It wasn’t how Riley Grigsby planned things when he came to Seattle University to play men’s basketball.
The Seattle University guard/forward figured he would have ended his collegiate career last year. But no one could have predicted COVID-19 would end his junior season early, giving him an extra year of eligibility.
So a year later than he would have expected, the 6-foot-6 Grigsby will be honored along with forward Emeka Udenyi on Senior Night for the Redhawks (19-11, 10-7 WAC) on Friday when they close out the regular season against Texas Arlington (11-19, 6-11) at the Redhawk Center.
“Everyone asks me if I am going to get emotional,” Grigsby said of his last regular-season home game. “I just take it day by day but in the back of my head, you know, ‘It’s Senior Night. It’s your last home game.’”
Grigsby, from San Jose, California, has certainly made a mark during his five seasons, including setting a school record for games played — and will play in his 132nd game for Seattle U on Friday.
Grigsby has 1,468 career points, No. 11 on the school’s all-time list, and just 62 points from Juwan Oldham (1976-80), who is No. 10.
Grigsby is fifth on the school list in career blocked shots with 81 and is sixth in made three-pointers with 164.
Grigsby, a second-team all-Western Athletic Conference selection in 2020-21 when he averaged 17.8 points, is averaging 13.3 points and 5.5 rebounds this season, and has twice been named WAC player of the week this year.
“Obviously he’s had just an unbelievable career and will go down as one of the best players in Seattle University history,” Victor said.
Victor said he has enjoyed watching Grigsby mature on the court over the past five years, but also off the court. Victor said their relationship has grown over the years.
There’s just there’s a different level — because we know each other so well — of communication and trust and it continues to grow over time,” Victor said. “So I think five years in, Riley and I know what exactly we’re going to say. He knows how I’m going to coach him so he can anticipate things now that he wasn’t able to do when he was a little younger.”
Grigsby said he was pretty quiet when he arrived at Seattle U, and said he has become more vocal and more of a leader. He said most of the advice he gives his teammates is regarding things off the court.
On the court, Grigsby said his best memory has been winning a share of the WAC regular-season title last season. But there is one big goal missing on Grigsby’s wish list, and that is playing in the NCAA tournament.
“I mean, that’s the goal, playing in the NCAA tournament,” Grigsby said. “Cam (Tyson) is the only player on team to play in it (when he was with Houston). We all want to get there and I know he wants to get back so everyone’s hungry.”
To get that chance, the Redhawks will need to win the WAC tournament next week in Las Vegas.
The Redhawks were the projected No. 4 seed for the WAC tournament before a disappointing 93-56 loss at Utah Tech on Wednesday. Seattle U will look to regain its momentum Friday, and there will be extra motivation for Seattle U to win on Grigsby and Udenyi’s night.
“That’s going to be an emotional night,” Victor said. “Those two guys have meant so much to this program. Riley’s been here for five years and Emeka, this is his third year, and those two guys have been a huge part of this program’s growth. … Those are two guys that you show up to work excited to coach every day.”
Grigsby earned his degree in communications last year and is working on getting a certificate in leadership this year. His next goal is to begin playing in a professional league, but he isn’t thinking about that now.
He said he will leave Seattle University with a lot of appreciation, including playing last season while his father Al was an assistant coach (he is now an assistant athletic director for development at Seattle U). Riley said the five years at Seattle U have gone better than he could have expected, both on off the court.
“I came here trying to make the program better and to become the best basketball player I can be,” he said. “I feel I’ve definitely gotten better as a player and the program is in a lot better place than when I got here.”