New Kentucky coach Mark Pople is officially on a heater. While fans waited for a possible commitment Tuesday from either Koby Brea or Great Osobor — the top shooter and a top-five overall transfer in the portal, both of whom are visiting campus — the Wildcats got a surprise commitment from another highly rated transfer: Oklahoma State center Brandon Garrison.
The 6-foot-11, 245-pound Garrison is a former McDonald’s All-American who started 29 games and averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks as a freshman for the Cowboys. The Athletic’s latest transfer portal rankings have him rated the 29th-best free agent in college basketball.
Garrison picked UK over Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, all of which he visited. He committed to the Cats without ever visiting.
Garrison gives Kentucky five transfers and seven total players committed — in just two and a half weeks — on a roster that had zero scholarship players after John Calipari left for Arkansas. They’re still in a great spot to land Brea, who led the NCAA in 3-point percentage, and could still get Osobor, although Garrison’s commitment could signal he’s out.
Scouting report on Garrison
Garrison showed a ton of flashes in his only season with the Cowboys. The most promising ones were on defense, where Garrison is an athletic shot blocker whose length plays up. He can block shots with both hands and improved his positioning in drop pick-and-roll coverage throughout the season.
On offense, Garrison’s range doesn’t extend far beyond finishing around the rim. However, I liked him most in ball-screens, where he showcased his mobility and created a great target for his guards with well-timed rolls. Garrison also flashed serious passing chops in hand-offs and give-and-gos with his guards, as well as in short rolls and the pivot.
I’d bet on him being an excellent multi-year starter for even the highest-level programs in the country, with all-conference upside as an upperclassman. — Sam Vecenie, basketball senior writer
Required reading
(Photo: Dylan Buell / Getty Images)
