The Domino Effect of Coach Grant’s Departure

With the recent moves within the program, it appears to look like the Cougars are going into full rebuild mode. Coach Earl Grant recently acquired the head coaching position at Boston College. Zep Jasper, Brevin Galloway, Dontavius King and Brenden Tucker all have entered the NCAA transfer portal. Jasper, King and Galloway have already made their decisions with Jasper going to Auburn University, King heading to North Carolina Central University and Galloway to Boston College. College of Charleston recruit Kanye Jones announced that he would be reopening his recruitment process due to coach Grant’s hiring at Boston College.

All this information was an absolute bomb for fans of Charleston basketball. Since his hiring in 2014, Coach Grant steadily improved the men’s basketball program here at the College. He led the team to two CAA championship games, winning the championship in the 2017-18 season. This win sent the Cougars to the NCAA tournament in 2018 where they would square off against Auburn in the first round. This was the first NCAA Tournament appearance for the College since 1999 which was a big deal for the program and their supporters. The Cougars came up short in a game that came down to the wire.

In 2017, Coach Grant won both CAA Coach of the Year and NABC All-District Coach of the Year. This was a year where he led the College to a 25-10 record, the best record the program has had since 2009. He would go on to top that record the following season, finishing 26-9.

During his time as Head Coach for the College, Grant has coached his fair share of talent, having three of his former players make it to the NBA in three consecutive years. Guard Joe Chealy received a two-way contract from the Charlotte Hornets after going undrafted. Forward Jarrell Brantley was picked in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz where he currently plays. And guard Grant Riller was selected in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets where he now plays.