The third time could be the charm in the Oklahoma Sooners finally getting 6-foot-10 center Brandon Garrison down the road to Norman.
Twice before, the Sooners were oh-so-close to landing Garrison as a local high school recruit and out of the Transfer Portal, and now, Garrison is headed back to the portal once it officially opens on Tuesday with plans to transfer from Kentucky, according to On3's Joe Tipton.
Sooners could finally land Kentucky's Brandon Garrison after 2 failed attempts
The Sooners were first in the mix for Garrison when he was a McDonalds All-American and consensus four-star recruit in the 2023 class out of nearby Del City High School. Garrison ultimately chose Mike Boynton and Oklahoma State, where he averaged 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds as a freshman in his lone season in Stillwater.
A year after losing the battle for Garrison as a preps product, the Sooners got a second chance when he entered the Transfer Portal for the first time after Boynton was fired at OSU. Garrison visited Norman and even posted pictures wearing crimson and cream to create hope, but he ultimately went to Kentucky to join first-year coach Mark Pope.
It was Porter Moser leading the Sooners during all of Garrison's recruitments, so that prior relationship could be an upper-hand.
A look at Brandon Garrison in a #Sooners uniform, per his instagram. The Oklahoma State transfer visited Oklahoma last weekend. Garrison is a huge priority for OU. He will visit Texas this weekend. pic.twitter.com/FpinFLt1eM
— Brody Lusk (@BrodyLusk) April 19, 2024
Garrison spent the past two seasons at Kentucky, averaging 5.9 points and 3.9 rebounds as a sophomore, then 4.7 points and 4.1 rebounds in 2025-26. He made five starts this season. Garrison also created some tension with OU fans during his time with Kentucky when he was right in the middle of a scuffle when the Wildcats visited Norman last year, then Garrison did some trash-talking on social media afterward.
OU fans would forgive Garrison, though, if it meant the Sooners having a productive big man.
Garrison hasn't lived up to the hype yet as a former highly rated prospect, but would feel a need OU has, bring SEC experience, and the Sooners could really benefit if Garrison finally unlocks his potential in his final college basketball season after many believed he'd be in the NBA by this point in his career.