JaKeenan Gant

JaKeenan Gant (born May 6, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for Ulsan Mobis Phoebus of the Korean Basketball League (KBL). He played college basketball for Missouri and Louisiana.

JaKeenan Gant
Ulsan Mobis Phoebus
PositionPower forward
LeagueKorean Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1996-05-06) May 6, 1996
Savannah, Georgia
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight216 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High schoolEffingham County
(Springfield, Georgia)
College
NBA draft2019 / Undrafted
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2019–2020Fort Wayne Mad Ants
2020–presentMobis Phoebus
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year (2018, 2019)
  • First-team All-Sun Belt (2019)
  • Third-team All-Sun Belt (2018)
  • Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year (2018)
  • Mr. Georgia Basketball (2014)

Early life and high school

Gant was born in Savannah, Georgia and grew up in the nearby city of Springfield, where he attended Effingham County High School. Gant averaged 17.9 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game in his junior season and was named the Region 3-5A and Georgia Class 5A Player of the Year as the Rebels reached the GHSA state semifinals.[1] He averaged 21 points, 10.5 rebounds, four blocks, 2.8 assists and one steal per game as a senior and was again named 5A Player of the Year as well as Mr. Georgia Basketball.[2] Rated a consensus four-star recruit, Gant was ranked as one of the top 60 college prospects in his class and in the top ten at his position. He committed to played college basketball at Missouri going into his senior year over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisville, and Indiana.[3]

College career

Missouri

Gant played in 23 games (six starts) as a freshman, averaging 4.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game and shot 51.6 percent on field goal attempts.[4] He missed nine games due to a suspension after he and fellow freshman Tiger D'Angelo Allen were arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault.[5] As a sophomore Gant averaged 5.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, again primarily off the bench. Gant was suspended a second time by the team in February after he and teammate Russell Woods were both cited for possession of drug paraphernalia.[6] Following the season, Gant announced that he would be leaving the program in order to move closer to home after his mother was diagnosed with an undisclosed health issue.[7]

Louisiana

Gant ultimately transferred to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After sitting out one year due to NCAA transfer rules, Gant immediately stepped in as a starter for the Ragin' Cajuns the following season and was named the Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and third team All-Conference after averaging 13.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.[8] As a redshirt senior, Gant garnered first team All-Sun Belt honors and was again named Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 20.5 points per game (third-highest in the conference) and leading the conference with 8.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots.[9]

Professional career

Gant worked out for several teams leading up to the 2019 NBA Draft, but ultimately went unselected.[10] Gant signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Indiana Pacers on July 1, 2019.[11][12] Gant was waived by the Pacers on October 9, 2019.[13] After being waived, Gant joined the Pacers' NBA G League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.[14] In his first professional season, Gant averaged 8.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.[15]

On June 16, 2020, he has signed with Ulsan Mobis Phoebus of the Korean Basketball League (KBL).[16]

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References
  1. "Effingham County HS star basketball player Jakeenan Gant commits to Missouri". Savannah Morning News. August 18, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  2. Knight, Dennis (April 16, 2014). "BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jakeenan Gant, Effingham County". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  3. Birdsong, Nick (March 6, 2013). "Top 10 PF JaKeenan Gant chooses Missouri over Alabama, Georgia among others (w/video)". AL.com. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  4. Matter, Dave (October 29, 2015). "Undersized Mizzou has remodeled front line". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  5. Brown, C.L. (September 17, 2014). "Missouri's Gant, Allen suspended". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  6. "Jakeenan Gant, Russell Woods suspended from Missouri basketball team". The Oklahoman. Associated Press. February 5, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  7. Kohn, Ryan (April 21, 2016). "Update: Jakeenan Gant leaves Missouri men's basketball program". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  8. Sulkowski, Frank (March 5, 2018). "Former ECHS standout Jakeenan Gant hauls in several Sun Belt Conference honors". WJCL.com. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  9. "UL's JaKeenan Gant selected to NABC All-District squad". The Advocate. March 21, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  10. Buckley, Tim (June 19, 2019). "Seven teams work out UL forward Gant prior to NBA Draft". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  11. "Indiana Pacers Sign Bowen, Gant and Wilcox". NBA.com/Pacers. July 1, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  12. Peloquin, Steve (July 2, 2019). "JaKeenan Gant Officially Signs with Pacers". ESPN1420.com. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  13. "Pacers waive JaKeenan Gant". Fox Sports Indiana. October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  14. Adams, Luke (October 28, 2019). "NBA G League Affiliate Players For 2019/20". HoopsRumors.com.
  15. "Jakeenan Gant is a newcomer at Mobis Phoebus". Asia-Basket.com. June 16, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  16. "Hyundai Mobis ink Shawn Long, Jakeenan Gant". Sportando. June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
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