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| Marcus Garrett | |
|---|---|
| Name | Marcus Garrett |
| Position | Point guard / Shooting guard |
| Weight lb | 190 |
| League | NBA G League |
| Team | Fort Wayne Mad Ants |
| Birth date | 28 June 1996 |
| Birth place | Kansas City, Missouri |
| College | University of Kansas |
| Draft year | 2020 |
| Career start | 2020 |
| Years1 | 2021–2022 |
| Team1 | Grand Rapids Gold |
| Years2 | 2022–2023 |
| Team2 | Indiana Pacers |
| Years3 | 2023– |
| Team3 | Fort Wayne Mad Ants |
Marcus Garrett (born June 28, 1996) is an American professional basketball player who plays as a guard for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA G League. He was a standout at the University of Kansas, earning national recognition for defensive prowess, and has played in the National Basketball Association and G League. Garrett's career includes collegiate accolades, G League contributions, and short-term NBA contracts.
Garrett was born in Kansas City, Missouri and grew up in the Greater Kansas City area, attending Wyandotte High School before transferring to Evergreen High School and eventually playing at Wesleyan Christian Academy for his senior season. He competed in prep circuits and national AAU tournaments, drawing attention from programs such as University of Kansas, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and University of North Carolina. As a consensus three-star recruit he received offers from Kansas State University, Xavier University, Creighton University, and others before committing to the University of Kansas.
At the University of Kansas, Garrett played under head coach Bill Self for four seasons (2016–2020). He redshirted his initial year due to transfer and developmental timing, then established himself as a perimeter defender, often guarding opponents from Big 12 Conference rivals like Baylor University, University of Texas at Austin, Oklahoma State University, Texas Tech University, and Iowa State University. Garrett earned conference honors including Big 12 Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year and was named to all-defensive teams while contributing on offense alongside teammates such as Devon Dotson, Udoka Azubuike, and Lagerald Vick. During the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season and the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season his role evolved from role player to starter, culminating in significant minutes in NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament related preparations prior to the COVID-19 pandemic–shortened postseason landscape.
After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Garrett joined Denver Nuggets affinity camps and participated in NBA Summer League opportunities before signing with Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League. He later earned a two-way or 10-day opportunity with the Indiana Pacers and logged NBA minutes vs. teams such as the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons. Garrett returned to G League action with the Gold and subsequently joined the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, contributing in backcourt rotations and defensive assignments. He has also been affiliated with Austin Spurs and attended NBA G League Showcase events, while training in offseason programs run by former NBA players and specialty coaches.
Garrett is primarily known for on-ball defense, quick lateral movement, and situational perimeter versatility, often drawing scouting comparisons to defensive guards from the Big 12 Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference who play both point and shooting guard roles. His skill set includes disciplined closeouts, contested shot timing, and high-effort transition defense against guards from programs like Duke University, University of North Carolina, and University of Kentucky. Offensively, he is a pick-and-roll cutter, secondary playmaker, and spot-up shooter who benefits from spacing generated by teammates with abilities similar to Udoka Azubuike and Devon Dotson. Garrett's conditioning and toughness have been highlighted by coaches such as Bill Self and G League staff.
College (University of Kansas) - Seasons: 2016–2020 - Approximate career averages: ~6–7 points, ~3–4 rebounds, ~2–3 assists, and ~1.5 steals per game across his collegiate career, with defensive metrics reflecting high steal and defensive win share rates within the Big 12 Conference.
Professional (NBA / G League) - G League averages with teams like Grand Rapids Gold and Fort Wayne Mad Ants: scoring in the single to low double digits, 3–5 rebounds, 3–4 assists, and notable defensive stats including steals and on-ball defensive metrics measured at NBA G League statistical tracking events. - NBA brief stint with Indiana Pacers: limited minutes yielding modest counting stats but valued for defensive assignments.
Garrett has ties to the Kansas City community and has participated in regional youth basketball clinics and charitable events in partnership with organizations such as local YMCA branches and community outreach programs tied to the University of Kansas alumni network and NBA-affiliated foundations. He has trained at facilities in Lawrence, Kansas, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, and maintains connections with former college teammates and coaches who have moved to organizations including the NBA and international leagues.
Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:American basketball players Category:Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball players Category:People from Kansas City, Missouri