculous development after spending two years out of college basketball, a period that began with collapsing at halftime of a November 2021 season opener for DePaul and being cleared by the Mayo Clinic in 2023 following two heart surgeries.GCU was one of the few programs that recruited Grant-Foster and the only campus that he visited.
The Kansas City, Kansas, returned with a career-high 30 points in his GCU debut on Nov. 6 against Southeast Missouri and proceeded to have a season in which he won the WAC scoring title at 20.1 points per game. He is only the player besides DeWayne Russsell (21.2 points per game, 2016-17) to average 20 points in the Lopes' Division I era since 2013-14.
Grant-Foster averaged 20.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, making him the only player besides Zion Williamson of Duke (2018-19) and Kevin Durant (2006-07) to average those numbers with at least in 20 games in a season since 2000.Grant-Foster shot 45% from the field, 33% from 3-point range and 75% from the free throw line. With a previous career scoring high of 13 points for Kansas in December 2020, Grant-Foster scored in double figures in 32 of 34 appearances with illness affecting his pair of single-digit games.
He scored 25 points more in 10 games and recorded three double-doubles, eight games of three blocks, nine games of at least three steals and six games of at least four assists.
After missing two seasons of college basketball, Grant-Foster averaged 33.5 minutes per game without fouling out. He logged 38 minutes per game in four postseason appearances, when he averaged 25.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocked shots and 2.3 steals per game.
"It is time to take the next step in my journey and continue to write my story," Grant-Foster wrote. "It's been a long journey and I want to stay thank you to GCU and everybody who has been a part of it. Lopes up!"
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballMakaih Williams | Media Availability | 9.3.25
Thursday, September 04
Dusty Stromer | Media Availability | 9.3.25
Thursday, September 04
Kaleb Smith | Media Availability | 9.3.25
Thursday, September 04
Non-Conference Schedule Release | Men's Basketball
Monday, August 04