The Harding University commit is a ferocious on the ball defender who often hounds guards with his combination of strength and quickness. And has enough vertical pop to his game to occasional switch down low, battle with bigs, grab key boards and block the occasional shot.  For Moore, he has a been a key scoring option for the last two seasons. Which is what makes his commitment to the defensive end even more impressive.  It gives Grant a clear path to earning run next season as a “3 and D” player for the Bison.

The senior recently broke 1,000 career points but on Friday it was his impressive defensive abilities that shined the most.  Sure, he got a couple nice blocks (including a chasedown) but for any fan of “one on one” defensive basketball, Grant provided a fun show.  He knows how to use his plus wingspan and strong frame to stay in front of and make life difficult for smaller guards.  It’s fun to watch a prospect pride himself on defense. When needed, he picked his spots to score. Including banging a three late in the fourth that helped extend the lead and kept the Southmoore comeback attempt at bay.

Along with Hankins, the senior was at the core and the heart of the heroic comeback. Grant is a tough and rugged wing, who does a lot of his work battling through contact at the rim. But he can hit the occasional jumper, which included a three in the closing minutes that really supercharged the Lions’ rally.  The same ruggedness he displays when finishing around the rim is also evident on the defensive end.  He’s often great at sitting down, moving laterally and harassing smaller guards. He picked up a couple fouls that were a mix of gambling and frustration when his squad was struggling, but overall he has quality defensive instincts and awareness.

Another elite defender, as a sophomore he was key defensive glue guy for the Lions as they made a run to the Class 6A State Championship game. He followed that up by being a driver and finisher for Moore as they reached the Class 6A quarterfinals. Throughout their entire playoff run last season, he was seemingly unstoppable with relentless driving. Look for that dynamic play on both ends of the court to continue before he heads to Harding in Arkansas to play at the next level.

A defensive minded wing, Grant is a physical grinder on both ends of the court. During the Class 6A playoffs, he put the state on notice with his ability to get downhill and finish. Which helped Moore to the Class 6A State Tournament, where Grant stared in an overtime classic with clutch plays. This spring he’s been impressive as a defender, which helped him earn a D1 offer from Troy.

Grant dominates opponents on both ends of the floor with his physicality. When Darian sets screens they are brick walls for others trying to get around it. Grand rebounds in the double figure consistently and he dominates inside the paint. Darian has a soft touch at the rim.

The arrow continues to point upward for the Moore Lion. He finished the high school season on a tear on the playoffs and in this game made the most of every minute he was on the floor.  During a stint in the first half, he was super active and productive on the offensive glass. Along with that production, he shined on the defensive end. The 6 foot 6 wing has the strength and grit to spend some time battling around the rim. While also being an active on the ball defender, who uses his feet and size advantage to stay in front of and hound ball handlers.  He also was very active at the top of Impact’s press. Having seen how Grant shot it to close the year for Moore, it’s very likely he’s shaping up to excel in a “3 and D” role for Impact on the UA Circuit

Junior Darian Grant Darian Grant 6'6" | SF Moore | 2024 State OK was a huge reason why the Lions punched their ticket to Lloyd Noble and he put on a show one they arrived. He wing was a handful off the dribble, powering through defenders to finish at the rim. Or draining pull ups and fadeways in the midrange. He scored some of his biggest buckets when it mattered the most.  Down 2 with 20 seconds left, Grant had the ball at the top of the key. A future Power 5 defensive end was matched up with him. Grant was able to get the separation to drive to the rim, where once again he was met by the defensive end. It didn’t matter he powered through with a textbook finish to tie the game and force OT.

In the extra frame, he remained active on drives and on the offensive glass. A put-back by the junior wing momentarily gave Moore the lead. Then seconds later, he was fouled. Grant hit both of his free throws to extend the lead to three. Unfortunately for Grant his heroics would be undone by the Valentine’s clutch plays. But the Moore Lion still finished the night with 29 points and 8 rebounds.

There is so much to like about Moore standout Darian Grant Darian Grant 6'6" | SF Moore | 2024 State OK and the first thing that sticks out to us is his motor that seems to never slow down. Grant is an absolute machine in the paint, especially on the defensive end of the floor. But in the age of “positionless basketball” a player like Grant is very valuable for his size and his ability to switch on to guards and not lose his step. And on offense, Grant is a terrific athlete and he has the potential to throw down some show-stopping dunks but he also has the ability to step outside and knock down shots from the perimeter. Grant is a fun player to watch.

“Bubby” is a Swiss army knife for the Lions. He has a lanky wingspan and great hops which allows him to standout with slams and blocks. He led the team with 38 rejections last season. But Grant is more than just a garbage man around the rim. Grant has the athletic ability to switch out and defend most guards in Oklahoma, while also stretching the floor as a three point shooter. His floor game still needs work but if he plays with the same intensity he did in their semifinal win over Santa Fe last year, the junior is likely to be one of the most impactful players in Oklahoma when it comes to making winning plays.