On March 30, 2023, Tyon Grant-Foster sat at home on his computer waiting for a Zoom meeting to start with his doctor at the Mayo Clinic. He had been away from the basketball court for 16 months after collapsing twice and undergoing two heart surgeries. Grant-Foster was waiting to hear definitively whether he could return to basketball. The doctor began the meeting by saying, “I have good news,” and cleared Grant-Foster to return to the sport he loved.
“It was an ecstatic moment, the best moment of my life,” Grand Canyon senior guard Grant-Foster told Paul Coro of GCUlopes.com last year.
Tyon Grant-Foster began his collegiate career at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa in 2019. After a strong season, he was an NJCAA All-America Honorable Mention player and decided to transfer to Kansas, closer to his hometown of Kansas City. He played limited minutes for the Jayhawks, averaging 3.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 8.2 minutes, and opted to re-enter the transfer portal. He found a new home at DePaul for his junior season and felt good in his first game against Coppin State on Nov. 10, 2021. He scored nine points, including a three in the final second, and grabbed three rebounds in the first half. While returning to the locker room, he collapsed and his whole life changed.
DePaul senior athletic trainer Michael Sommer resuscitated him three times and Grant-Foster was rushed to Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. He spent ten days in hospital with his family by his side and with an uncertain diagnosis, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) was inserted to control his irregular heartbeat.
While recovering at home in Kansas City several months later, Grant-Foster felt great and realized his collapse was an isolated incident. He decided to go to a local recreation center for a pick-up game with former Kansas teammate and current Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun. He collapsed again and this time he knew it was serious. A second heart operation took place at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and his future as a basketball player subsequently slipped away. He spent the next year and a half finding ways to stay in the game, searching and looking for a future as a graduate assistant somewhere, waiting to hear if he would be able to play again with his heart condition.
“I feel like I’ve become a better basketball player IQ-wise by watching the game a lot,” Grant-Foster told reporters after practice on March 14. “When you are there and not playing, you learn so much more and you see things that you normally don’t see on the field.”
After his doctor cleared him without any underlying issues, Grant-Foster worked to get back on a team for his senior season. Senior teams were reluctant to touch him because of his heart condition and multiple surgeries. One team would ultimately take a chance on him: Grand Canyon University. He made one official visit and committed shortly afterwards. Antelopes head coach Bryce Drew had a heart condition growing up and never let it slow him down. Drew played at Valparaiso before playing six NBA seasons.
Grant-Foster started his senior season strong, scoring 30 points in 24 minutes and leading GCU to a win over Southeast Missouri State. It was almost two years ago that he collapsed and began his long journey back to basketball. The 6-foot-1 guard would score in double figures in all but two games this season and was named WAC Player of the Year. He led GCU to a regular season title and scored 28 points in the WAC championship game, earning the victory over Seattle and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
“This team has been really motivated all year,” Drew said after the game. “We’ve had a lot of goals. This team has even more goals they want to achieve.”
GCU was the 12 seed in the West Region and faced tough No. 5 seed Saint Mary’s in the first round. Grand Canyon had made the tournament in 2021 and 2023, but had yet to advance beyond the first round. That all changed Friday night in Spokane, Washington, when the Antelopes defeated the Gaels 75-66.
Grant-Foster led all players with 22 points and added seven rebounds in the win. He was key down the stretch, making tough shots and working to get stops on defense. A player who just a few years ago thought he would never play basketball again and almost died twice now led his team to school history and advanced to the Round of 32 for the first time ever.
“We just work so hard,” Grant-Foster said after the game. “This group of guys, the coaching staff, everyone. We know we have a lot more to give and I’m so proud to be part of this group.”
The NCAA Tournament is the biggest stage in college basketball, and big moments produce big stars. Grant-Foster has become one of the best stories this season and the March magic could keep things alive for the Antelopes as they play No. 4 Alabama on Sunday.
“Just because I couldn’t play [after his heart condition] doesn’t mean the dream ever went away,” Grant-Foster said. “We’re not done yet.”