Garrett picks USA
- Updated: June 9, 2019
Oxford post commits to play basketball at South Alabama, where he’s long felt the family vibe he sought
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
OXFORD – Zondrick Garrett has been the best true big man in Calhoun County for quite some time and this coming season he’ll be able to show it without the pressure of having to decide where he’ll play his college ball the following year.
Oxford basketball coach Joel VanMeter confirmed Sunday morning his 6-7 rising senior has committed to play at South Alabama.
“They’ve been recruiting him for about a year and a half and they’ve done a really good job recruiting him,” VanMeter said. “Zondrick and his family were looking for something specific … They knew what they were looking for and as soon as they found it they were not going to wait around.”
The thing Garrett was looking for was a family vibe close to what he has with the Yellow Jackets, and he felt that connection almost immediately with the Jaguars.
He’ll sign in November and is expected to be a power forward. He also was considering UAB, Tennessee State and Murray State.
“Most players go to college and don’t feel that family type situation with their coaches and players,” Garrett said. “I wanted to go somewhere where I felt that and where I had the same situation with Oxford. You know the feeling. When you’re around somebody you know they’re good people just the way they hang around with other people. You knew it was there.”
Garrett averaged 19 points, 9.5 rebounds, six blocks, five assists and 4.2 steals last season. He is headed to the Alabama North-South All-Star Game in July. His offseason already has gotten off to a good start as he’s helped the Yellow Jackets to a 5-0 start in their early June play dates at Buckhorn and Ramsay. The Jackets play at home Monday against Gadsden City and Plainview.
In their game against Buckhorn, Garrett had a double-double and blocked four shots in the final two minutes of a tight game the Jackets eventually won a 66-61.
“He’s just gotten better and better, his motor has gotten better and better,” VanMeter said. “He never took plays off. There were times (last season) maybe two or three trips up the floor he might have kind of not contested at the rim. Now, he’s contesting everything … He looks like a mid-major Division I basketball player.”
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