ACC Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

10. Jerian Grant

Grant was the starting point guard and one of the top players during Notre Dame’s great success earlier this past decade. A 6’5 guard from Bowie, Maryland who starred at the famous DeMatha High School, he began his career with the Fighting Irish in 2010 when the program was still in the Big East. His final two seasons came in the ACC and they’re certainly worth considering today.

His junior season was actually tumultuous, as Grant was ruled academically ineligible after twelve games where he averaged 19.0 points and 6.2 assists for the Fighting Irish. After uncertainty, he skipped transferring or declaring for the NBA Draft and would have quite a senior season. Grant averaged 16.5 points, 6.7 assists, shot the ball well from all over the court, and led Notre Dame to the Elite Eight. Grant helped take the Fighting Irish to the ACC Tournament title and then played every minute of their Tourney run, including a 15-point effort in their loss to Kentucky.

Grant likely would have been even more impactful had he not missed more than half of his junior season, but that senior year more than made up for it. Not only did he get the Fighting Irish to their first Elite Eight in 36 years; he was also a First Team All-American and the ACC Tournament MVP. Grant played his best basketball and helped lead a very talented roster to higher heights under Mike Brey. He’d later become a first-round NBA Draft pick.