Greg Gantt obtained his first Division I scholarship supply final month.
With affords shortly pouring in for different prospects within the 2019 basketball class, particularly Trinity Christian College teammates Joey Baker and Josh Nickelberry, it appeared like an extended overdue milestone for Gantt.
It's additionally price noting that Gantt, 15, has three years of highschool left, so he's within the early phases of a course of that may proceed to speed up, particularly together with his high-major potential as a 185-pound ahead.
“It was a giant aid after I lastly bought my first one,” stated Gantt, who now holds affords from Grambling State and Hampton. “It's just like the time has lastly come and a giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders. After all I’ve to maintain working, however for it to lastly occur, it felt actually good.”
Baker, Gantt and KJ Marshall had been freshmen who contributed to an unbelievable state championship run in February as a comparatively inexperienced Trinity Christian staff moved ahead with out injured NC State recruit Dennis Smith Jr. and gained three straight NCISAA 1-A playoff video games regardless of coming into the postseason. with a 14-14 report.
Now the Crusaders have added Nickelberry, a 6-4 switch from Northwood Temple Academy.
Baker, a top-30 nationwide prospect, already has 10 Division I affords. Nickelberry, ranked No. 58 within the class by 247Sports, has six affords.
A part of the explanation for Gantt's gradual rise is the truth that he was sidelined for almost two months through the spring analysis interval attributable to a thumb damage suffered within the state finals. In late Could, Felton returned to the Beneath Armour-affiliated staff, enjoying in under-17 video games alongside 6-foot-7 Baker and Class of 2017 guard Jalek Felton, who has dedicated to North Carolina.
Whereas Felton scored 29 factors and Baker had 15 to finish their mid-July look on the UAA Finals Showcase in Georgia, Gantt chipped in with 10 factors, 5 rebounds and two steals.
“It was onerous to take a seat on the sidelines and watch my pals play, figuring out I might assist,” Gantt stated. “I lastly bought again on the court docket and I used to be excited. I wasn't the identical as earlier than I bought harm, however I used to be working my manner again.”
Gantt has lived within the Fayetteville space since he was 2 years outdated and is about to start out his fourth yr at Trinity Christian. He was all the time tall for his age, however he lastly caught as much as Baker, his good buddy, once they reached eighth grade.
Baker performed on the Trinity Christian varsity staff that yr. Gantt hoped to do the identical, however a staph an infection in his leg served as a brief setback. As a varsity freshman, he was instrumental within the title recreation victory, scoring and passing successfully in opposition to the run-and-jump lure to assist the Crusaders fend off Christian's third-quarter comeback try.
Baker and Gantt can play collectively, with Baker serving as extra of a fringe risk and Gantt serving as an influence ahead or undersized heart. He has perimeter expertise, however enhancing his outdoors taking pictures is without doubt one of the focal factors this offseason.
Gantt was one in every of Trinity Christian's high rebounders, shot blockers and defenders as a freshman, exhibiting versatility to protect any place and permitting coach Heath Vandevender's staff to modify screens.
“In eighth grade, that's when my recreation began to vary,” Gantt stated. “That's after we began exercising extra and we knew train was a precedence.”
In-state ties hyperlink Gantt to Louisiana-based Grambling State, as head coach Shawn Walker performed one season with Vandevender at Campbell College, and Virginia-based Hampton, which has former Catawba Faculty participant Brian Graves as an assistant. Baker and Gantt attended an elite camp in Tennessee in June earlier than taking an unofficial joint go to to Kentucky, so Trinity Christian's sophomore class is as deep as it’s gifted.
Pay little consideration to the comparatively low variety of bids that Gantt presently owns.
“I actually suppose that is going to be his breakout yr,” Vandevender stated. “I believe he's a tall child. If he retains rising, he may very well be the tallest when he's finished.”
Author Bret Strelow may be reached at strelowb@fayobserver.com or 486-3513.
