Forget the Five-Stars — Brandon Garrison Might Be the Key to Banner No. 9 👀🔥…Read More….

Forget the Five-Stars — Brandon Garrison Might Be the Key to Banner No. 9 👀🔥…Read More….

Durham, NC — When Duke basketball fans talk about the future, most conversations start with the star-studded recruiting classes Jon Scheyer has pulled together since taking over for the legendary Coach K. The names of five-star phenoms like Cooper Flagg, Isaiah Evans, and Kon Knueppel have dominated headlines. But inside Cameron Indoor Stadium, there’s a growing belief that the road to Banner No. 9 may rest not solely on the shoulders of the hyped freshmen — but on the steady, unrelenting presence of Brandon Garrison.

Garrison, the 6’9” sophomore forward who transferred in from Oklahoma State, has already made waves in preseason practices. Known for his bruising interior defense, high basketball IQ, and relentless motor, he’s quickly becoming the kind of glue guy every championship team desperately needs. While Flagg may grab the highlight reels with jaw-dropping dunks and Evans may space the floor with shooting, Garrison is the one doing the dirty work that doesn’t always show up in the box score — setting hard screens, contesting shots, and owning the glass.

“Brandon changes everything for us,” Scheyer told reporters after a recent workout. “When you have someone who buys into his role the way he does, it allows the stars to be stars. He’s not here for the spotlight. He’s here to win.”

That mentality could be exactly what separates this Duke squad from the past few years of near misses. In March, tournament games are often decided not by the flashiest player on the court, but by the one willing to make the gritty play — take a charge, dive for a loose ball, or box out against a bigger opponent. Garrison has already proven he’s ready for that moment.

At Oklahoma State, he averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and over a block per game in limited minutes, but what impressed coaches most was his maturity. Now in Durham, surrounded by elite scorers, he doesn’t need to be a 20-point-a-night guy. Instead, his focus is rim protection, rebounding, and anchoring a defense that Duke hopes can carry them through the grind of the ACC and into another deep NCAA Tournament run.

Teammates have taken notice, too. “He brings toughness every single day,” Cooper Flagg said after practice. “You know when Brandon’s on the floor, you can play free because he’s got your back defensively.”

With Duke’s history of relying on star freshmen, it’s easy for fans to expect Banner No. 9 to be carried in by highlight machines. But look back at history — from Shane Battier’s leadership in 2001 to Amile Jefferson’s steadying presence in 2015 — and it’s clear that titles are often won by role players embracing the grind. Garrison fits that mold perfectly.

As the season approaches, the Blue Devils are once again a national title favorite. But if the confetti falls in April and another banner is raised to the rafters in Cameron, don’t be surprised if the quiet, hard-nosed forward from Oklahoma is the difference maker.

Sometimes it’s not the five-star freshman who defines a season — it’s the player willing to do whatever it takes. For Duke, that player just might be Brandon Garrison.