Pratt's Grant named to Jewish Sports Review All-American Team; Selected for Gotham Hoops Invitational

Pratt's Grant named to Jewish Sports Review All-American Team; Selected for Gotham Hoops Invitational

NEW YORK -- Pratt Institute senior forward Ari Grant was named to the Jewish Sports Review 2016-17 Men's College Basketball All-American First Team.

The publication announced Grant's honor in its May/June issue along six other All-American First Team players. The rest of the team consisted of NCAA Division I, Division III, and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) student-athletes from across the country. 

A 6-foot-6 combo forward, Grant is the first Pratt player to earn JSR All-American honores. As a senior, he led the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in points (21.9), rebounds (15.0), and blocks (2.7) per contest, and his three steals per game was good for second best in the league.

On the season, the Denver, CO (Jewish Day) native recorded a double-double in 15 of 16 games, earning All-HVIAC accolades. On April 22, he became the first player in Pratt and in HVIAC history to attend the Gotham Hoops Invitational, a showcase for some of the nation's top graduating seniors to play in front of professional scouts, coaches, and agents.  

On April 24, he was named Pratt's Male Student-Athlete of the Year. In 55 career games (54 starts), Grant scored 994 points, averaging 18.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.4 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game. 

Below is the Jewish Sports Review 2016-17 Men's College Basketball All-American First Team:

Ari Grant, F, Pratt Institute
Jordan Cooper, F, Brandeis University
Sam Gordon, F, Johns Hopkins University
Egor Koulechov, W, Rice University
Grant Greenberg, G, Saint Mary (Kansas)
Spencer Weisz, G, Princeton University
Cory Blau, G, Westmont College

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BROOKVILLE, NY – Pratt Institute men's basketball forward and architecture major Ari Grant was selected to play in the prestigious Fourth Annual Gotham Hoops Invitational, a two-day event showcasing over 30 of the nation's top college seniors before professional scouts, coaches, and front office personnel.

The Invitational, held April 21 and 22 at Long Island Lutheran High School, selected Grant among pro prospects from the nation's top programs, including Rutgers, Houston, Monmouth, La Salle, Hofstra, and Siena. In all, he was chosen as one of 35 prospects, including 26 from NCAA Division I programs, five from Division II teams, and two Division III players.

Since launching in 2014, the Invitational has produced over 70 pros in 50 leagues and 30 countries, according to GothamHoops.com. The event's alumni have gone onto compete in the NBA's Summer League and NBA Development League, as well as EuroLeague and top divisions throughout Europe and Asia.

A versatile 6-foot-6 combo forward, he is the first player from the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selected for the Invitational. As a senior, Grant led the HVIAC in points (21.9), rebounds (15.0), and blocks (2.7) per contest, and his three steals per game was good for second best in the league. On the season, Grant recorded a double-double in 15 of 16 games, earning All-HVIAC accolades.

In 55 career games (54 starts), he scored 994 points, averaging 18.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.4 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game.