Del City’s Brandon Garrison, an Oklahoma State signee, is named to McDonald’s All American basketball team
Brandon Garrison’s growing resume now boasts one of the most prestigious titles in high school basketball.
The rosters for the 46th annual McDonald’s All American Game were released Tuesday on ESPN, and the Del City senior forward is one of 24 honorees. He will have a chance to compete alongside Bronny James on the West team on March 28 in Houston.
It’s a longtime goal of Garrison, who grew up watching McDonald’s All American games on YouTube.
“I’ve always seen the people who chose them, and I thought, ‘I want to do that one day,'” Garrison said. “My dream came true.”
Del City coach Lenny Hatchett said the Eagles got the news shortly after their practice on Tuesday, so Garrison celebrated along with his teammates.
“He was smiling from ear to ear and his teammates were really excited for him,” said Hatchett. “It’s just the kind of kid he is. He always appreciates his teammates and his teammates definitely loved him.”
Garrison, an Oklahoma State signee, is the 11th McDonald’s All American from Oklahoma and the first since Bryce Thompson, the Tulsa Booker T. Washington star’s class of 2020, to play for the Cowboys. The 6ft 9 Garrison is a four-star recruit and the #1 Class of 2023 recruit in the state, according to 247Sports Composite.
More:Millwood’s gym floor was vandalized and then suffered a post-game shootout. Nevertheless, the Falcons rise.
“It’s a huge thing for our community, the school, to be the first McDonald’s All-American at Del City High School,” Hatchett said.
As a sophomore, Garrison played an important role in guiding the Class 6A Eagles to a state title, and they became Class 5A runners-up the next year. He averaged 17.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists in Del City’s first 13 matchups that season, despite suffering a foot injury.
And its accomplishments extend far beyond Del City. Last summer, Garrison won a gold medal with the U18 Team USA basketball team at the FIBA Americas Championship. Through Team USA and the NBPA Top 100 Camp, he already knows several of his All Americans, including James.
Hatchett said Garrison’s experience with Team Griffin, former OU star Blake Griffin’s AAU organization, was also critical to his development over the summer.
“He’s really improved his game every year and just keeps getting better and stronger and understanding the game better,” Hatchett said. “I think since he understands the process and has been patient with it, good things have happened for him.”
More:How Dale’s Dayton Forsythe became a high school basketball phenomenon
2023 McDonald’s All American Boys Basketball List
This article originally appeared in Oklahoman: Del City’s Brandon Garrison Named to McDonald’s All American Team
