Junior guard Jeremy Granger is quickly becoming one of the best guards in the Ohio Valley Conference.

He has stepped his game up and took on an even larger leadership role once senior guard Tyler Laser injured his back. In the nine games Laser has missed, Granger has averaged 14.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

Granger is one of the premier shooters in the OVC. He is currently shooting 42 percent from the field, 39 percent from the three-point arc, and he is also one of the best free-throw shooters in the nation at 92 percent.

I think Granger has progressed tremendously since his freshman season. In his first season as a Panther, Granger averaged 2.9 points a game in 12 minutes of play. Last season he averaged 10.3 and 3.4 assists per game in nearly 32 minutes of play.

This season Granger has improved even more. Not only is he shooting lights out, he is averaging career highs in points, rebounds and assists. He is scoring 13.2 points a game, while pulling down 3.7 rebounds and dishing out 3.6 assists.

I don’t see any reason why his numbers do not escalate next season. I predict he will score almost 18 points a game and have about 5 assists and 5 rebounds a night. Those numbers could warrant an OVC Player of the Year award.

TyShawn Edmonson of Austin Peay seems to be the early favorite to win Player of the Year honor next, but I think Granger can give him a run for his money. With Granger’s leadership and the development of players like red-shirt sophomore forward James Hollowell and sophomore forward Sean Pratl, I think the Panthers will have their best chance at an OVC title in years.

This year’s team is talented, and the OVC is much more balanced than previously anticipated, but due to injury and inconsistency, Eastern will have a tough time winning the OVC tournament come March.

Although, if the Panthers can get completely healthy, and if Granger continues to play at a high level, they can compete with any team in the OVC. It will be very interesting to see how things play out down the stretch.

I am eagerly anticipating this year’s OVC tournament because there are about seven teams that have a legitimate chance at winning and making the NCAA tournament.

Rob Mortell can be reached at 581-7944 or at rdmortell@eiu.edu