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Grant, former star at N.C. State, gets tryout with Bobcats
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Published: June 18, 2008
Updated: 06/18/2008 12:15 am
CHARLOTTE - CHARLOTTE - The Charlotte Bobcats' practice court is just off the first-floor concourse of the team's downtown arena. That put Gavin Grant just a row of stairs away from the nightmarish finale to his college career at N.C. State.
"I thought about that when I drove up," Grant acknowledged after yesterday's pre-draft workout with the Bobcats. "But that's the past. That's over with."
Grant's final performance -- 0-for-3 from the field, two points, one rebound and three turnovers in a 63-50 loss to Miami in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament -- was the low point of his final year.
Grant, a 6-8 swingman, played only 13 minutes in the game that closed N.C. State's 15-16 season. There was speculation that Grant and Coach Sidney Lowe were feuding, but Grant sidestepped questions yesterday after working out with Jaycee Carroll of Utah State, Chris Gaynor of Winthrop and former Missouri, Wayne State and Pikeville center Jeffrey Ferguson.
"I enjoyed my four years at N.C. State. I wouldn't have had it any other way," Grant said. "I loved Coach Lowe, (former) Coach (Herb) Sendek. I appreciate everyone at N.C. State."
But the Wolfpack's collapse after lofty preseason expectations and Grant's declining numbers as a senior has left him with dim hopes of making an NBA roster. New Jersey is the only other team to have invited Grant for a pre-draft workout. Grant said that Portland discussed bringing him in, but then got another player to fill his slot.
"My dream is to play in the NBA. If it doesn't work out, I've got a family I've got to take care of," said Grant, who is married with a daughter. "So I definitely got to go play basketball and make money somewhere."
Grant went from averaging 14.7 points his junior season to 13.1 last season, but he did improve his 3-point shooting to 39 percent. He has been working on increasing his range and getting in top condition.
"That (NBA) 3-point line is a lot farther now," Grant said. "I've got to shoot the ball well and definitely got to come in here and be in shape. You can't come here out of shape. They'll just write you off."
Many have already written off the Wolfpack for next year. With Grant's departure and J.J. Hickson's decision to stay in the NBA Draft, the Wolfpack has numerous holes to fill after finishing last in the ACC.
"They've got great leadership in Courtney (Fells), Brandon (Costner) and Ben (McCauley)," Grant said. "I think they'll be fine. Coach Lowe is a great coach, and the program has great character."
But it didn't look that way the last time that Grant was in Time Warner Cable Arena. And when he returned yesterday he was being watched by coach Larry Brown and head scout Buzz Peterson of the Bobcats, both North Carolina products. Ex-Tar Heel great Michael Jordan runs the team, and Raymond Felton and Sean May of North Carolina are on the roster.
Grant, clinging to any chance to show his NBA worth, wasn't complaining.
"It was all Carolina in here," Grant said as he looked over to Brown. "I just appreciate the opportunity. It doesn't matter where it's at. They showed a lot of love, so I appreciate that."
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