Anton Grady brings old-man moves to Wichita State’s frontcourt from Cleveland

In a sport where the high-flyer, the explosive, the elevator man is worshipped, there is a place for the ground-bound wizard, the professor, the old man schooling the youngsters.

At Wichita State, that place is Anton Grady’s space on the court, where he expertly uses his experience and body to get things done in a non-flashy, Tim Duncan kind of way.

“He has all the little tricks,” freshman guard Ty Taylor said. “On screens, he might grab you, hold you a little bit. On offense, he takes his time, very methodical. Every move he does is very thought out. It’s very rarely out of control. I guess that’s old man — he’s just not going.”

Grady (6-foot-8, 230 pounds) is happy with that label. He is a senior transfer from Cleveland State, eligible immediately as a graduate transfer, who is expected to give the Shockers a veteran scorer and rebounder around which coach Gregg Marshall can build his front court.

“It’s something I embrace,” he said. “I like to play more like Tim Duncan, Zach Randolph. I’m not the guy who’s going to go out there and try to dunk the ball 50 times. Good fundamental basketball. Skill work.”

Grady endured three knee surgeries (two left, one right) and sat out most of the 2012-13 season at Cleveland State after tearing his meniscus. The knee injuries changed the way he plays, but not his productivity. In 2013-14, he returned to average 10.4 points and 6.8 rebounds. He followed that with an All-Horizon League season in 2014-15, averaging 14.3 points, making 48.8 percent of his shots, and 7.9 rebounds.

“I’m actually more comfortable playing the way I am now than I was playing my freshman year, when I was still a little jumping jack,” he said. “Back then, I was just running and jumping and everything and I really wasn’t playing the game from a thinking point. Now I think the game.”

Sophomore forward Rashard Kelly can provide witness after guarding Grady in practice and pickup games. He offers classes in footwork, back-to-the-basket moves, bank shots, pump-fakery and jump hooks on a regular basis. His jump shot is effective out to around the three-point arc. At Cleveland State, he made 4 of 10 as a junior.

“He’s an old-school dude,” Kelly said. “Most of the young guys try to dunk and do all the flashy plays. He’s just going to make sure he gets it done. If you want somebody to put points up, get the job done and get some rebounds, that’s the guy you want to watch.”

Grady, from Cleveland, discussed his next stop with cousin Earl Boykins, a former NBA player, after he decided to leave Cleveland State. They researched rosters to find out which school needed a big man. He knew about WSU’s success under coach Gregg Marshall. He knew Marshall needed a big man after the departure of Darius Carter.

Most of all, he knew Marshall and the Shockers could get him to the NCAA Tournament. At Cleveland State, he played in the NIT and CollegeInsider.com Tournament. Grady saw the obvious fit and chose WSU in May after considering Iowa State and Xavier. When he arrived in Wichita, he jumped into weight training and extra shooting sessions enthusiastically

“He wants to be a big part of what we’re doing,” Marshall said. “He came here to play in the NCAA Tournament, play deep in the NCAA Tournament.”

The adjustment to WSU’s defense is a challenge for Grady, who blocked 47 shots last season and earned a spot on the Horizon League’s All-Defensive team. Cleveland State’s scheme allowed him to play a one-man zone, waiting in the lane to protect the basket. WSU’s big men are expected to defend on the perimeter and disrupt ball-handlers running off picks.

“If your man is out, you’re out,” Grady said. “I feel like I’m progressing and getting to it.”

Grady graduated with a film degree from Cleveland State, which allowed him immediate eligibility at WSU. He enjoys documentaries and stories that show the backgrounds of basketball players and how the sport influenced their lives. He is a fan of actor Denzel Washington and Spike Lee’s “Kobe Doin’ Work” 2009 documentary about the Lakers star.

“When you’re on the road and you come home and you’re tired, all you want to do is lay down and look at TV,” he said. “When you look at TV, you start really paying attention and I started to say, ‘OK, this is interesting and this is interesting.’ ”

Grady’s documentary could be filmed in sepia tones, featuring patient demonstrations of fundamentals, just an old man and a basketball and his goal to make March memorable.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 1:00 AM with the headline "Anton Grady brings old-man moves to Wichita State’s frontcourt from Cleveland."