MONTEVIDEO (FIBA AmeriCup 2017) - Jayson Granger was born and raised in Uruguay. He's the son of Jeff Granger, who arrived in 1970 from New Jersey and never left —he ended up being in the Uruguayan National Team and, in 1995, brought the South American Championship to his new home.

At the young age of 14, Jason’s talent couldn't wait any more to catch everyone’s eye. Only two years later, while he stood out at every Juvenile South American Championship, the Madrid basketball team Estudiantes started paying attention to him.

He left his city of Cordón and continued to develop in Spain. For a long time, his National Team waited for him: “It's not the time to look back on what happened, but on what's to come,” declared Granger, who for the second time will wear the jersey that his father took to the highest place in the Americas.

At his 27-years of age, the Point Guard has only participated in the Uruguayan team in the 2012 edition of the South American Championship. Resignations, injuries and lack of communication caused fans to miss him at the Uruguayan side: “I've lived many things. Only my family and I know what we've suffered because I couldn’t be here. The motives and what happened every year also. I had to develop my career. No one gave me anything, I've had to work hard to get to where I am.”

The member of the Baskonia-Saski Club in Vitoria, Spain seemed very happy for this opportunity to play at his own home: “We have to make the most out of being here. I remember that when I was a kid of only six years of age, I saw my father become a champion at sold-out El Cilindro Stadium. That was impressive. I know this is a qualifying phase, but we need to transmit to the fans our will to win.”

When speaking about the FIBA AmeriCup 2017 and the leadership role he’s assumed in Uruguay, Granger stated: “We arrived in good shape and ready to compete as equals with everyone else. We're meeting the roster little by little. Esteban (Batista), Bruno (Fitipaldo) and I are the main offensive weapons, but we have players at the bench that set the team’s tone.”

FIBA