How Oklahoma State's Brandon Garrison elevated his game under tutelage of Tommy Griffin
NORMAN — Brandon Garrison was an eighth-grader the first time Tommy Griffin saw him play basketball.
Griffin was an assistant coach under Lenny Hatchett at Del City, and Garrison was soon to be a freshman for the Eagles when he went to a camp there.
Neither knew it at the time, but that was the beginning of a beautiful mentorship.
Seven years later, Griffin can only watch with joy as his former pupil has become one of the top emerging freshmen in the talent-laden Big 12 Conference.
But Saturday night will pull on Griffin’s heart a bit. When Bedlam heats up, Griffin’s lean is to the crimson side, while Garrison’s impressive play has been in the orange and black of Oklahoma State.
The Sooners host the Cowboys at 6 p.m. Saturday at Lloyd Noble Center in this year’s first men’s basketball Bedlam.
Griffin, of course, is the father of former Sooners Blake and Taylor Griffin. In addition to spending four years with Garrison at Del City, Griffin also coached the 6-foot-11 center on Team Griffin, the Oklahoma City-based travel team co-founded by Blake and Taylor that plays on the Nike EYBL circuit.
“He knows a lot about basketball,” Garrison said of Tommy Griffin, who was a legendary high school coach in his own right before becoming better known as Blake and Taylor’s dad. “I first met him in eighth grade going into Del City. He’s meant a lot to me, because … he was with me all four years at Del City.”
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Brandon Garrison learned 'different things' than Blake Griffin
At Del City, Tommy Griffin focused on the big men, while Hatchett worked with guards. That helped foster the relationship between Griffin and Garrison.
“He was teaching me different things he taught Blake,” Garrison said. “He was always working with me and a couple other guys.
“He’s always a positive guy. He don’t let you do nothing wrong. He was always on us in practice or out of practice. He’s just a great guy.”
With guidance from Griffin, Hatchett and others, Garrison developed into a McDonald’s All-American, drawing recruiting interest from Big 12 powers like Kansas and Houston, along with several other programs.
After getting his footing during non-conference play, Garrison is averaging 9.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game against Big 12 opponents. And he seems to only be scratching the surface of his potential.
As a freshman at Del City, Garrison hadn’t yet grown to be the 6-foot-11 man he is now, but Griffin saw a glimpse of what might be coming.
“We were working out that year and I told him I thought he had an opportunity to be something special,” Griffin said. “He was listening, and he worked on it. He does such a good job of focusing on the things he’s really good at that help you win.
“His No. 1 thing, he wanted to learn. I was always impressed with his desire to learn and how well he adapted to the things he was learning.”
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Tommy Griffin didn't try to influence Brandon Garrison's college recruitment
Despite their close relationship, Griffin remained detached from Garrison’s recruiting process, which included a Bedlam battle.
“I stay out of that,” Griffin said. “Even with my own boys, I didn’t get into telling them where they should go. I told them three things. Go somewhere you’re gonna enjoy being for a few years. Go somewhere you’re gonna get a good education. And go somewhere you’ll be able to play. Those are the three things I’ve been preaching to kids since my first year of being a head coach.
“And another thing that has helped Brandon is his family. His mom is fantastic, and then with his step-dad, he has the support he needs from that level.”
Whether it was the kids who played for him in his early years in Oklahoma City schools or guys like Garrison who he coached more recently, Griffin still watches with excitement when those players reach the next level.
“I enjoy it so much,” Griffin said. “You feel like they’re your own kids, and in a way they are. You’re just glad to see them have an opportunity to play.”
Griffin won’t be rooting against Garrison on Saturday, but at some point this week, he has probably reminded the young Cowboy of his Bedlam bias.
“He may crack a joke here and there,” Garrison said with a smile, “but he mostly stays away from it.”
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OSU at OU
TIPOFF: 6 p.m. Saturday at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman (ESPN+)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSU's Brandon Garrison elevated game under tutelage of Tommy Griffin
