Grant-Foster returns; Lope Nation rejoices

Tyon Grant-Foster is back and ready to go back-to-back.

Grant-Foster, last season's WAC Player of the Year, announced Tuesday that he will return with a vengeance to Grand Canyon next season, when he intends to build on the Lopes' NCAA tournament second-round run and 30-win total that he sparked last season.

"We've got unfinished business to do," Grant-Foster said from his Kansas City, Kansas, home. "I knew I wanted to come back to GCU. I'm telling you, we good. We back."

The 6-foot-7 swingman will play his final college season as one of four returning starters for the defending WAC champions, who will return five of their top six scorers from last season.

"We are so excited for Tyon's return," Lopes head coach Bryce Drew said. "As we all know, he is an outstanding player and person. Uniting many of our top players back from last year with the new additions, we cannot wait for the season to start."

Grant-Foster averaged 20.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.5 blocked shots per game after averaging 3.3 points previously in Division I.

"That mattered a whole lot," Grant-Foster said of running it back with teammates for whom he credited his rise last season. "My man C-Mo (guard Collin Moore) called me and was like, 'Come back,' and I said, 'You know I'm coming back, brother.' "

Tyon Grant-Foster

Grant-Foster withdrew his name from the NBA Draft before last week's early-entry candidate deadline and after attending the NBA Draft Combine three weeks ago. He was among 78 college and international players who the NBA invited to the combine after receiving several second-round projections from draft experts.

After not playing college basketball for nearly two years, Grant-Foster delivered a monster debut season with GCU and did not miss a game because of health reasons. The Lopes went 30-5 and won the regular-season and postseason championships before recording the program's first NCAA Division I tournament victory in a 75-66 upset of then-No. 15 Saint Mary's. The Lopes' season ended with a 72-61 loss to Final Four qualifier Alabama.

Grant-Foster shot 45% from the field, 33% from 3-point range and 75% from the free throw line for GCU in 2023-24. His season averages in points, rebounds, steals and assists have only been matched since 2000 by Zion Williamson for Duke and Kevin Durant for Texas, among players who logged at least 20 games.

Moore, center Duke Brennan and guard Ray Harrison join Grant-Foster as returning Lopes starters, as well as sixth man Lök Wur.

In the transfer portal, GCU has added 6-foot-8 forward JaKobe Coles from TCU, 7-foot-1 center Dennis Evans from Louisville and 6-foot-2 guard Makaih Williams from UT Arlington.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Duke Brennan

JaKobe Coles

Dennis Evans

Tyon Grant-Foster

Ray Harrison

Collin Moore

Makaih Williams

Lök Wur

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