BREAKING: Gonzaga forward Tyon Grant-Foster has just been granted a preliminary injunction by a Spokane County judge, allowing him to compete for the Bulldogs in the upcoming NCAA season. This urgent ruling comes after the NCAA denied Grant-Foster’s eligibility waiver appeal earlier this month, significantly impacting Gonzaga’s roster as they prepare for their season opener.
The judge’s decision was announced on October 30, 2023, just before Gonzaga’s exhibition game against Western Oregon, where Grant-Foster made a swift transition from the courthouse to the court, underscoring the dramatic nature of his journey.
Grant-Foster’s eligibility saga is complex. He initially graduated in the high school class of 2018 and played two seasons at Indian Hills Community College before transferring to Kansas. After participating in 22 games for the Jayhawks during the 2020-21 season, he moved to DePaul. However, his career took a life-altering turn when he collapsed in the locker room at halftime of DePaul’s first game in the 2021-22 season, requiring multiple heart surgeries that sidelined him for 16 months.
His triumphant return to basketball came with Grand Canyon University, where he shone as the WAC Player of the Year, averaging an impressive 20.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Last season, he maintained solid averages of 14.8 points and 5.9 rebounds, leading his team to their first NCAA tournament win over Saint Mary’s.
The NCAA had contended that Grant-Foster’s previous years in junior college and at Grand Canyon accounted for his full four years of eligibility. However, his legal team argued that a blanket waiver issued last December for former junior college transfers entitled him to an additional year. The judge’s ruling marks a significant victory for Grant-Foster, who is expected to play a crucial role on the Bulldogs’ front line alongside Graham Ike and Braden Huff, both preseason All-WCC first-team selections.
Gonzaga opens its regular season on November 3, 2023, against Texas Southern, making this ruling all the more critical as the team looks to solidify their lineup for the season. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how Grant-Foster’s presence will enhance the Bulldogs’ quest for a championship.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops, with Grant-Foster’s journey proving to be not just about eligibility, but about overcoming adversity and making an impactful return to the game he loves.
