Moore boys basketball enjoying hot surge, with 2024 swingman Darian Grant becoming a major catalyst

MOORE, OKLAHOMA - Entering the 2024 postseason, there is no hotter team in Class 6A than Moore High (17-5). 

Winners of 11 straight, the Lions haven’t lost a game since Jan 5, and the focal point of that surge has been senior Darian Grant.

The 6-foot-4 swingman has been the barometer for the Lions throughout the season. But during the Lions' second-half run, teams have found out it may not be wise to get Grant excited. In the past, he may have let his emotions overtake him and take him out of the game.

But now, in his final go-around, Grant has used those same emotions to become a more aggressive and dangerous player on both ends of the court.

“I would say my strength and just my outside game have improved the most,” Grant said. “I really wasn't really comfortable my sophomore year making the outside plays and shooting the ball.

"But I feel like my game grew in that area because my coaches allowed me to make those plays in those areas and allow me to grow and make mistakes.”

Oklahoma high school boys basketball Top 25 rankings (2/21/2024)

During one of the Lions' final games of the season, they traveled to Mustang, where Grant was matched up with a high-scoring forward in Roman Miller. Grant took the challenge personally, but didn’t allow his competitiveness to take him or his team out of their flow.

Grant finished the game with 29 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in a 78-71 victory.

“I mean, they make the game exciting,” Grant said. “You're going to have your ups and downs when adversity hits.

"Playing players like (Miller), he is a good young player. He is only a junior. He's going to be really good, and it makes it competitive and fun.”

While Grant has always had a competitive side that saw him willing and able to take on all challenges, he has added leadership to his other traits, according to MHS coach Gregg Hardin.

“He's just got that willpower. He's a hardworking kid; always has been since the first day he got here,” Hardin said. “He works hard. He holds and pulls all of them together.

"He's just another coach out there. Not only by his actions, but he does it verbally as well. I'm going to miss him; I wish I had him for two more years.”

Unfortunately for Hardin, he just has Grant for what the coach hopes is at least a few more weeks. That would mean the Lions have taken a deep run into the postseason and are competing for a 6A state title.

That was one of Grant’s goals after helping take Moore to the 6A quarterfinals in 2023 before losing in overtime to Choctaw on a last-second layup. From that point, he started to work on his game to become a more complete player who valued each possession.

“I think I'm more consistent in everything I do,” Grant said. “I used to take plays off last year and that's what Coach always preached to me this year. Don't take plays off and play every moment like it's your last, because you don't get this back.”

However, Grant added he didn’t set any personal goals for himself. He just wanted to play the game as it came to him and provide whatever his team needed.

“Every time I step on the court, I want to play hard. That’s just my mindset,’ Grant said. “I know I won't be able to get it back. So I would say since the first game of my last year, I got locked in.

"Always working, and picking up my teammates. I would say just always being uplifting, always trying to be positive, even in bad moments and just not to quit. Never got quit in me.”

Hardin has been impressed with all facets of Grant’s development during his time at Moore.

“He went from a post player to now I have to have him playing guard on a perimeter and that's a tough transition for anybody,” Hardin said. “He's really stepped up. There's been some lumps in the road and stuff, but he knows when he does things wrong and he's man enough to say, my bad or my fault, or I apologize for doing that, it won't happen again.

"He's learning from his mistakes as he grows and that just shows how much he's developed as a young man, not just as a basketball player.”

When Grant’s senior season concludes, he will be heading to Harding University in Searcy, Ark., where he will continue his education and basketball career.

“It's a good accomplishment from growing up, not knowing if I would even be playing basketball,’ Grant said. “I didn't have basketball in my head growing up.

"I grew up just a regular kid playing basketball in the streets with my family and cousins and then getting to it late and then developing, outworking a lot of guys and being where I am today, making my mother proud and my family and all the people that support me proud.”

Moore will begin its postseason Thursday night with an opening-round game at the 6A West Regional tournament in Lawton. The Lions will take on Northwest Classen, with the winner to face the winner between Putnam City North and Lawton on Friday for the regional championship.

-- Michael Kinney | @SBLiveOK