CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illinois Head Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood announced Sunday the hiring of Neel Ganta as Director of Player Personnel.
Ganta reunites with Underwood and the Fighting Illini program, where he served as graduate manager during the 2020-21 season when Illinois led the Big Ten in wins and won the Big Ten Tournament Championship, earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Illini set a program record with six wins over top-10 teams and ended the year ranked No. 2 in the final AP poll.
Ganta returns to Champaign following three-plus years with the Denver Nuggets organization. He began with the Nuggets' G League affiliate, Grand Rapids Gold, as director of player programs. While there he created an internal web-app utilized by players and assisted on team analytics needs.
He moved up to the Nuggets in May 2022, serving as basketball strategy & analytics coordinator and pro scout. Ganta worked on special projects and analytics for the Nuggets front office and live scouted games at all levels, including NCAA, international, G League and NBA. He also assisted with on-court player development and player relations.
Ganta's time in Denver was highlighted by the Nuggets winning the 2022-23 NBA Championship.
"Neel is on the cutting edge of basketball analytics, strategy, and implementation, and he creates outstanding relationships with players, coaches, and staff," Underwood said. "He has tremendous experience at his age, helping us win a Big Ten championship and working in a world championship organization with the Denver Nuggets. Our coaching staff knows first-hand the value he adds to the offices and the locker room, and we're excited to welcome him back to Champaign and have him rejoin our family."
A native of Manhattan, Kansas, Ganta served as a consultant to Underwood and the Illini program during the 2019-20 season while he was a student at K-State.
During his time as an undergrad, Ganta fulfilled a pair of internships with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and served summer finance internships with JPMorgan Chase & Co. in 2018 and the Boston Celtics in 2019.
Ganta graduated from Kansas State University in May 2020, earning a bachelor's degree in finance with a minor in computer science and certificates in data analytics and investment management.
Ganta earned a master's degree from the University of Illinois in August 2021 in technology management with a concentration in business data analytics.
Ganta reunites with Underwood and the Fighting Illini program, where he served as graduate manager during the 2020-21 season when Illinois led the Big Ten in wins and won the Big Ten Tournament Championship, earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Illini set a program record with six wins over top-10 teams and ended the year ranked No. 2 in the final AP poll.
Ganta returns to Champaign following three-plus years with the Denver Nuggets organization. He began with the Nuggets' G League affiliate, Grand Rapids Gold, as director of player programs. While there he created an internal web-app utilized by players and assisted on team analytics needs.
He moved up to the Nuggets in May 2022, serving as basketball strategy & analytics coordinator and pro scout. Ganta worked on special projects and analytics for the Nuggets front office and live scouted games at all levels, including NCAA, international, G League and NBA. He also assisted with on-court player development and player relations.
Ganta's time in Denver was highlighted by the Nuggets winning the 2022-23 NBA Championship.
"Neel is on the cutting edge of basketball analytics, strategy, and implementation, and he creates outstanding relationships with players, coaches, and staff," Underwood said. "He has tremendous experience at his age, helping us win a Big Ten championship and working in a world championship organization with the Denver Nuggets. Our coaching staff knows first-hand the value he adds to the offices and the locker room, and we're excited to welcome him back to Champaign and have him rejoin our family."
A native of Manhattan, Kansas, Ganta served as a consultant to Underwood and the Illini program during the 2019-20 season while he was a student at K-State.
During his time as an undergrad, Ganta fulfilled a pair of internships with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and served summer finance internships with JPMorgan Chase & Co. in 2018 and the Boston Celtics in 2019.
Ganta graduated from Kansas State University in May 2020, earning a bachelor's degree in finance with a minor in computer science and certificates in data analytics and investment management.
Ganta earned a master's degree from the University of Illinois in August 2021 in technology management with a concentration in business data analytics.
