Sudden impacts: GCU's 16-1 record driven by transfers Tyon Grant-Foster, Collin Moore

No matter how deep a hole Grand Canyon's basketball team gets itself into, the Antelopes can count on two guys in particular to help get them out of it.

Transfers Tyon Grant-Foster and Collin Moore have brought energy, athleticism, skill and competitiveness to help GCU to the nation's best record (16-1), a 13-game winning streak and some national notoriety not seen in mid-January.

Coach Bryce Drew and his staff, turning to the transfer portal every year to try to get the program to another level, struck gold after last season, getting talents like Grant-Foster and Moore to come to Phoenix.

Not only those two, but big men Duke Brennan, Sydney Curry and Lok Wur came through the portal to boost GCU this year during what could be the most historic of seasons.

"I think with the transfer portal, it's changed college basketball a lot," Drew said. "One of our objectives in the spring was to get some more experienced players. Tyon and Collin have been terrific since day one, blending in and playing with a ton of energy and aggressiveness."

Grant-Foster ranks 14th in the country in points per game at 20.6. Moore, 6-4, 205 pounds, averages nine points and leads the team with 32 steals and has 12 blocked shots. His 42 assists are second on the team to Ray Harrison's 61.

How did GCU land these guys?

Grant-Foster, who is a 6-foot-7 dynamo, a high-level player, hadn't played in a college basketball game in two years before coming to GCU. He had a medical scare in the first half of the season opener for DePaul that derailed his life and career. But it never entered his mind that he wouldn't play again.

It was after a big breakout year at Indian Hills Community College that Grant-Foster, who grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, was considered the second-best junior-college transfer recruit in the nation. He landed at Kansas, where he had a limited role on one of the most talented rosters in the country. That sparked his transfer move to DePaul. But after hitting a buzzer-beating 3 at the end of the first half in the season opener, he collapsed in the locker room and had to be rushed to a hospital.

His basketball career was put on hold, after having to be revived twice on the way to the hospital.

More than a year later, he was medically cleared to play again.

So out of all the schools he could have gone to make his comeback, why GCU, a mid-major that was coming off its second NCAA Tournament appearance in three years under Drew?

"The belief that the coaches had in me," Grant-Foster said after Tuesday's practice in preparation for Thursday's game against Utah Valley at Global Credit Union Arena. "And my relationship with Coach (Jamall) Walker, too, played a big part."

Walker, an assistant coach since Drew came in four years ago to lead the program, spent eight seasons as an assistant at Illinois before coming to GCU. He knew Grant-Foster during the AAU recruiting circuits and always believed in him, Grant-Foster said.

"I just felt comfortable coming here," Grant-Foster said. "I knew Coach Drew believed in me, as well. It felt like home."

Moore, who is from Arkansas and led North Little Rock to a 7A championship before prepping his senior year at Sunrise Christian Academy, was a three-sport star in high school. He also played football and ran track. He was part of an NCAA Tournament team as a second-year freshman in 2022 at Georgia State, helping it to the Sun Belt Tournament championship.

Last year, he missed the first 18 games due to a thumb injury, before leading the team with 14.2 points a game and making 28 steals in 13 games.

But when he entered the portal, he said he ended up taking three visits, to Duquesne, Middle Tennessee State and GCU. Grant-Foster had already made his decision to go to Grand Canyon before Moore locked in with the Lopes.

"GCU, man," Moore said. "I just wanted to play with Tyon and Gabe (McGlothan)," Moore said. "I needed a fresh start. I haven't played a full season since I've been in college."

How they complement each other

Harrison and McGlothan were the only returning starters back from last year's WAC Tournament championship team. They knew how well they worked together. But when Grant-Foster and Moore came aboard, it just amped the level of play big time.

They're both great in transition, change the game on defense with their ability to block shots, and are capable of hitting 3-point shots that can flip it when the Lopes look lost.

"The energy that they have sparks a fire that you can carry throughout this program," said McGlothan, a 6-foot-7, 235-pound forward, who is averaging 14.3 points and eight rebounds per game to go with 15 total blocks and 14 steals. "And it starts with those two. Last year that was something I'd say we lacked a little bit. That spark on defense at times."

Harrison, who was the WAC Tournament Outstanding Player and is the Preseason WAC Player of the Year, averages 14 points. He was more than happy this season to share the offensive load with Grant-Foster able to close games with highlight plays. He said Moore's energy is infectious.

"Some guys are just approaching the game," Harrison said of Moore. "He takes things personal."

Grant-Foster said the bond with all of the players started last summer with the trip to the Bahamas.

"And then here, playing against each other, we were always willing to get better," Grant-Foster said. "We knew what we could do."

Grant-Foster and Moore love playing off of each other, how they're able to feed off of each other, while on the court.

"Collin is our X factor," Grant-Foster said. "If he plays well, we're one of the best teams in the country, I think. The energy that he brings, his defense, his shot making, whenever he's on and doing what he does, we're a completely different team.

"It's so much different. Collin can score. Collin can defend. Collin can make the right reads."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: GCU's 16-1 record driven by transfers Tyon Grant-Foster, Collin Moore