Thank you G

Sometimes the curtain closes a little too soon

About an hour ago, I witnessed one of my greatest friends tell me that he is done playing basketball. (due to injury) I am really at a loss for words when I think about. I am sitting here typing this post and I can hardly think of what to say...

For those of you who know Grant, you know how great of a guy he is. He is one of the most hard-working people I know in all aspects of life. He's dedicated his life to the game of basketball and he uses the work ethic basketball has taught him to excel at school work and all other aspects of his life.

Grant is that guy who gets in the gym on the weekend and on holidays. Grant never stopped working hard and I know that he will never stop. I remember freshmen year when we had the chance to go home for a quick weekend at the beginning of the season before we started practicing and having games on Saturdays that he would always get on the treadmill and run because he didn't want to be dead at practice on the following Monday. This thanksgiving, his girlfriend, Kennedy, posted a snap chat of Grant running in the dark on Thanksgiving day, while Kennedy drove behind him so he could see the road. Grant was coming back from a foot injury, and for him to do that is a testament to his work ethic.

For the past 3 years, well some of this year, Grant and I spent hours together working out in the gym on Sunday nights, getting up shots and pushing weight in the weight room. If you needed someone to work out with, Grant was always that guy. It worked perfect for me since he is one of my best friends and has been my roommate since Freshman year.

Grant also liked to be early to everything, one of our many similarities, so we always tried to lift and do a shooting routine before practice.

If I could create the perfect teammate, it would be Grant. Grant was a heck of a basketball player and an even better leader. He pushed the team at practice and made everyone around him better. I have never played with anyone who sacrificed his body more than him. I think it was a preconceived notion that he had to, but even if it wasn't that, Grant was going to give it everything that he had. I have never seen someone dive on the floor for more lose-balls than Grant. Sometimes I understood, but other times the ball would bounce out of bounds 5 times and he would still run after it. I just had to shake my head and run over to help him up. The man has bruises and scares on his hips that will probably be there forever. It didn't matter if he had scabs that would open up and bleed all over, he still would get on the floor. He even wore the compression shorts that had pads all over them and he still bled all over the place.

Grant's attitude is something that cannot ever be matched. I think he has had the most injuries out of anybody I have played with these last three years and he was able to get through them and bounce back every time. He may have got down, but was always going to work hard and encourage us regardless if he was out there with us or not.

His attitude this year was incredible. I think he got to play in maybe 12 games, and had to watch all of our other games and practices. Sidelined by concussions, he still came to every practice and sat in watched us. That was after he recovered, because it is not smart to watch right after a concussion. He spent a lot of time in the room while we practiced at first.

As I sit here, teary eyed and typing this...it's hard to believe that we will never step on the court together in a Bethel uniform again. It saddens me to know that we will never get to practice every day again together. I don't like knowing that we will never compete against each other again. It sucks knowing you won't be on any of our trips with us. But I want my friend to be healthy and have an incredibly successful life. I say that because that is important. There are many more things in this life that are more important than basketball. Basketball is just a game. But its a game that brought Grant and I together.

When I hear somebody talk about giving their blood, sweat, and tears. I will always think about Grant giving it his all during our career's here together. Basketball is great, but I am more thankful that we get to friends.

Friends by fate and teammates by choice...

Thanks for everything G!