If Mark Pope is right, Brandon Garrison is going to be taking and making even more 3-point shots. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Going 4-for-8 from 3-point range in the last six games might not seem like an impossible task but for Kentucky 7-foot sophomore Brandon Garrison it is a big deal because he didn’t even attempt a 3-point shot at Oklahoma State last season.
Kentucky coach Mark Pope said assistant Mikhail McLean has been working with Garrison daily on his shot.
“He’s going to be a big-time shooter. I’m telling you, it’s in his future,” Pope said. “I think we’ve felt that way since the summer. He’s got a poise and a presentness about him, fearlessness about him when he shoots the ball.
“And he’s got a really terrific touch, he gets great rotation, he’s patient enough to make sure that his balance is solid every single time. He’s got all the ingredients.”
He’s 5-for-15 from 3-point range in 17 games — a 33 percent mark. However, he went 0-for-5 to start the season before making his first 3 in the comeback win over Gonzaga.
Garrison likely will get open looks from 3-point range today at Vanderbilt as most teams have backed off him when he has the ball outside.
“I’ve seen these guys a ton, that are kind of in this big space. It just hasn’t been a part of their game, but they’re built to do it,” Pope said at his weekly press conference. “He’s going to shoot the ball better and better and better and better, but he’s got a real future.”
And Pope meant a very real future.
“Sometime down the road, five years from now, we’re going to look at him in the league (NBA) , and he’s going to be like Big Shot Bob,” the Kentucky coach said.“He’s been one of those guys that just makes shots, and he’s going to be known as that and that’s going to be the scout, and I hope that starts on Saturday.
“Maybe it’ll be a couple weeks. But he’s in progress of going there, and so it’s going to be fun to see. It’s going to be fun to watch, because he is just a no-brainer, man, that dude is going to make shots as he grows. It’s pretty fun.”
Pope has looked back at UK’s loss to Alabama a week ago and wishes he had utilized Garrison more. Garrison, who averages 2.5 assists per game, has “turn-down decision making” that Pope loves.
“He loves to track the late pass, he loves it. He fell in love with it early in the season, so he loves to track it,” Pope said.
