New setback for Boulazac: key player seriously injured and likely out for the season
Sept. 9, 2025
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve
Finnish international player joins Boulazac
Betclic ELITE - In search of a wing player, Boulazac Basket Dordogne has set its sights on Finnish international Jacob Grandison.
Photo Credit : Lilian Bordron
EuroBasket 2025 inspired the Boulazac staff: looking for a wing player, they chose Finnish international Jacob Grandison (1.98m, 27 years old).
Jacob Grandison is the third foreign wing player to join the team. First, former ASVEL player Anthony Polite had signed, before backing out. Then, BBD signed Malik Fitts as his replacement. However, Fitts suffered a serious knee injury during preseason, requiring surgery. The promoted team has now turned to a Californian of Finnish descent.
From California to Finland: Grandison’s family story
Jacob Grandison grew up in Oakland, California, where his parents met when his Finnish mother was an international exchange student. He played youth basketball there before joining Holy Cross’s basketball program in Worcester, Massachusetts. After an impressive sophomore year in 2018-2019 (13.9 points, 5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in almost 35 minutes), he played at Illinois from 2020 to 2022 before finishing his NCAA career at Duke in 2022-2023. Coming off the bench, the good shooter averaged 4.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in less than 16 minutes.
The start of his professional career in Europe was eventful. Initially signed by KK Cibona, he didn’t play due to financial issues. Grandison then joined Minorca in Spanish second division for three months (4.8 points at 32.2% shooting, 1.7 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 18 minutes). His performance improved once back in his maternal country with Salon Vilpas in Salo (14.4 points at 41.7%, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 24 minutes). In 2024-2025, he first tried his luck at home with the Santa Cruz Warriors. But due to injury, they released him after three days. It wasn’t until February that he finally joined Massimo Cancellieri’s PAOK Thessaloniki, where he played nine games (5.2 points and 1.9 rebounds in 13 minutes).
3.9 points per game at EuroBasket
While his modest club performances might not have caught the attention of a Betclic ELITE team, Finland’s EuroBasket run helped him gain visibility. Part of the Finnish program since 2021, Grandison is in Lassi Tuovi’s starting five in Riga. Without particularly shining (3.9 points at 33.3%, 2.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists in less than 15 minutes), he provides wing depth. It remains to be seen if he can make his mark at Boulazac. It looks challenging.
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve est le fondateur et rédacteur en chef de BeBasket, qu’il anime depuis 2010 (sous le nom de Catch & Shoot). Passé par l’Ecole Publique de Journaliste de Tours, puis deux universités en Amérique du Nord, il a pu développer son expertise sur le basket français, de la Ligue Nationale aux divisions amateurs, durant ces 20 dernières années. En parallèle, il est aussi engagé dans le développement de clubs du côté de Montpellier.
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