Qua Grant is ready for the challenge of playing Division-I basketball. 

Grants joins the Shockers after transferring from Division-II West Texas. Grant said that he’s always been ready to make the switch to Division I and felt that this is where he belongs. 

During Grant’s three seasons with West Texas A&M he earned All-Lone Star Conference status every year and made the all-defensive team twice. Last year, Grant scored a career-high 22.4 points per game, while shooting 52.3% from the field.

“I don’t think he should’ve played Division-II before this but everybody’s journey is different,” sophomore Tyson Etienne said of Grant. “Obviously he was able to show everybody what we see in practice every day. He definitely brings a competitive nature. I like it when he guards me in practice because I know I’m getting better.”

Grant said the main reason he decided to come play for Wichita State was the coaching staff. He said that he felt the coaching staff was genuine and their zoom call didn’t feel scripted. 

Grant said he was always ready to make that jump from Division I to Division II after not originally receiving any D1 offers in high school. Grant was just “trusting the process and sticking to the course.” It just took time. 

“I played harder, played with a chip on my shoulder,” Grant said.

Grant made his impact felt in WSU’s exhibition game,  leading the newcomers in scoring, tallying 11 points in his Shocker debut. Grant was effective in attacking the basket, shooting 4-5 on two-pointers, while also contributing a team-high four assists off the bench. 

“He made a difference,” head coach Isaac Brown said. “He is able to create shots off the bounce. That opened everything up for us, the fact he kept getting in the lane. He did a tremendous job off the bench and that’s why we recruited him.”

Grant said he was excited heading into his first game of Division-I basketball.

“I was looking forward to the fans, getting out there with my teammates,” Grant said. We’ve been waiting for this for a long time, it feels like a year. We’ve been here since June just working and it was exciting to be out there.”

Brown said that Grant fits right in with the team.“He’s doing a good job of driving the ball, creating help situations, dumping it down to the big guys, getting in the lane, kicking it out to the shooters, Dexter and Tyson,” he said. “He’s done a good job of finishing at the rim and drawing fouls.”