Asking John Grant, HNS 2000, to explain the magic behind his craft is similar to querying Pavarotti on how he hits the high notes.

Which is to say, he can't really explain why he's the Magic Johnson of lacrosse, he just kind of does it.

"I've heard that people have tried to describe how I play, but I just go out and instinctively do things," Grant says. "If I try to think too much, then I get in trouble."

Even by that standard, the 27-year-old has become one of the greatest players to ever cradle a lacrosse ball. A native of Peterborough, Ontario, the soft-spoken Grant arrived at Delaware four years ago and quickly established himself as a star. After playing two years of junior college lacrosse, the attackman had only two seasons to make his mark at Delaware, but he certainly did. In his rookie year, Grant scored 40 goals and tallied 27 assists for 67 points, the fifth-highest point total in school history.

But, that was merely a prelude to amazing things to come. In his senior season, Grant got even better, scoring 56 goals and assisting on 54 others, for an unbelievable 110 points, the most scored in the nation that season. Displaying a rocket-like accurate shot, excellent field vision and soft hands that enable him to make spectacular passes, Grant powered the Blue Hens into the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history. And, though Delaware lost to Virginia in that round, Grant was still named National Player of the Year by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA).

"John was like a phenomenon for those two years," Scott Selheimer, UD's director of sports information, says. "People would come out to the field just to see what he might do next. We've had some great lacrosse players here over the years, and John was right at the top of the list."

Bob Shillinglaw, University head lacrosse coach, is equally effusive in his praise. "John was such a fun player to coach and to watch because he had natural ability like few guys I've ever seen," Shillinglaw says. "He was important in giving our program more national recognition than we'd had, as well as just serving as a model for our program while he was here."

In talking to Grant, you get the feeling he's just as surprised he starred at Delaware as anyone else. The son of former Canadian national team lacrosse star John Grant Sr., young John quickly became infatuated with the sport.

"A lot of people figured that because of genetics I'd be good at it, but the truth is I came to love lacrosse on my own. Dad didn't push me," Grant says. "My original dream, like most Canadian boys, was to be a star in the National Hockey League, but once I started playing lacrosse, I loved it."

As he grew up, Grant Sr. passed on his knowledge of the game to his son, who quickly became one of the best young players around, drawing comparisons to his father in the process. As a teenager, John Jr. led Kenner High School in Peterborough to three province titles, and he was the team's most valuable player his senior year.

After high school, Grant gave up lacrosse for a couple of years, but then returned to the game. In 1996 and 1997, Grant played at two different junior colleges: the State University of New York-Morrisville and Sir Sanford Fleming Junior College in Canada. It was in Morrisville that Grant's unlikely path to Delaware began.

"Andy Shay was the head coach at Morrisville, and we hired him as an assistant coach after he'd recruited John to Morrisville," Shillinglaw recalls. "I knew who John was, but because all the major lacrosse programs like [perennial national power] Syracuse were after him, I didn't think we'd have any chance to bring him to Newark."

Grant's dream was to play at Syracuse, where his idols, Paul and Gary Gait, had played. But, according to Grant, the snowy school waffled a bit when it came to offering him a full scholarship, and when new UD Assistant Coach Shay called, Grant agreed to at least take a look at the campus.

"As soon as I got there, I knew I'd love it," Grant says. "I fell in love with the school and the students, and the guys on the team were great to me when I came to visit. The clincher was Coach Shillinglaw. He was very honest with me and my parents and really stressed how important education was here. He won us all over."

And the rest, as they say, is history. The 6-foot-2 Grant was an instant sensation, though according to him, "I wasn't very good at all at first." One of many transitions Grant had to make was playing outdoor, or "field," lacrosse. In Canada, he'd played indoor, or "box," lacrosse, a game with smaller nets and several different rules. Still, Grant's eye-catching style (he often threw behind-the-back passes) was a hit with his teammates and set the stage for the 1999 season--the best in school history.

"What a lot of people don't know is that John played with a stress fracture in his leg toward the end of that season, and still, he produced," Shillinglaw says. "He wasn't even practicing toward the end, he just wasn't healthy enough."

For Grant, starring in the U.S. was vindication.

"The American field lacrosse players are the best in the world, so it felt nice to be able to compete with them," Grant says. "If I hadn't taken a shot, I always would have wondered if I could play with the top players."

After his college career ended, Grant was drafted first overall by the Rochester (N.Y.) Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League, and he's proceeded to tear up the pro competition as easily as he did the amateur ranks. As a rookie, Grant made the NLL first team, and in his second season, he scored 42 goals and tallied 48 assists.

In 2002, Grant exceeded those numbers, scoring 52 goals and dishing out 53 assists for a career-high 105 points. His total was good enough for third overall in the league, behind, ironically, his two childhood heroes, Paul and Gary Gait.

"I got the most points of anyone not named Gait," he laughs. "I really think I could have done better; with all the shots I took I should have had more goals. I'm not satisfied at all."

The coach of the Knighthawks, Paul Day, says he sees improvements in Grant every season.

"He's making a lot of strides in his game, and he's become much more of a leader now that he's a veteran on the team," Day says. "He's just a tremendous, natural goal-scorer. He gets highlight-film goals almost every game. And, the great thing is, John is still improving, so his numbers could go up."

While Grant works on his game, he also supports himself as a substitute schoolteacher.

"The kids can be rough sometimes, but I have fun with it," he says. "I remember how hard my teachers used to work with me, so I try to give a little back."

While he lives far away, Grant hasn't lost touch with the University. Shillinglaw says Grant has come back numerous times since he graduated and serves as an inspiration to current players.

"People see what John accomplished here, and they realize with some hard work, they can make a success out of themselves as well," Shillinglaw says. "He's a great role model because he's proven that if you work hard, you can really make a career for yourself."

As for the future, Grant says he envisions himself playing for "about eight to 10 more years," and hopes to win a league championship, something his father accomplished in his playing days.

"It's a little frustrating that we haven't won a title yet, but I can't really complain," Grant says. "I never thought I'd ever get a chance to play professional lacrosse, so to be playing for the last few years and getting paid for it is a pretty good gig."

Even if he can't quite explain how he does it.

--Michael Lewis, AS '97