For months, Tyon Grant-Foster’s career was stuck in limbo, his fate resting in the hands of the NCAA. After a life-threatening medical scare and a remarkable comeback, he was told his time in college basketball was over.
But on Tuesday, a judge’s ruling changed everything, not just for the 25-year-old forward, but for a Gonzaga team with championship hopes.
Why Was Tyon Grant-Foster’s Eligibility Case So Complicated?
After months of uncertainty, Gonzaga forward Tyon Grant-Foster has been cleared to play this season following a pivotal ruling in Spokane County Superior Court. The 25-year-old was granted a preliminary injunction by Judge Maria Polin, which overruled the NCAA’s earlier decision to deny his eligibility waiver.
Understandably emotional scene inside the courtroom as Tyon Grant-Foster gets the preliminary injunction granted, allowing him to play for #Gonzaga this season. pic.twitter.com/PrUt4SCY6Q
— Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) October 28, 2025
The decision timing was critical, coming just an hour before Gonzaga’s exhibition matchup against Western Oregon and allowing him to join his team almost immediately. Grant-Foster’s case had been tangled in eligibility complications for a long time. A 2018 high school class member, he began his college career with two seasons at Indian Hills Community College. He then moved to Kansas, appearing in 22 games during the 2020-21 campaign.
His journey took a terrifying turn after he transferred to DePaul. During the opening game of the 2021-22 season, Grant-Foster collapsed at halftime, an incident that led to multiple heart surgeries and sidelined him for 16 months.
MORE: Fans Flip the Script on Mark Few After NCAA Denies Gonzaga Guard Tyon Grant-Foster’s Waiver
Despite the career-threatening setback, he made a remarkable return at Grand Canyon for the 2023-24 season, averaging 20.1 points and 6.1 rebounds while earning WAC Player of the Year honors. His leadership was instrumental in helping the Lopes secure their first-ever NCAA tournament victory over Saint Mary’s.
The NCAA, however, viewed his two seasons at Indian Hills and his time at Kansas and Grand Canyon as his full four years of eligibility. Grant-Foster’s attorneys successfully challenged that assessment, citing a blanket waiver issued in December 2024 for former junior college athletes. They argued this entitled him to an additional season of play.
What Does the Ruling Mean for Gonzaga and the NCAA?
The court’s decision provided a significant boost to Gonzaga’s frontcourt, but it also highlighted the ongoing frustrations with the NCAA’s waiver process. As sports analyst Seth Davis noted, the situation is another example of the organization’s struggles.
Huge news for the Zags but the real story is it’s yet another example of the NCAA being legally prevented from enforcing even its most basic rules. But don’t worry everyone Congress will fix it!! https://t.co/fhwk6O8IG4
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) October 28, 2025
Following the verdict, an emotional Grant-Foster rushed from the courthouse to Gonzaga’s arena, entering the McCarthey Athletic Center 90 minutes later. He described the months-long fight as a heavy burden finally lifted.
“I’ve been dealing with so much uncertainty … it was just like dead weight,” Grant-Foster said. “Now that the weight’s off me, I can sleep. That weight was just … I jump higher.”
With the injunction secured, Grant-Foster is expected to be a major contributor immediately. He is projected to start alongside preseason All-WCC first-teamers Graham Ike and Braden Huff when the No. 21 Bulldogs open their season on Nov. 3 against Texas Southern.
