PHOENIX: The darkest path typically presents as the best 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 manner.
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 cherished most, Grant-Foster leaned into his religion, the winding path touchdown him in a starring position at Grand Canyon College.
“You by no means query God’s path he has for you as a result of everybody’s path is totally different,” Grant-Foster mentioned. “So simply because my path is tough and different individuals it isn’t doesn’t imply that it’s much less vital or imply that you simply quit. I had exhausting instances, nevertheless it’s what makes me who I’m at this time.”
Grant-Foster’s affect has been huge in his brief time at Grand Canyon.
The 6-foot-7 senior guard’s 20.9 factors per sport rank thirteenth nationally and he’s second on the workforce with 6.0 rebounds. With Grant-Foster main the best way, 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 really gifted basketball participant and has raised the extent of our workforce, given us an elite scoring possibility,” Grand Canyon coach Bryce Drew mentioned. “The factor that now we have actually loved is simply his appreciation for the sport and simply the enjoyment he brings simply in life on the whole.”
Grant-Foster grew up in Kansas Metropolis, Kansas, the place the road life may have overtaken him. He and his three youthful brothers, with the steering of their dad and mom, steered across the temptations to thumping of a basketball.
The lengthy, athletic guard had sport from an early age. He starred at Schlagle Excessive Faculty and was the No. 2 junior faculty switch recruit after a season at Indian Hills Group Faculty, based on the 247 Sports activities composite.
Blueblood Kansas and Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Self got here calling, providing a possible step up in Grant-Foster’s trajectory. He as an alternative performed a restricted position on a gifted 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.
Actual life interrupted to rewrite the narrative.
Grant-Foster hit a last-second 3-pointer earlier than halftime of his first sport and joyfully ran off the court docket. Pleasure 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 best way to the hospital.
Grant-Foster spent the subsequent 10 days within the hospital present process a sequence of checks, with no clear-cut prognosis, a defibrillator inserted in his chest.
Because the months glided by, Grant-Foster started to assume the collapse was an anomaly. He felt nice and determined to play a pickup sport again at house, former Kansas and NBA guard Christian Braun among the many gamers on the neighborhood middle gymnasium.
Grant-Foster collapsed once more, placing his basketball future doubtful.
The straightforward path would have been to surrender, to succumb to robust streets that had snuffed out many desires lengthy earlier than his.
Counting on household, pals and religion, Grant-Foster selected to forge forward. Although 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, however the factor with Tyon is you’ll by no means actually know,” mentioned Reese Holliday, Grant-Foster’s coach, mentor and buddy. “He dealt with it higher than most individuals would. He was upbeat, he was optimistic more often than not and had outlook on issues.”
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 colleges have been reluctant to signal somebody with a coronary heart situation who hadn’t performed in two years.
The one faculty that was turned out to be the right touchdown spot.
Not solely was Grand Canyon a program on the rise — two NCAA Match appearances in three years — it was a Christian faculty 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 one of the crucial memorable pictures in NCAA Match historical past for Valparaiso in 1998 earlier than taking part in six NBA seasons.
“Once you when your life is so fragile because it was in these moments for him, I feel it does make you consider life extra in a different way,” Drew mentioned.
The newfound perspective got here pouring out of Grant-Foster throughout his first sport with Grand Canyon.
Dealing with Southeast Missouri State in entrance of Grand Canyon’s rowdy “Havocs” scholar part, Grant-Foster confirmed no indicators of jitters, scoring 30 factors in his first sport in two years.
“It was a surreal feeling to be again on the market doing what I like,” Grant-Foster mentioned.
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.
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