Kansas basketball senior Marcus Garrett leaves strong legacy entering NBA Draft

Four-year Kansas basketball guard Marcus Garrett has announced his decision to enter the NBA Draft, forgoing his extra year of eligibility.

Garrett leaves a strong legacy in Lawrence as a beloved figure among teammates, coaches, and fans. He was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team three times, All-Big 12 Teams twice, and was the 2019-2020 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

Marcus showed himself as a valuable utility player, able to play on or off the ball offensively while able to guard all five positions on defense.

In one of the season’s most impressive defensive performances, Garrett contained Baylor 1st-Team All-American Jared Butler to just 5 points on 2 of 9 shooting to secure Kansas’s 71-58 win over the Bears.

His ability to lock down opposing teams’ best scorers has anchored the Jayhawk defense for several years. This defensive edge will improve his marketability in the upcoming draft.

Garrett is expected to be a late 2nd-round pick or sign as an undrafted free agent. His defense, versatility, and length will likely land him a spot on an NBA roster.

For Kansas, an offseason of roster turnover continues as they lose an experienced guard. The Jayhawks will have to look to other guys to produce on both ends of the floor.

We now wait to see if Ochai Agbaji or Jalen Wilson will join Marcus in this year’s draft class or return to Lawrence. Their decisions will shape how the roster looks entering the 2021-2022 season.