UPDATE: Gonzaga forward Tyon Grant-Foster has just been granted a preliminary injunction by a Spokane County judge, allowing him to play for the Bulldogs this season. This urgent development comes after the NCAA denied Grant-Foster’s eligibility waiver appeal earlier this month.
This ruling is crucial for Gonzaga as the team gears up for the regular season. Grant-Foster could be a key starter alongside preseason All-WCC standouts Graham Ike and Braden Huff. After exiting the courthouse, Grant-Foster rushed to join his teammates for their exhibition game against Western Oregon, which commenced less than an hour after Judge Marla Polin’s decision.
Grant-Foster’s journey has been anything but typical. Originally part of the high school class of 2018, he played two seasons at Indian Hills Community College before transferring to the University of Kansas. He appeared in 22 games for the Jayhawks during the 2020-21 season before moving to DePaul. Tragically, during the first game of the 2021-22 season, Grant-Foster collapsed in the locker room and required multiple heart surgeries, sidelining him for 16 months.
His return to basketball came with a triumphant season at Grand Canyon, where he was named WAC Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season, averaging 20.1 points and 6.1 rebounds. He led the Lopes to their first NCAA tournament win against Saint Mary’s and continued to impress with averages of 14.8 points and 5.9 rebounds last season.
The NCAA initially classified Grant-Foster’s time at both Indian Hills and Grand Canyon as accounting for his four years of eligibility. However, his legal team argued that a blanket waiver issued to junior college transfers last December should grant him an additional year.
This recent court ruling is a significant boost for Gonzaga as they prepare to open their regular season on November 3, 2023, against Texas Southern. Fans are eager to see how Grant-Foster’s presence will impact the Bulldogs’ performance this season.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
