PHOENIX — The darkest path usually presents as the simplest one, a facade funneling right into a lure.
Tyon Grant-Foster noticed the lurking hazard behind the phantasm however refused to detour it doesn’t matter what life threw in his approach.
As a baby surrounded by a world of gangs, medicine and crime, he selected the sunshine of a basketball court docket. When two near-death experiences threatened to remove the sport he liked most, Grant-Foster leaned into his religion, the winding path touchdown him in a starring position at Grand Canyon University.
“You never question God’s path he has for you because everyone’s path is different,” Grant-Foster stated. “So just because my path is hard and other people it isn’t doesn’t mean that it’s less important or mean that you give up. I had hard times, but it’s what makes me who I am today.”
Grant-Foster’s affect has been large in his quick time at Grand Canyon.
The 6-foot-7 senior guard’s 20.9 factors per recreation rank thirteenth nationally and he’s second on the staff with 6.0 rebounds. With Grant-Foster main the way in which, the Antelopes beat then-No. 25 San Diego State on Dec. 5 for this system’s first win over a ranked opponent and, at 10-1, they’re off to their greatest begin in 28 years.
“He’s a very gifted basketball player and has raised the level of our team, given us an elite scoring option,” Grand Canyon coach Bryce Drew stated. “The thing that we have really enjoyed is just his appreciation for the game and just the joy he brings just in life in general.”
Grant-Foster grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, the place the road life may have overtaken him. He and his three youthful brothers, with the steerage of their mother and father, steered across the temptations to thumping of a basketball.
The lengthy, athletic guard had recreation from an early age. He starred at Schlagle High School and was the No. 2 junior faculty switch recruit after a season at Indian Hills Community College, in keeping with the 247 Sports composite.
Blueblood Kansas and Hall of Fame coach Bill Self got here calling, providing a possible step up in Grant-Foster’s trajectory. He as an alternative performed a restricted position on a proficient roster and opted to enter the switch portal.
Grant-Foster ended up at DePaul, prepared to begin a brand new chapter of his basketball life.
Real life interrupted to rewrite the narrative.
Grant-Foster hit a last-second 3-pointer earlier than halftime of his first recreation and joyfully ran off the court docket. Joy turned to terror when Grant-Foster collapsed within the Blue Demons’ locker room.
Foaming on the mouth, he needed to be resuscitated and was revived three extra instances on the way in which to the hospital.
Grant-Foster spent the following 10 days within the hospital present process a sequence of exams, with no clear-cut prognosis, a defibrillator inserted in his chest.
As the months glided by, Grant-Foster started to assume the collapse was an anomaly. He felt wonderful and determined to play a pickup recreation again at dwelling, former Kansas and NBA guard Christian Braun among the many gamers on the neighborhood middle fitness center.
Grant-Foster collapsed once more, placing his basketball future unsure.
The straightforward path would have been to surrender, to succumb to powerful streets that had snuffed out many desires lengthy earlier than his.
Relying on household, mates and religion, Grant-Foster selected to forge forward. Though believing he would play once more, Grant-Foster started taking a look at a life with out taking part in basketball, working as a referee whereas wanting right into a job as a graduate assistant at DePaul.
“He had his down days, but the thing with Tyon is you would never really know,” stated Reese Holliday, Grant-Foster’s coach, mentor and good friend. “He handled it better than most people would. He was upbeat, he was positive most of the time and had a good outlook on things.”
Grant-Foster’s perseverance paid off 16 months later, when his physician gave the excellent news: He was cleared to play once more.
Grant-Foster entered the switch portal however discovered most faculties had been reluctant to signal somebody with a coronary heart situation who hadn’t performed in two years.
The one college that was turned out to be the right touchdown spot.
Not solely was Grand Canyon a program on the rise – two NCAA Tournament appearances in three years – it was a Christian college in a metropolis the place Grant-Foster’s cousin, Ish Wainright, was taking part in for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns on the time.
The Antelopes additionally had a coach who may relate to Grant-Foster’s persistence.
Drew had a coronary heart situation as a baby and by no means let it sluggish him down, hitting some of the memorable photographs in NCAA Tournament historical past for Valparaiso in 1998 earlier than taking part in six NBA seasons.
“When you when your life is so fragile as it was in those moments for him, I think it does make you evaluate life more differently,” Drew stated.
The newfound perspective got here pouring out of Grant-Foster throughout his first recreation with Grand Canyon.
Facing Southeast Missouri State in entrance of Grand Canyon’s rowdy “Havocs” pupil part, Grant-Foster confirmed no indicators of jitters, scoring 30 factors in his first recreation in two years.
“It was a surreal feeling to be back out there doing what I love,” Grant-Foster stated.
Grant-Foster’s path was harder than most. He by no means deviated it doesn’t matter what occurred and once more has discovered the sunshine.
