The Memphis Grizzlies selected 24-year-old BYU Cougars guard Richie Saunders at No. 32 in the 2026 NBA Draft, with his grandfather’s invention attracting attention.
Saunders hopes to be an instant-impact rookie after spending four seasons in college before making the jump to the NBA.
The news of his draft selection early in the second round led to many fans discovering that Saunders is the great-grandson of Nephi Grigg, the founder of Ore-Ida, and the inventor of the iconic potato snack, the Tater Tot.
Saunders’ great-grandfather created one of the most iconic snacks in the world with his brother by taking waste product from potatoes and corn to create the Tater Tot.
The invention came after Nephi Grigg and his brother, Golden Grigg, rented a frozen foods plant in Ontario, Oregon, in 1949, with the hope they could expand their existing frozen corn business to include potatoes.
Saunders hopes to be an instant-impact rookie after spending four seasons in college before making the jump to the NBA.
The news of his draft selection early in the second round led to many fans discovering that Saunders is the great-grandson of Nephi Grigg, the founder of Ore-Ida, and the inventor of the iconic potato snack, the Tater Tot.
Saunders’ great-grandfather created one of the most iconic snacks in the world with his brother by taking waste product from potatoes and corn to create the Tater Tot.
The invention came after Nephi Grigg and his brother, Golden Grigg, rented a frozen foods plant in Ontario, Oregon, in 1949, with the hope they could expand their existing frozen corn business to include potatoes.
4 months ago
