Against All Odds: Tyon Grant-Foster’s Journey to the NBA Draft after Life-Threatening Health Challenges

After completing a historic journey with Grand Canyon this spring, Tyon Grant-Foster is now officially set to enter the NBA Draft. Despite facing multiple heart surgeries that almost ended his basketball career, Grant-Foster persevered and excelled on the court last season. He achieved career-high averages of 20.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while leading Grand Canyon to their first-ever NCAA tournament victory.

Grant-Foster’s basketball journey began at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa before moving on to Kansas and DePaul. However, it was his time at Grand Canyon that proved to be the most fruitful as he earned the Player of the Year title in the WAC last season. His success came after overcoming life-threatening health challenges that almost forced him to quit playing basketball altogether. After collapsing and needing to be resuscitated three times following a game with DePaul in 2021, Grant-Foster underwent two heart surgeries and spent over a year away from the game until he was cleared to return in March.

Though it is uncertain where Grant-Foster will be selected in the upcoming NBA Draft, his determination and passion for the game are clear. His journey highlights his resilience and ability to overcome adversity, making him a standout player in college basketball.