Larry “Go-Go” Grant’s Number ‘23’ Jersey Retired

By Johnnie Grant –

Larry “Go-Go” Grant has retired his jersey, #23.

Grant was a standout player at Lee H. Edwards High School (now Asheville High) and Western Carolina University, where he was an All-American-MVP-East-West Coast basketball player; he is the first Lee Edwards basketball player to have his jersey retired.

Kenneth Mapp, a former coach for Asheville High School, made it his mission to see that Grant was recognized for his contributions. Thus a large group of friends and family gathered for a retirement ceremony to recall the contributions of many outstanding players and coaches and to bid #23 farewell.

During the 1960s, when the Civil Rights movement and school desegregation were taking place, African American parents faced choices as to which schools their children should attend. Larry’s parents, Helen and Robert Grant, Sr. decided to enroll him at Lee Edwards to showcase his academic and athletic abilities.

Grant remembered how Coach Ted Carter—“a very classy gentleman”—had faith in his abilities: “He believed in me, and took me in and refined my game and character.” He recalled with a laugh that Carter had told him, “I’m going to nickname you “Go-Go,” because that’s what I want you to do when you hit the court to play basketball – is GO!”

He also thanked the many others who had been instrumental in developing both his talent and his opportunities.

“My dad, who’s ninety-one and still talks about my ball plays whenever I visit him, and my mother (RIP), who would tape my games, then we’d listen to them when I got home. They both came to every Western home game they could. My brothers, especially Robert, Jr. “Boptail,” for letting me follow him to play basketball as a kid; and my sister Pat, and Roxie for showing me how proud they were of me.

Grant recalled his Claxton Elementary School friends, who “would fuss at me for passing the ball too much, and told me I should shoot more.” He remembered by name the “skillful, talented Saturday morning YMICC players: Kenneth and Wilbur Mapp, Thomas ‘Hump’ Hines, Johnny Bailey, Bennie Lake, Eddie-Frank Johnson, Frank ‘Bot’ Moseley, Charles ‘Jaya’ Shivers, Tony ‘All-day’ Childs, Bobby Chiles, Richard White, Willie Maples…”

And he named “the ONE … Henry Logan, who without him having paved the way – there was no ME! He paved the way for me and many more African Americans to play the game of basketball at many white southern colleges.”

Grant thanked former teammates Gene “the King” Williams, Jerome “Happy” Bradley, Dave “Monk” Cheadle, and the late Phil “Stack” Hanbach. And, he added, “Thanks again to my life-long friend and relentless teammate, Rodney Johnson, whom I couldn’t beat in suicides. He was the first on the court to support me and lift me up.

Other coaches Larry Grant admired, and who guided him, were Bruce Peterson and Gene Hammonds, who “both showed me the power of hard work.” And his college coach, Coach Hartbaugher, “who gave me the opportunity to extend my career. He saw something in me that looked like the ‘heartbeat’ of a team he envisioned. He also talked to me about life after basketball. He saw to it that I was prepared, and that I got my college degree. He reminded me that he would always be there; not only as coach, but a friend and family.”

Grant also reached out to thank Gerald Marlowe and Tim Burdine, as well as others who still call out “Go-Go” when they see him around town.

Grant expressed his appreciation to all those gathered and those who were not at the ceremony, quoting another mentor, Marvin Chambers Sr., “I thank God for being blessed and highly favored.” He noted that “people can forget things you do for them—but they never forget how you make them feel.

He also reminded his admirers that he was “the first Number 23.” Holding up his jersey he said with a laugh, “Michael Jordan was just fronting!”

“The moral of my story?” Grant said, “You never know how some small thing you say or do will impact someone watching you. If you are inspired by something or someone, pass it on!”