On Oct. 26, at 1:51 p.m., FAU’s all-time leading scorer, guard Greg Gantt, announced he would be trying out for the NBA Development League (D-League) draft this year.
“Been working hard these past months…came along [sic] way. Excited to have entered the NBA D league draft and see what my future holds #nov,” Gantt tweeted.
Gantt, who graduated last spring, was destined to go pro after FAU — until an innocuous layup went wrong and, as the UP first reported, resulted in a torn right patella tendon in April.
The D-League draft takes place Friday, Nov. 1 and will consist of eight rounds and 16 picks per round.
“I feel like I have a good chance based on the stuff I did in college,” Gantt told the UP.
Viewed as the “minor leagues” of the NBA, the D-League allows players to work on their craft and compete with world-class –– yet similarly raw –– athletes.
“We are extremely excited for Greg,” FAU assistant coach Mike Jarvis II told the UP. “He has worked very hard to get to a point where he can realize his life-long dream.”
Gantt’s recovery from the completely torn patella was supposed to take eight to nine months.
Right now, he’s on his sixth.
“I’m probably at like 70 percent. I can do everything on the court fine,” said Gantt, who expects to be 100 percent about two weeks after the draft takes place. “I’m not cleared to do contact yet.”
Gantt is currently training with Stan Remy from First Class Sports, a company that’s worked with notable NBAers such as Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem, Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Knight, and Washington Wizards guard Trevor Ariza. Knight and Ariza are Miami natives.
Gantt believes he’s being pushed to his extremes.
“[Remy’s] killin’ me as far as conditioning,” Gantt said. “I haven’t done anything like this in a long time.”
Gantt, who scored 1,972 career points, started all 32 games for FAU in 2012, averaging 21.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest. Despite never winning a conference tournament game with the Owls, Gantt knows the school gave him a platform to display his talents.
As for where he wants to take those talents, Gantt isn’t being choosy.
“Somewhere. Just to have an opportunity to prove myself. No one knows who you are. I’ll be happy with anyone who takes the chance on me,” Gantt said.
“It’s still my dream to play pro basketball.”
[For more on Greg Gantt’s comeback story, check out the University Press’ basketball special issue on Nov. 12]
