OT: Jerai Grant to play in Australia

[DUB]

HIS pedigree stands out like his uncle's famous safety goggles.

New Sydney Kings import Jerai Grant is a player so talented, even the coach admits he is too good to be playing in the NBL.

The 22-year-old is the nephew of NBA star Horace Grant, who won four championship rings alongside Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

"We never talked about his dad or uncle," Sydney Kings coach Ian Robilliard said of his phone conversations with Jerai.

"His decision to come here is all about him building a name for himself. He thought coming here was the best way to do it.

"With his dad and uncle, basketball is in his blood. But don't let his family history belie his skill or work ethic."

The other reason he's coming to Sydney is the NBA lockout. In an ordinary year, where NBA players aren't on strike, it would have been near impossible for an Australian team to recruit someone as talented as Grant, who averaged 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in his final year at Clemson.

"He's certainly on the NBA radar." Robilliard said.

"I've always thought we have a huge responsibility to our players to develop them further. That he's close to the NBA is obvious, so we've got a responsibility to build his game and try to get him there.

"He'll be a force on the boards. His wingspan is huge, his reach takes up a lot of space.

"I'll breathe a huge sigh of relief when he actually gets here."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...elative-newcomer/story-e6frey6i-1226111995151

 

[jlprk]

Thanks, this is the advantage of having an Australian correspondent on the board.

He wasn't drafted. I almost expect young Grant to have a twin like Harvey and Horace.

 

[MickZagger]

I remember watching him at Clemson. He wasnt anything special.

 

[maxiep]

Why wouldn't you want to play in Sydney? It's one of the world's great cities.

 

[ironcrotch]

I like how he's the nephew of Horace, instead of the son of Harvey. Even Harvey's kids are living in his brother's shadow.

 

[DUB]

Hardly any Australians would know who Harvey is, not many would even know Horace, hence the references to Jordan, Bryant, and the goggles.