GSU

Grambling hoops takes a 'gamble' on Deonte Hearns

Sean Isabella
sisabella@thenewsstar.com

Considering the state of Grambling's basketball team and its 103 losses during the past four years, the Tigers are hardly in a position to stay stagnant.

Sometimes risks are needed to rebuild a program.

That's what Grambling coach Shawn Walker's thinking was when he offered and later received a commitment from junior college transfer Deonte Hearns, who signed with the Tigers over the weekend.

Hearns, a 6-foot-6 forward, was dismissed from South Plains College in Texas this past year for disciplinary reasons. Throw in the fact that Hearns was a late qualifier, and Grambling was able to scoop up a prospect Walker dubbed as "a beast" on the court.

"He was highly sought after," Walker said Monday. "If he doesn't get in trouble, he would be a kid we would not have had any chance to get.

"I think he does have some risk. I don't think he's a high-risk guy. I think the nature of his disciplinary issue is not one that causes Grambling State to be in a position where we need to be on alert."

Hearns boosted his stock in 2014 when he averaged 19.2 points and 13 rebounds at South Plains, which is regarded as one of the top JUCO programs in the country.

That led to interest from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Southern Miss and even Louisiana Tech.

Then came a sophomore season where Hearns appeared in just nine games, averaging 5.3 points and 2.6 points, before being dismissed from the team.

Hearns acknowledged his dismissal but failed to go into the specifics.

"Some things I don't want to discuss because I don't need that image anymore," he said. "That little hiccup is just the past. I plan to be the best, on and off the court. I just have to put it in play and prove everybody what I'm capable of doing.

"I don't think it's a risk at all. I feel like it's a steal because they got a great player on the court and a great guy off the court. I was always a great teammate and I was always coachable. I just had a little off the court issues, but I'm past that stage of my life. I'm just ready to be successful and do great things at Grambling."

It's entirely too early to tell if Hearns will end up as a steal. What he does bring is talent to a roster that features just five returning players.

Hearns still needs to handle some academics at South Plains before reporting to campus in August.

"He's a guy we'll gamble on a little bit," Walker said. "In this day in age, there are programs that do not have to take gambles on kids. Certainly we would not be one of those. In rebuilding a program, I did not go out to take 10 or 15 gambles. With our discussions with Deonte, he and his family and the relationship we have established, I pretty much made the determination he deserves a second chance."

Hearns considers himself "very fortunate" to have that second chance and looks at it as a win-win — Grambling needs all the help it can get after failing to win a Division I game in 2015 and Hearns needs a place to showcase his talents in hopes of making the NBA.

"I feel like I owe (Walker) a lot," Hearns said. "I'm going to give him more than he expects. I'm working hard every day to be ready even before I step foot on campus. This opportunity is going to be great for both of us."

If everything goes as planned, Hearns will fill Grambling's eighth and final scholarship for the 2015 class.

The Melbourne, Florida, native brings a different element to Grambling, especially with six of the eight signees are either ball handlers or shooters and just two big men — Ugur Hortum and Jack Ocwieja.

Walker described Hearns as a "combo forward" who can defend multiple positions and score either with his back to the basket or as a face-up shooter.

"He's an inside-out guy," Walker said. "He's a guy who will drive against bigs and post up little guys. He's a guy that is a capable of doing quite a bit."

Connect with Sean Isabella on Twitter at ST_IsabellaTNS