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:
- 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.
Jerai Grant played one season in the NBL. He averaged 11.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 28 NBL games.
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 | 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)
Jerai Grant moved to Italy for the 2012–2013 season, signing with Enel Brindisi on July 23, 2012, and he played 30 league games while averaging 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in Italy’s top division.
In 2013, Grant signed a one-year deal with Hapoel Holon on July 29, 2013, and he was released on November 29, 2013 before moving on later that season.
Grant joined Ventspils on December 13, 2013, and in 22 Latvian league games he averaged 11.7 points and 5.5 rebounds while helping the club win the 2013–14 league championship, playing alongside teammates such as Lorenzo Williams and Janis Timma during that period.
He re-signed with Ventspils on July 28, 2014 for the 2014–15 season and averaged 11.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game across 28 league games.
On July 25, 2015, Grant signed with Neptūnas Klaipėda and helped the club reach the LKL finals for the second time in its history while also reaching the EuroCup Top16, averaging 9.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in the LKL and 8.9 points and 6.2 rebounds in the EuroCup while sharing the frontcourt with teammates including Deividas Gailius and Vytautas Šarakauskas.
Grant re-signed with Neptūnas on July 10, 2016 and averaged 8.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in the LKL during that season.
He returned to Italy on August 21, 2017, signing with Orasi Ravenna in Serie A2 for the 2017–2018 season.
On May 13, 2018, Grant signed with Trotamundos de Carabobo in Venezuela’s Liga Profesional de Baloncesto for the 2018 season.
Grant returned to Neptūnas on July 19, 2018 for the 2018–2019 season before leaving Lithuania to sign with SIG Strasbourg on June 1, 2019 in France’s LNB Pro A.
During the 2019–2020 season he played in France with SIG Strasbourg before moving mid-season to Greece, and a reported line from that Strasbourg stint listed him at 8.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
On December 27, 2019, Grant officially signed with AEK Athens for the rest of the 2019–2020 season and later won the Greek Cup with AEK in February 2020, sharing that roster with players such as Howard Sant-Roos and Vladimir Janković.
Grant signed with Maccabi Haifa on May 24, 2020 as the Israeli league resumed, then on August 12, 2020 he signed with Manama Club in Bahrain.
Grant returned to Greece after signing with Promitheas Patras on December 23, 2020 and averaged 11.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game, then renewed his contract on July 26, 2021, and during the 2020–21 Greek Cup final on May 9, 2021 he scored 18 points as Promitheas finished runner-up alongside teammates Chris Clavell (23 points) and Jerian Grant (17 points).
COLLEGE
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.
AWARDS
- Greek Cup winner (2020)
- 2× LBL All-Star (2014, 2015)
- LBL champion (2014)
- ACC All-Defensive Team (2011)
Related
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