Jarrad Weeks
July 23, 2020
Jerai Grant
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 10/01/89
- Place of Birth: Bowie, Maryland (US)
- Position: PF
- Height (CM): 203
- Weight (KG): 100
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Clemson (2007–2011)
- NBL DEBUT: 7/10/11
- AGE AT DEBUT: 22
- LAST NBL GAME: 24/03/12
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 23
- NBL History: Sydney 2012
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Jerai Grant was born in Bowie, Maryland (US).
FAMILY: Son of Harvey Grant and Nephew of Horace Grant (NBA). His brothers Jerami and Jerai also played in the NBA.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Jerai Grant made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 22 years of age. He scored 16 points in his first game.
The Kings’ retained their core group of Julian Khazzouh (team captain), Ben Madgen, Luke Martin, Luke Cooper and Graeme Dann and looked to build on their disappointing return to the NBL. Head coach Ian Robilliard was able to bolster the roster by signing former Australian Boomers guard Aaron Bruce (via Adelaide), college grad Anatoly Bose (via Nicholls State) and, after a import roller-coaster the previous season, signed Jerai Grant (son and nephew of NBA stars Harvey Grant and Horace Grant respectively) and state league talent, Kevin Ratzsch.
Additionally, due to the 2011 NBA Lockout, Australia’s highest profile basketballer, former Milwaukee Bucks centre Andrew Bogut, was looking to play in the NBL during the 2011/12 season. He was linked with the Adelaide 36ers, the Gold Coast Blaze and the Kings, whom Bogut had supported when growing up in Australia. Sydney was favoured to secure his services, and Bogut ultimately chose to make his NBL debut with the Kings. However, the insurance to cover his remaining US$39 million contract with the Bucks couldn’t be resolved, leaving the Kings and the NBL without the services of Australia’s highest profile player. It was expected that Bogut’s signing would see a increase in Kings membership and league attendances. Despite not being able to play, Bogut later expressed interest in joining the Kings’ coaching staff during the lockout to help the club. This ultimately did not happen either.
Khazzouh was unstoppable during the first two months of the season was clearly the best player in the competition. This was no clearer than in the Kings 23 point win over the Adelaide 36ers in October 2011 when he filled the box score with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 36 minutes, a game which gained the attention of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. In December 2011, halfway through the season, Khazzouh would leave the team to participate in the Warriors pre-season camp. Khazzouh was then waived on 18 December 2011 and returned to Sydney to finish out the season.
The Kings fared better in their second year back in the NBL, beginning the season by winning half their games each month for the first three months. This saw the Kings jostling between fifth and sixth position, vying for a playoff spot, and having equalled their win from last season by round 14.
It was around this time Aaron Bruce (13.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists) suffered a vertical fracture to his tibia which ended his season and created a huge void within the team’s backcourt. With Bruce going down, the team managed only three additional wins for the year, resulting in Robilliard being moved into a executive role and replaced by Tim Hudson as interim head coach until the Kings came to term with club legend Shane Heal who agreed to coach the team on a multi-year deal.
Sydney finished in seventh place (11-17).
Jerai Grant (11.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.4 blocks) would have a inconsistent rookie season. It wasn’t uncommon for Grant to win Player of the Week (Rounds 14 and 24) in some rounds to only then disappearing totally in others. Julian Khazzouh (16.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.1 blocks) would lead the team in scoring as well as finish the season as the NBL’s leader in rebounds and blocked shots before being named to the All-NBL First Team, and Anatoly Bose (15.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists) was also impressive in his debut season, earning the Rookie of the Year award.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-12 | 23 | Sydney | 11-17 (7) | 28 | 792.0 | 333 | 228 | 32 | 94 | 134 | 22 | 40 | 52 | 71 | 136 | 245 | 56% | 1 | 1 | 100% | 60 | 98 | 61% | 57% | 56% | 23 | Totals | 28 | 792 | 333 | 228 | 32 | 94 | 134 | 22 | 40 | 52 | 71 | 136 | 245 | 55.5% | 1 | 1 | 100.0% | 60 | 98 | 61.2% | 58% | 56% | 23 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-12 | 23 | Sydney | 11-17 (7) | 28 | 28.3 | 11.9 | 8.1 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 4.8 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 4.9 | 8.8 | 56% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100% | 2.1 | 3.5 | 61% | 57% | 56% | 23 | Total | 28 | 28.3 | 11.9 | 8.1 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 4.8 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 4.9 | 8.8 | 55.5% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 61.2% | 58% | 56% | 23 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 23 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
|---|
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Bahrain - Manama Club (2020) | France - SIG Strasbourg (2019) | Greece - AEK Athens (2019–2020), Promitheas Patras (2020–2022) | Israel - Hapoel Holon (2013), Maccabi Haifa (2020) | Italy - Enel Brindisi (2012–2013), Orasi Ravenna (2017–2018) | Latvia - Ventspils (2013–2015) | Lithuania - Neptūnas Klaipėda (2015–2017, 2018–2019) | Venezuela - Trotamundos de Carabobo (2018)
Name: Grant, Jerai | college: Clemson (2007–2011)| Additional Info: Jerai Grant suited up for Clemson University from the 2007-08 season through the 2010-11 campaign, playing under head coach Oliver Purnell and appearing in 127 career games with 63 starts during his four-year tenure.
As a freshman in 2007-08, Grant appeared in 30 games and averaged 8.3 minutes per contest, contributing 2.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.3 percent from the field. Clemson finished 24-10 overall that season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32, marking Grant’s first postseason experience at the Division I level.
In the 2008-09 season as a sophomore, he played in all 32 games and made one start, increasing his averages to 4.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 14.6 minutes per game while shooting an efficient 64.4 percent from the floor. His 44 total blocked shots ranked among the team leaders as Clemson again reached the NCAA Tournament, finishing the year 23-9 overall.
Grant stepped into a major role during his junior year in 2009-10, starting 29 of 31 games and averaging 7.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks across 20.3 minutes per game while shooting 63.2 percent from the field. Clemson posted a 27-9 record that season, won the ACC Tournament championship, and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. Grant’s interior defense and rim protection were key factors, as he recorded 54 blocks on the year and consistently matched up against opposing ACC frontcourt players.
As a senior in 2010/11, he averaged 21.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1 steal and 2.3 blocks per game. He was named to the ACC All-Defensive team and earned honorable mention All-ACC honours.
During that 2010-11 senior campaign, Grant started 31 of 34 games and averaged 27.1 minutes per contest while shooting 57.1 percent from the field and 71.1 percent from the free throw line. He totaled 421 points and 227 rebounds on the season while recording 77 blocked shots, which ranked among the ACC leaders. Clemson finished 22-12 overall and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season, reaching the Round of 32.
Across his four-year career at Clemson, Grant totaled 854 points, 552 rebounds and 197 blocked shots, averaging 6.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 17.9 minutes per game. His 197 career blocks placed him among Clemson’s all-time leaders in that category at the conclusion of his collegiate career. He shot 58.7 percent from the field across his career and recorded double-figure scoring performances regularly during his upperclassman seasons, while anchoring the Tigers’ interior defense throughout multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.
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