Latest news with #WACPlayeroftheYear
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tyon Grant-Foster, Gonzaga "Still Just Kind of Waiting Around" for NCAA Waiver
Tyon Grant-Foster, Gonzaga "Still Just Kind of Waiting Around" for NCAA Waiver originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team has had a few weeks together to get familiar with each other, build camaraderie, and go to work constructing an offense and defense capable of getting this program back to the Sweet 16 and beyond in the 2025-26 season. Advertisement Unfortunately Gonzaga's prized offseason addition, high-scoring Grand Canyon transfer Tyon Grant-Foster, has yet to join them in Spokane while he waits for approval from the NCAA regarding his eligibility. Grant-Foster spoke with Theo Lawson of the Spokesman-Review in Las Vegas during NBA Summer League, where the 6'7 wing is currently stationed alongside former Kansas teammate and current Denver Nuggets forward Christian Braun. "We're still waiting on it right now," Grant-Foster said. "Just a waiting process. That's all." Coach Mark Few echoed Grant-Foster's statement while taking in a Summer League bout between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics and former Zag forwards Anton Watson and Ben Gregg. Advertisement 'We're still just waiting on the waiver,' Few said. 'It's still through the NCAA process, so we're still just kind of waiting around for it.' Grant-Foster began playing college basketball back in 2018-19 at Indian Hills Community College, spending two years at the junior college before transferring to Kansas in 2020-21 where he played 22 games. After that the 6'7 wing spent two seasons at DePaul but only played in one game after collapsing at halftime in the season opener, and again a few months later which cost him the 2022-23 season. From there Grant-Foster made a triumphant return at Grand Canyon, averaging 20.1 points and earning WAC Player of the Year in 2023-24 and following that up with an up-and-down season in 2024-25. All told, the Kansas City native has played 83 Division 1 games, and with his time at Kansas lining up with the COVID season - and a recent rule change allowing student-athletes who started at a junior college an extra year of eligibility - it's hard to imagine the NCAA won't grant him one more year. Advertisement While the waiting is no doubt unfortunate for both Gonzaga and Grant-Foster - who is missing out on practices and team bonding activities - the high scoring wing is keeping an upbeat attitude while working relentlessly on improving his game so he will be ready to go if and when his waiver is approved. Grant-Foster is one of five newcomers on Mark Few's roster, joined by Arizona State transfer Adam Miller and a trio of incoming freshmen: Spanish guard Mario Saint-Supery, 6'7 four-star wing Davis Fogle, and three-star big man Parker Jefferson. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pacers' Pascal Siakam nearly turned down the NBA to become a priest
The post Pacers' Pascal Siakam nearly turned down the NBA to become a priest appeared first on ClutchPoints. Indiana Pacers star Pascal Siakam has built an impressive NBA resume ever since he got drafted in 2016. He's an All-Star, an NBA champion, and has made over $180 million in contract earnings. However, if he never had a change of heart 16 years ago, Siakam would've never even considered playing basketball. Advertisement Siakam was sent to seminary school when he was 11 to become a priest Growing up in Douala, Cameroon, basketball was on the radar for Siakam. His three older brothers had blazed the trail, all earning D1 scholarships in the U.S. Boris played at Western Kentucky University. Christian played at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Meanwhile, James played at Vanderbilt University. Naturally, Siakam figured he'd follow in their footsteps, especially since his father had always dreamt about having one of his sons make the NBA. However, what Siakam didn't know was that his father had other plans for him. At 11, he was hand-picked to embody his family's Catholicism, as per a 2020 article from ESPN's Jackie MacMullan. He was enrolled at St. Andrew's Seminary and Siakam entered with good spirits… At first. Advertisement 'I would never go against his wishes,' Siakam said. 'There isn't a better man I've known in my life.' By the time he was 15, Siakam felt a desire to pursue something else. He began acting out, skipping classes, and pushing boundaries. He wasn't a troublemaker by nature; he just didn't want to be a priest anymore. Seminary director Father Armel Collins Ndjama knew exactly what Siakam was trying to do. However, since his academic results were too good, he decided to keep him around. Siakam graduated to finish what he initially came there to do, then left the seminary right after. Pacers' Pascal Siakam was discovered at Luc Mbah a Moute's basketball camp Despite growing up in a family that cherished the game of basketball, Siakam first wanted to pursue soccer. Everything changed in 2011 when he tagged along with some of his childhood friends to see what former NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute's free basketball camps were like, aka the same basketball camp Joel Embiid was discovered. Advertisement By virtue of having three brothers play in the NCAA, Siakam automatically got a spot to one of the camps. He wasn't good, but he did show two things that can't be taught. Physical tools — standing at 6-foot-8 — and immense hustle. After another year of attending the camps, Siakam was invited to Basketball Without Borders. That's where scouts really started to take notice. From there, it was a whirlwind. He moved to Texas to play for God's Academy, then committed to New Mexico State in 2013. In his sophomore year, Siakam averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds, earning WAC Player of the Year honors. By 2016, Siakam applied for the NBA draft and was taken by the Toronto Raptors with the 27th pick of the draft. Advertisement How has Pascal Siakam's NBA career panned out thus far? Since then, Siakam has become one of the most underappreciated stars in the league. In nine seasons, Siakam has more than exceeded his initial draft position, winning a championship with the Toronto Raptors and recently reaching the NBA Finals again with the Pacers in 2024-25. NBA champion (2019) Most Improved Player of the Year (2019) Three-time All-Star Two-time All-NBA First G-Leaguer to start in an All-Star Game 2025 Eastern Conference Playoff MVP Not too bad for someone who only started playing basketball 14 years ago. Related: Pacers labeled 'cheap' for Myles Turner decision by ESPN insiders Related: Bucks slammed for 'reckless' Damian Lillard strategy to get Myles Turner
