New Kentucky coach Mark Pople is officially on fire. While fans waited Tuesday for a possible commitment from Koby Brea or Great Osobor — the top shooter and one of the top five overall transfers in the portal, both visiting campus — the Wildcats got a commitment surprise of another very popular transfer: Oklahoma. Brandon State Garrison Center.
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 rookie for the Cowboys. AthleticismThe latest rankings from the transfer portal place him as the 29th best free agent in college basketball.
Garrison chose the United Kingdom over Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, all of which he visited. He committed himself to the Cats without ever visiting them.
Garrison gives Kentucky five transfers and seven total players committed — in just two and a half weeks — on a roster that had no scholarship players after John Calipari left for Arkansas. They’re still well-positioned to land Brea, who led the NCAA in 3-point percentage, and could still get Osobor, although Garrison’s commitment could signal his absence.
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Garrison Reconnaissance Report
Garrison showed a ton of flashes in his lone season with the Cowboys. The most promising was on defense, where Garrison is an athletic shot blocker whose length plays a role. He can block shots with both hands and has improved his positioning in pick-and-roll coverage throughout the season.
On offense, Garrison’s range doesn’t extend much beyond finishing around the rim. However, I most enjoyed him in ball screens, where he showcased his mobility and created a great target for his guards with well-timed rolls. Garrison also showed some serious assists on handoffs and give-and-takes with his guards, as well as in the short rolls and pivot.
I would bet on him to be a great multi-year starter for even the highest level programs in the country, with an all-conference advantage as an upperclassman. — Sam Vecenie, senior basketball editor
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(Photo: Dylan Buell/Getty Images)