BORN: 30/05/2002
LAST TEAM: Jackson State Tigers (NCAA)
HEIGHT: 211 cm
WEIGHT: 130 kg
PRO
- Size – physicality
- Solid finisher
- Rim protector
WEAKNESSES
- Atlheticism – quickness
- Shooting range
- Versatility
VIDEO
ACTUAL
POTENTIAL
INTRODUCTION
Shannon Grant was recruited by Mercer University, where he played from 2020 to 2023. He didn’t find much playing time as the backup first to Felipe Haase and then to Jalyn McCreary. He then transferred to Florida A&M where he found a spot in the starting five in 23 of the 29 games played and for the first time averaged double-digit points. For his year as a graduate student, Grant joined the Tigers, where he has become a key player in the starting lineup.
PHYSICAL
Shannon Grant possesses an imposing presence in the paint with his size as a true big man. His substantial frame allows him to establish strong positioning, making it difficult to move him and enabling him to absorb physical contacts effectively. While his size is advantageous for interior play, it may limit his lateral quickness and overall dynamism. Slow and not very reactive, he needs to work on his body by adding muscle to find greater athleticism. Despite everything, he has good footwork in the offensive phase, allowing him bursts of agility for his size. Overall, he does not have much stamina and usually plays short stints, but for the first time in his career this season, he is able to play for 24 minutes per game.
OFFENSIVE PHASE
Shannon Grant is an efficient scorer around the basket, utilizing his size and strength to finish plays in the low post (58.6% on 7.6 attempts last year). He prefers to go to his right hand but has good footwork control that allows him to find space patiently. He needs to pay more attention to his limited handling skills to avoid being double-teamed (1.8 turnovers per game); he compensates with a solid presence on the boards (2.4 per game in the first 25 matches with the Tigers), where he can easily convert lay-ups. However, his offensive game is primarily confined to the paint, with limited range extending beyond the mid-range area. Additionally, in screening situations, he tends not to generate significant advantages as he lacks the explosiveness to roll to the basket or be involved in short-roll reads. Expanding offensive solutions is essential to secure greater offensive versatility.
DEFENSIVE PHASE
Shannon Grant leverages his size to protect the rim (0.8 blocks per game in 24′), making him a difficult positional defender to move. As in the offensive phase, he is able to influence the game; he can deny space to opposing big men, and his teammates can direct guards towards his help, showcasing his presence as a deterrent in the paint. His rebounding is decent; greater responsiveness and explosiveness could make him elite. However, his lateral mobility may be a concern when defending quicker, more perimeter-oriented players, potentially making him susceptible in pick-and-roll situations.
IMPROVED AREAS
Shanon Grant should focus on enhancing his conditioning and agility to improve lateral movement and overall quickness. Expanding his offensive repertoire to include a reliable mid-range jumper or developing a face-up game could make him a more versatile scoring threat. Additionally, increasing his versatility could make him a more productive player with significant room for improvement. In his rookie season, he can have a good impact in a physical environment, where the pace is not too high, allowing him to leverage his physical strength, which can be dominant in a mid to lower-level European league.