Horace Grant, Clemson Deserve National Attention

Horace is hardly a name for anyone 6 feet 10, not that Grant is particularly intimidating, either. He’s also got a tiny voice that doesn’t go with his big hook, and a timid sort of smile that doesn’t match his glare on the court. But Clemson center Horace Grant has become a more assertive person this season, and the result is that he perhaps is the Atlantic Coast Conference’s most dominant player.

Last season, Grant labored for a Clemson team that went 19-15 and wound up in its usual spot in the middle of the conference, talented but inconsistent and not particularly respected. But this season, Grant led the league in scoring, averaging 21.2 points, and directed the 13th-ranked Tigers to a best-ever second in league play behind conference unbeaten and second-ranked North Carolina. For his efforts, Grant last week unanimously was named first team all-conference, and the Associated Press’ ACC player of the year.

“I never felt like player of the year,” Grant said. “In the past, Clemson wasn’t getting the respect it deserved, and I didn’t get much notoriety. In order to win player of the year, first Clemson had to win, and then I had to get that notoriety.”

Grant still didn’t think he had won anything until football player Terence Roulac stopped him in a hallway and said congratulations. “For what?” Grant replied.

Another award could be forthcoming; the ACC sportswriters’ choice for player of the year, recognized as the conference’s official award, won’t be announced until after the ACC tournament, which begins Friday at Capital Centre in Landover, Md. But Grant is considered by many a near-lock for that one, as well, and is sure to be one of the dominant presences in tournament play. The Tigers (25-4, 10-4) will meet seventh-place Wake Forest at 7 p.m. EST.

Before the season, Clemson Coach Cliff Ellis went to Grant and told him this could be the Tigers’ year, if he did the right things. Grant responded by putting a calm temperament and steady work ethic to good use on a team that was far from calm and steady.

“He’s matured,” guard Michael Tait said. “There were spots last year where we’d only go halfway. This year, it’s been all out every day. A large part of success depends on him. He’s really made sure that things don’t get out of hand, if there’s a problem or something.

“Horace is very modest about his performance and everything else. But deep down I think he feels he deserves this.”

Grant took charge of the Tigers, calling team meetings whenever the mood struck him or problems loomed. The result was an attitudinal shift to stability among the Tigers in what started out as another unstable year. First, Ellis suspended sophomore guard Michael Best for poor conduct. Then, guard Grayson Marshall was suspended for a disagreement with a teammate. Grant, though he felt awkward at first, stepped in and smoothed things over before they got worse.

“The first time it felt funny,” he said. “But I got used to it. If something goes wrong, I get it out in the open so it doesn’t linger. I took it on myself. It’s just making sure the guys don’t make public issues of themselves, and do the right thing.”

Grant began as a talented prospect from Sparta, Ga., but not necessarily an extraordinary one. His ability comes primarily from the countless hours he put in with twin brother Harvey, who plays for Oklahoma. He spent an average of an hour extra after practice working with coaches at Hancock Central High School before he became an all-state player. His progress in the ACC has been similarly steady if not remarkable.

Grant simply has good quickness, good moves around the basket and a smartness in his overall play. He has a complete game, averaging 9.5 rebounds, and totaling 25 blocked shots and 33 steals.

“He puts himself in the position to do something good more often than not,” Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “When we scout him there’s not one thing that stands out. He’s just a hard worker. There are some guys called hustlers who are smaller and slower. Horace has great natural ability, but he’s also one of those hustlers to go along with his talent. He puts himself in good position to be successful, and that’s an art.”

From a technical standpoint, Grant’s work inside has opened up scoring throughout the lineup. As teams concentrated on trying to stop Grant in the lane area, the Tigers became one of the best three-point shooting clubs in the conference, led by Tait.

Grant has become adept at shoveling the ball off when he is ganged up on inside, and has 58 assists. That is a significant change from last year, when the Tigers displayed a degree of selfishness. Everyone was looking to score, and the team’s performance consequently was one of either hot or cold streaks. Now, when both the inside and outside angles are working consistently, Clemson can be virtually unstoppable.

“It’s not hard to be unselfish,” Grant said. “When I see a teammate open I try to get him the ball. Anyone with common sense would do that. I think the whole game is mainly common sense. Or basketball sense.”

Although Grant’s future in the NBA might seem a foregone conclusion, he is not yet a star in scouting eyes. According to NBA director of scouting Marty Blake, Grant is the sort of player who could get lost in the crop of good, but not particularly distinctive, players coming out this year.

“He runs the court well, he works hard, and he’s 6-10, and there aren’t many 6-10s out there,” Blake said. “But this is the type of draft where you can’t figure out who No. 2 is (behind Navy’s David Robinson). It may take a while to get to him.”

“He’s so emotionally stable,” Krzyzewski said. “He’s always up, and he plays controlled. That’s his big secret, I think. He’s been the major part of their success. I really didn’t know he had all that leadership.”