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According to SI’s Pete Thamel, sophomore forward Jerami Grant will announce that he is entering the NBA Draft. Grant has been projected in most mock drafts as a lottery pick in this June’s draft. The sophomore averaged 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds this year, however he was bothered by a back injury down the stretch and in the NCAA Tournament. Grant is the second SU player to leave early for the NBA Draft in the last three weeks joining Tyler Ennis. Grant and Ennis also join CJ Fair and Baye Keita who leave as graduating seniors.
Grant brings a lot of athleticism to the next level, but his game remains unpolished in some areas of the offensive end, namely a jump shot. The weakness remaining in his game led many to think Grant might stick around at SU for another year. The extra time on the Hill likely would have benefitted him and made him a better player eventually when he made the jump to the NBA. At times he was a little wild around the basket and he had trouble consistently hitting jump shots.
The Orange could look to fill Grant’s place with DaJuan Coleman, who Grant actually stepped in for after a season-ending injury to Coleman. Coleman has largely been disappointing since joining SU from Jamesville-Dewitt, but he is expected to be a starter again if healthy next year and will need to take on a bigger role and stay healthy, if he is a starter again. Also playing a role will be incoming freshman Chris McCullough, and rising sophomore Tyler Roberson. Because of the lack of playing time Roberson got as a freshman, and McCullough will just be entering SU as a freshman this summer, both are truly unknowns but they will need to contribute to the Orange’s success. Grant leaves the Orange with a void of scoring, rebounding and energy. It is likely up to this trio to fill the void next season.
While his game might have had wholes and he could have benefitted from another year at SU, Jerami Grant is ready to declare for the NBA Draft according to reports.
Posted by: Seth Goldberg
