Grants Path Takes Him Back to PAC 10 Country
For a while this spring, College of Eastern Utah shooting guard Anthony Grant wondered if he would ever find the right Division I program to transfer to next fall.
First, he thought he was going to visit Colorado State, but the Rams signed a high school player to fill their last scholarship.
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Then, Weber State and Hawaii looked like possible visit destinations. But when PAC 10 program Washington State entered the picture this spring, Grant didn't even need an official visit to make his decision.
Grant committed to the Cougars this week, scuttling plans for a weekend trip to Hawaii in the process.
"They offered and he committed," CEU Head Coach Bryan Zollinger said. "He's from the state of Washington and has been to Pullman several times."
In fact, while attending Franklin H.S. in Seattle, his high school team used to camp at Eastern Washington University in Cheyney, which is located roughly an hour away from Pullman. Washington State is located in Pullman.
New Washington State Head Coach Dick Bennett hired EWU Asst. Coach Mike Burns to be a part of his new staff in Pullman.
The official visit, which is expected to take place in the month of May, will be a mere formality.
"His dream has always been to play in the PAC 10," Zollinger said. "He's also looking forward to playing for a coach like Dick Bennett."
Grant averaged 16.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game as a freshman for the Golden Eagles. He shot 42 percent from the field and 39 percent beyond the arc in 2002-2003.
JUCO Junction caught Grant and CEU in action last month at the Region 18 Tournament in St. George, Ut. He has good size for a wing and is proficient moving without the basketball. He is primarily a catch and shoot perimeter threat, but he is working on improving his shot off the dribble.
"It's a good fit in that Dick Bennett is a motion offense guy," Zollinger said. "He values players who can move without the basketball and read screens. He doesn't like guys who are too fancy."
"His game is compact and they like the way he shoots the ball," Zollinger continued. "He was second in the league in three pointers made, yet he also gets in a great defensive stance."
Grant is the first recruit who has committed to Washington State in the Bennett era. The Cougars are also heavily involved with Vincennes' Jeff Varem this spring. Varem has pared his list to three schools -- Wazzu, Wyoming and Villanova.