Garrison made a commitment to Pope and the Wildcats before ever visiting Lexington.
2023 Brandon Garrison, a McDonald’s All-American and 6-foot-11 Oklahoma State transfer center, surprised many in the media and Big Blue Nation with his April 30 commitment to Kentucky.
Kentucky was among the several suitors who contacted the rising sophomore, but it had not yet scheduled a meeting with Garrison. In reality, Garrison was in Fayetteville, Arkansas, visiting the coach who had just left Kentucky three weeks prior, John Calipari, when he decided to commit to new head coach Mark Pope and the Wildcats.
“I actually was on my visit (to Arkansas), and then right after that, I got on the phone with coach Pope, and it just felt right,” Garrison told ESPN on Tuesday.
“It was late in the process, but when I first entered the portal, Coach Pope contacted me and some of the staff. I had that connection with him since he recruited me when he was at BYU before coming here, so I maintained in touch with him and never let him go. I trust him, and it felt like a good fit.
While Garrison’s decision surprised Pope and Kentucky’s coaching staff, it’s not surprising that they wanted him on board.
Garrison, a four-star high school prospect from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was ranked as the 20th best player in the class of 2023 by 247sports and the fifth best center in the country. He was named a 2023 McDonald’s All-American, joining 2023 Kentucky signees Reed Sheppard, Justin Edwards, D.J. Wagner, and Aaron Bradshaw in Houston for the McDonald’s All-American game, and he has also been invited to the 2023 Jordan Brand Classic.
Garrison’s two greatest efforts for the Cowboys last season were against his future coaches.
He went 7-for-8 from the field, scoring 21 points, grabbing five rebounds, picking up two steals, and a block in Oklahoma State’s 93-83 victory over Pope and new UK assistant Cody Fueger’s BYU Cougars, and he went a perfect 7-for-7 from the field, scoring 20 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks in an overtime loss to now-Kentucky associate head coach Alvin Brooks III and Baylor.
“Brandon’s a McDonald’s All-American and a FIBA U18 Americas gold medalist with Team USA who crushed me at BYU last year and crushed coach Brooks at Baylor last year,” Pope stated when he recruited Garrison. “We’re unbelievably glad he’s on our team now.”
These two performances were among the few in which Garrison shown the talent that led to his selection as a McDonald’s All-American. On the season, he averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks a game, shooting 57.2 percent from the field and 64.8 percent from the free throw line.
One area of his game that he aims to improve in Lexington is his 18-foot and three-point shooting.
Garrison, who will be part of Pope’s aggressive three-point offensive plan, will most certainly be asked to attempt at least a few threes this season and connect from 18 feet. Last season at Oklahoma State, nearly all of his offensive production came around the rim or at the free throw line, and he did not attempt a single three-pointer.
“My offensive presence and just being more of an offensive threat,” Garrison stated when asked what he aims to improve this season. “My post-game, hooks, getting my jump shot right so I can take a step out and knock down a three this year and stuff like that.”
Garrison’s NBA potential propelled him to a top 20 high school recruit and McDonald’s All-American status. He intends to completely realize that potential while playing for Pope and Kentucky, rather than at Arkansas under Calipari.
