Just days after the rumors began swirling, it now appears smoke may be turning into fire.
Sophomore big man Brandon Garrison has reportedly scrubbed all mentions of the University of Kentucky from his social media profiles, according to Chris Beasmore. In the age of digital breadcrumbs, this kind of move is often the first signal that a player is preparing to enter the transfer portal.
And when it comes to Garrison, the timing is...interesting.
To further add flames to the fire, Beasmore is also reporting Brandon is no longer on campus nor enrolled in classes. Seems to just be a matter of time.
Update* Beasmore has updated his report indicating he has not dropped class.
From OK State to Lexington — and now, what?
Garrison, a former McDonald’s All-American, transferred to Kentucky after his freshman year at Oklahoma State. Hopes were high for the 6’9” forward, who brought length, versatility, and defensive upside to Mark Pope’s first roster.
But the fit never quite clicked.
His production dipped across nearly every statistical category this season:
Minutes: down from 22.6 to 17.3
FG%: down from 57.2% to 50.9%
FT%: down from 64.8% to 53.5%
Rebounds: down from 5.3 to 3.9
Blocks: down from 1.5 to 0.6
Points: down from 7.5 to 5.9
While some of that can be chalked up to a new system and different role, the numbers don’t lie — Garrison saw fewer minutes, fewer touches, and less overall impact in Lexington.
The Quintance factor
Adding fuel to the fire? The arrival of Jayden Quaintance — one of the highest-rated big men in the 2024 class and a likely Day 1 starter. If Garrison was already struggling to carve out a consistent role, Quaintance’s presence likely pushes him even further down the rotation.
That’s not a knock on Garrison’s talent. He’s still the same guy who earned a McDonald’s All-American jersey, a player with soft hands, mobility, and legit upside on both ends. But basketball is often about fit and opportunity — and it seems increasingly likely that Garrison sees more of both somewhere else.
What’s next?
As of now, Garrison has not officially entered the portal. But in this modern college hoops era, social media often speaks louder than press releases. Removing all Kentucky references from his profiles is a major sign, and speculation is bound to continue heating up.
Will he officially hit the portal? If he does, expect high-major interest immediately. There’s still a ton of belief in Garrison’s ceiling — especially among programs looking for an athletic big with experience and untapped potential.
Until then, stay tuned. The offseason is just beginning, and Kentucky fans might not be done refreshing Twitter/X just yet.