Jackson Grant Enters Transfer Portal

Mar 15, 2023 - 7:15 PM

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Husky big man Jackson Grant announced this morning that he is entering the transfer portal. He will have 3 years to play 2 at his next stop.

Grant entered the Washington program as a top-100 recruit and seemed to be a stretch 5 option in Mike Hopkins’ defensive zone scheme after showing off good outside touch at Olympia High. Expectations increased after Grant was named to the McDonald’s All-American team despite being ranked well below a normal participant. It was clear almost immediately though in Jackson’s true freshman season that he wasn’t ready for D1 competition. That was exacerbated by Grant reportedly experiencing a particularly bad bout with Covid that caused him to lose a significant amount of weight. Washington still had Grant appear in 25 games due to a lack of options at the center position but he only averaged 6.5 minutes per game and shot 37.5% from the field.

It was somewhat of a surprise this fall when it was announced that Grant was redshirting to work on building up his body but seemed like it might be a good long-term move. That plan flew out the window though when Franck Kepnang tore his ACL. Grant instead entered the rotation briefly but it once again became clear that the Huskies struggled mightily with him in the game and there was a reason the plan was to redshirt.

Ultimately, Grant appeared in 14 games this year and shot just 13.3% from the field and 37.5% from the free throw line. He finishes his Husky career having gone 0/10 from the 3-point line. His rebounding rates particularly on offense were solid for a 6’10 center but after 2 seasons it became clear a monumental leap would be needed for Grant to contribute meaningfully for a Pac-12 team.

It is not a surprise that the two players who have entered the transfer portal so far are Langston Wilson and Jackson Grant. Both were tried out at times as the backup center following Kepnang’s injury but it seems the coaching staff played them in couple game bursts as neither took hold of the position and often just forewent having a backup center. That inconsistent playing time seemingly at random is one of the blaring warning signs that a player is going to want to transfer at season’s end to at the very least have a more defined role even if it isn’t the role they originally wanted. With Grant’s portal the Huskies now have one scholarship opening but there is likely more attrition to come.

Grant’s commitment to Washington came early in his high school career and set the stage for the Huskies to try to put together a good recruiting class around him. He grew up a Dawg fan and it would’ve been tremendous for him to succeed for his favorite hometown school. Unfortunately it just wasn’t meant to be and it is likely for the best that Grant finds somewhere else he can develop without the pressure he has faced trying to live up to expectations.

Thank you Jackson and here’s to hoping that you’re able to thrive in your next basketball home.