‘I Can Go to Sleep Now’: Tyon Grant-Foster Cleared to Play for Gonzaga After Injunction Hearing
Even though Gonzaga thoroughly beat Western Oregon 111-53 on Monday night, the biggest cheers from the home crowd at the McCarthey Athletic Center came about 15 minutes before opening tip-off.
Just under an hour before the exhibition game commenced, 25-year-old transfer Tyon Grant-Foster was granted a preliminary injunction in his hearing against the NCAA, allowing him to compete in games for the Zags in the 2025-26 season. It was a saga that had twists and turns, but by its conclusion, Grant-Foster gets to play one more season of college basketball.
When Grant-Foster jogged onto the floor from the locker room with about 15 minutes to go until tip, dressed in his white No. 7 jersey, Zags fans erupted and chanted “Tyon” as he saluted the spectators. It was a similar scene when he checked into the game at the 9:30 mark in the first half, as Grant-Foster raised his arms to acknowledge the cheers in the stands.
He played just 14 minutes, scoring four points with three rebounds, an assist, and a steal along with three turnovers. Grant-Foster was aggressive with the ball in his hands, driving to the rim on consecutive sequences, splitting a pair of trips to the free throw line before driving baseline for a reverse layup.
Grant-Foster also gave everyone in the building a slight scare, as while posting up in the paint, he injured his lower leg. But after limping to the locker room to a near-silent arena, Grant-Foster returned to the bench later in the game.
He got a feel for game speed and flashed what he can bring to this year’s Zags team, but more than anything else, Grant-Foster was just thankful to be back.
“I was just grateful, I just was glad to be playing,” Grant-Foster said after the game. “It’s been a journey…now that weight’s off me. I can sleep. I can go to sleep now.”
The injunction hearing was originally scheduled to occur on October 23, the same date as WCC Media Day in Las Vegas. But the NCAA filed a notice of removal about 24 hours before the hearing, claiming the case should be taken to federal court. There was a wide range of when the hearing would be rescheduled if it was moved to federal court, but time was of the essence for Grant-Foster and Gonzaga. The last day that GU can honor winter sport scholarships is October 28, and the hearing being postponed even a week would’ve eliminated his opportunity of suiting up for the Bulldogs before he even walked into a courtroom.
But the federal court rejected the NCAA’s request on October 24, and with the sharp scholarship deadline in place, Grant-Foster’s attorneys worked to reschedule the hearing as quickly as possible. So at 2:30 PM PT on October 27, Grant-Foster finally had his case held in court.
During the hearing, the NCAA claimed Grant-Foster filed his lawsuit right before the college basketball season started. But according to Theo Lawson of the Spokesman-Review, the process of submitting the initial waiver, reconsideration request, and appeal all preceded the eventual suit. The defendants also stated they recognized Grant-Foster completing four seasons of eligibility, including his two JUCO seasons at Indian Hills Community College, even with the lawsuit submitted by Diego Pavia in late 2024, where JUCO athletes get an extra year of eligibility, as well as all collegiate athletes getting another year due to COVID.
With his head coach, Mark Few, and teammates Braeden Smith, Steele Venters, and Jalen Warley in attendance, Grant-Foster got the good news he was waiting for. In the end, an intended one-hour hearing was extended by 90 minutes, but Judge Marla Polin eventually ruled in favor of the GCU transfer, to the relief of the 6-7 forward and many others.
In the past week, Grant-Foster had taken to social media to get some of his emotions off his chest, including when the hearing was initially delayed. He expressed on his Instagram story that he was perplexed about why the process was dragging on, as well as feeling punished for something he had no control over. Grant-Foster credited his mom, friends, coaching staff, and teammates for supporting him throughout the ordeal.
From Mark Few’s perspective, the correct decision was made, and if Judge Polin didn’t make a ruling until midnight, he would’ve still been in court to support Grant-Foster.
“I’m the head of the program here, and he’s family, he’s one of our guys. That’s just kind of how we roll around here, so it was a no-brainer. If it went long, I was there till the end,” Few said. “…At least, in my opinion, justice was served.”
