This is the second story of a four-part series on this year's ODU Sports Hall of Fame class.
Written by Rebecca Gaona
NORFOLK, Va. – There’s a saying, “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard.” Well Shareese Grant is the epitome of this phrase.
“I’ve worked hard. Starting in middle school to high school, I’ve always set goals to go out and achieve them and be the best I can be in everything I did. This here is the stamp on everything, the hard work, the dedication, the blood, sweat and tears. This is what you get when you work hard.”
From 2001-05 Grant competed on four ODU women’s basketball teams that made trips to the NCAA Tournament, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2002. Grant is no stranger to the recipe to success and has made a name for herself in the ODU record books.
Her collegiate accomplishments are plentiful. Grant is a member of the 1,000 point club, led the team in assists for two-straight seasons, and led the Monarchs in scoring her senior season. Not only was she a member of four of the 17-straight CAA Championship teams, she is also a three-time CAA Tournament MVP and one of the last All-Americans to hit the floor.
“Shareese Grant was a quiet storm on the court and her actions always spoke louder than her words!” said Wendy Larry, ODU head coach from 1987-2011. “Reese was one of a handful of Lady Monarch ballers capable of taking a game over all by herself - and winning it!”
Grant took her hefty schedule along with her from the collegiate ranks to real life, where she currently works for the City of Norfolk and runs her own business, where she trains the next generation of basketball players into elite athletes.
“A lot that I’ve done and learned from Old Dominion, I definitely use in life now. The 2002 Elite Eight run was an experience I will never forget. It’s one of those things I still use in life today. Working hard, practice, class, being tired, there were no excuses. The way we practiced was extremely hard, we went after each other every time we stepped on the floor. We had goals, we set them and to get to them by the end of the season. That experience was awesome, and to this day I tell the kids I train to set your goals high.”
On March 12, 2005, Grant posted a 35-point game against Delaware. At the time, it was the first 30+ point game since Lucienne Berthieu put up 30 against Kansas State in 2002.
“We were in bad foul trouble. Bad. Every starter, besides myself fouled out. I had to get us through this and basically put the team on my back.”
Looking back on her time as a Monarch, Grant recalls when ODU defeated #12 North Carolina at the Ted on Dec. 7, 2003.
“We were the underdogs and they came in thinking they had this game. We heard them talk as we walked by them to warm up so my teammates and I got together and said, ‘You know what, let’s just go out here and take care of business. This is our home.’
Grant will be inducted into the Old Dominion Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 25 at the Hilton Main in downtown Norfolk. For more information on the Hall of Fame Dinner, please CLICK HERE or call 757-683-3097.
Grant joins the likes of ODU women’s hoops legends: Lucienne Berthieu (2018), Medina Dixon (2017), Wendy Larry (2014), Hamchetou Maiga (2011), Mery Andrade (2010), Nyree Roberts (2008), Ticha Penicheiro (2006), Clarisse Machanguana (2006), Celeste Hill (2002), Adrienne Goodson (1999), Marianne Stanley (1995), Kelly Lyons (1995), Tracy Claxton (1992), Anne Donovan (1988), Inge Nissen (1985) and Nancy Lieberman (1985) to the ODU Sports Hall of Fame.