Gonzaga’s Mark Few Criticizes NCAA Over Tyon Grant-Foster Eligibility Decision: ‘They’re Just Wrong’
Gonzaga head coach Mark Few voiced strong disapproval of the NCAA’s decision to deny Tyon Grant-Foster’s eligibility waiver, calling out the governing body after his team’s exhibition win on Sunday.
As the Bulldogs gear up for the 2025–26 season, they’ve been dealing with an ongoing eligibility battle involving Grant-Foster, a transfer from Grand Canyon. The NCAA recently denied his final appeal, prompting the player to seek a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for Oct. 23 in Spokane County.
“It’s been a really, really tough deal,” Few said. “In 37 years of coaching, I’ve seen a lot of waiver cases. I know it’s not easy for the NCAA with the volume of these requests, but I’ve never seen a case as unique as this.”
Gonzaga initially submitted a waiver request in June, which was rejected within three weeks. Two follow-up appeals in July and September were also denied, despite Grant-Foster’s unusual and compelling circumstances.
Grant-Foster’s college journey began at Indian Hills Community College in 2018. He later played at Kansas, then DePaul, where he suffered a life-threatening cardiac event during a game, underwent two heart surgeries, and missed the entire 2022–23 season. He returned in 2023–24 with Grand Canyon and earned WAC Player of the Year honors after appearing in 26 games.
Few emphasized the severity of what Grant-Foster has endured: “He literally died—his heart stopped not once, but twice. He wasn’t able to play basketball for two full years.”
The NCAA granted Grant-Foster an extra year for one of his DePaul seasons but ruled that his two years at a junior college counted toward his five-year eligibility clock. That interpretation is at the heart of his legal challenge.
Notably, other student-athletes have successfully contested similar NCAA rulings. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, for instance, won a case arguing that JUCO time should not count against eligibility, citing antitrust concerns and limitations on earning NIL income.
Although the NCAA didn’t broadly amend its five-year/four-season rule, a blanket waiver was approved in December 2024 for former JUCO athletes whose eligibility would have expired in 2024–25—potentially strengthening Grant-Foster’s legal case.
Few, who will be attending WCC media days in Las Vegas the same day as Grant-Foster’s injunction hearing, defended his player passionately.
“He’s put his heart and soul into this game,” Few said. “I’ve seen waivers granted for things like ‘my cousin wasn’t feeling well’ or ‘I didn’t play point guard, so I was mentally struggling.’ This case is far more serious.
“I’ve always supported the NCAA and understand their challenges,” Few concluded. “But on this one — they’re just wrong.”
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