Brandon Garrison opens up about his son, Akarii: "I'm just doing it all for him"

The highlight of Brandon Garrison‘s first season at Kentucky was undoubtedly the game vs. Oklahoma in Norman. Garrison, who was born in Oklahoma City and started his college career at Oklahoma State, went off against his former rival, putting up 12 points, four rebounds, three blocks, and three steals and egging on the crowd to the point a Sooner fan threw a beer can at his head. Afterward, we got another highlight when Garrison’s son, Akarii, joined him in the postgame press conference, stealing the spotlight as he sat on his knee and chimed in with baby talk.

This morning on KSR, Garrison opened up about his son, who is now one and a half, telling fellow dad Ryan Lemond that fatherhood has totally changed his perspective.

“Yeah, just me becoming a dad, I feel like it matured me, I’d say, helped me grow up faster, you know? And just being around him, it just always brings me joy.”

Now that the weather is nice, Garrison said his favorite thing to do is to take Akarii to the park so he can run around. Akarii made it to several Kentucky games this season, charming the family section at Rupp Arena, but Garrison admitted having his son in the stands for his return to his home state of Oklahoma helped fuel his performance.

“For sure. You know, when he’s there, I just feel like I’m playing for him. So, just doing it all for him.”

If his cameo in the Oklahoma postgame press conference wasn’t an indication enough, Akarii is a budding star in his own right. He even has his own Instagram account (which is run by mom and dad). Bring on more Akarii content.

@collegegameday #Cuteness overload ❤️ #kentucky #mbb #family ♬ original sound – College GameDay

Garrison excited to make more memories with BBN

Garrison announced his return to Kentucky on April 12. He’s looking forward to year two in Lexington, in part for the opportunity to play in front of Big Blue Nation again. After starting his college career at Oklahoma State, which isn’t exactly a blueblood, he doesn’t take that for granted.

“It’s just special,” Garrison said of Kentucky fans’ passion. “I feel like it just makes you want to get out there more, you know, and just excited for the game because I came from a crowd where it wasn’t like that, and some games, you’ve got to have your own energy. But I feel like just having the stands packed out, they bring the energy for you so you’re ready right when we step out on the floor.”

Garrison admitted it took him a minute to adjust to the fishbowl lifestyle of a Kentucky Basketball player, but he can’t wait to get to know BBN better in year two.

“What I’d tell somebody who asked me [what Kentucky fans are like], it’s just like, they show a lot of love. Every game could be sold out, and they’re die-hard fans out here, so just take advantage of it and meet as many people as you can.”

Kentucky is poised to be a top-ten team heading into next season; however, Garrison said his first season in Lexington will always have a special place in his heart.

“Oh yeah, first, just the teammates I played with, how they taught me a lot of things, how we connected. And just, you know, our first year, making March Madness and going as deep as we did. Those are some of the memories I’ll always look back on.”