Kansas Basketball Backcourt Profile: Marcus Garrett
Marcus Garrett is one of the many exciting new players who will be a part of the Kansas Basketball program this coming season.
Although it would be unfair to expect him to be a star his freshman year on a team laden with experienced players, Marcus Garrett will certainly get more than a few opportunities to shine with the Jayhawks.
At 6’6, Marcus Garrett will bring good size to the Kansas backcourt rotation. If he picks up on the role expected of him quickly, he could provide some spark right off the bench. Good thing, his uncle, who has also coached him, once described Garrett as a “sponge.”
Garrett’s improvement is important because every year there are games where the starters go cold. This could specially hurt in the post-season when one bad game means a bus ride back home and we all know Bill Self wants that second ring probably more than any of us do.
Marcus Garrett posted crazy good stats in his senior season with upwards of 17 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists per game. This production earned him the Gatorade Texas Boys Basketball Players of the Year. If the stats do not do it for you, his senior year highlights show that he is equally comfortable dunking, dribbling and shooting from the deep.
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Looking at his stats alone it is easy to see that he is involved in many aspects of the game when on the floor. It will help the Jayhawk basketball team get those extra rebounds and assists apart from the points he scores. Moreover, he can help out on the defense with his size advantage.
Marcus Garrett has made it no secret that he really admires Marcus Graham’s style of play. He had this to say to the Star:
"I always go back to that Oklahoma game at Oklahoma last year. Devonte’ Graham is my favorite collegiate player … He didn’t care that Buddy was one of the best players in the country. He just went out and competed against him, played hard and he plays defense."
Young was another target for the Jayhawks who elected to attend school at Oklahoma. Garrett once faced off against him at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest. Although, he fell short of winning the points battle with Young (21 to 33), he got the win for the team. Moreover, he scored all those points in the second half after starting out with quick foul trouble.
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I think that Garrett will be a solid piece off the bench for Bill Self and he should be able to keep up the defensive pressure when the starters take a rest. Bearing that he improves and learns through his first year, he could become a major role player as a starter, during his sophomore season. The future looks bright for this young man and Jayhawk basketball.