SPOKANE, Wash. — Gonzaga head coach Mark Few and forward Graham Ike spoke publicly for the first time Saturday about transfer guard Tyon Grant-Foster, who recently joined the team and played in Kraziness in the Kennel while awaiting an official NCAA eligibility ruling.
Grant-Foster, a 25-year-old transfer from Grand Canyon, was granted a practice waiver this week that allows him to practice with the Zags as his waiver is reviewed. He played 14 minutes with two assists during Saturday’s Kraziness in the Kennel scrimmage at McCarthey Athletic Center.
Few said the staff did not plan for him to take the floor but noted Grant-Foster was eager to jump in despite only having two practices under his belt.
“Yeah, I don’t know. We weren’t planning on playing him today, but he kind of wanted to do it,” Few said. “He’s only had two practices, so he’s just trying to figure out what we’re doing on offense and defense. But yeah, it’s been definitely nice to finally get him up here and get him around the guys.”
With just 15 days until Gonzaga’s first exhibition game, and 30 days until the season opener, Few said the wait for a ruling has been painful.
“It doesn’t matter what we expect,” Few said. “Obviously the timing is super frustrating, but it’s just kind of the way it goes with those things. They have their own pace about them.”
Ike, one of two returning starters from last season, said having Grant-Foster finally join the team in Spokane has provided an immediate lift.
“It feels great to have Tyon back, or really here,” Ike said. “He adds a piece to our team that we needed. He brings great energy, great effort, and he’s really eager to play with us and just learn the way that we play and have a great time. He’s been smiling from ear to ear since he’s been here, man. We’re just trying to bring him on slowly, but surely. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it was built, so we’re building with him.”
Grant-Foster committed to Gonzaga in May after averaging 14.8 points and 5.9 rebounds last season at GCU. The year prior, he was named WAC Player of the Year after leading the Lopes to their first NCAA Tournament win. His career has also included stops at Kansas and Indian Hills Community College, along with a highly publicized comeback from multiple heart surgeries that once threatened to end his playing days.
For now, Gonzaga will continue practicing with Grant-Foster in the fold, awaiting word from the NCAA on whether he’ll be eligible to suit up for the 2025-26 season.
Click here to watch to Mark Few’s full press conference
Click here to watch Graham Ike, Braeden Smith, and Braden Huff’s full postgame press conference
Gonzaga opens exhibition play at home vs. Northwest University on Sunday, Oct. 19. You can watch that game on SWX and SWXLocalSports.com.