Who Is Oklahoma State Freshman Cameron McGriff?

Who is Cameron McGriff?

On paper, he’s a 6’7 210-pound freshman from Grand Prairie who chose to play basketball at Oklahoma State over Texas, Arkansas and OU.

Not on paper: He could factor into OSU’s rotation as a freshman and help this team as it tries to sneak inside the top half of the Big 12 conference. McGriff is not going to score a ton. You probably won’t see him on a ton of highlight reels, at least initially.

But he knows he has a role.

“What I love the most is the focus on defense,” said McGriff last week. “It’s what coach’s main focus is on every day. It’s not much of a learning curve, because my high school coach was a huge defensive guy, but it’s a lot of new things I’ve learned since I’ve been here. I want to be a hustle guy. Getting every rebound and bringing a lot of energy to every game.”

Music to Eddie Sutton’s ears.

Brad Underwood thinks he has the ability to fit in, at least physically, as a frosh, too.

“When the good Lord handed out basketball bodies, Cam was in that line,” said Underwood earlier this year of the physically imposing McGriff.

Maybe most telling is what supersenior leader Phil Forte said of McGriff after practicing with him for a few months.

“I don’t think I’ve had as much respect for a freshman since I’ve been an upperclassman as him,” said Forte. “Just the way he’s come in and really just had a team-player mentality, just doing whatever coach asked him to do.”

[fans self]

There is a plan, too, for McGriff. Or at least the way he sees it. He’s not a one-and-done guy. He’s not a transfer candidate. He just wants to have an awesome four-year career in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

“For my junior and senior year, I was looked at to be the leader. Just bringing what I can every day, rebounding and a lot of energy. It’s really humbling, but I have a lot to learn from these guys.”

So who is Cam McGriff? Well, we don’t totally know yet. At least not completely. But it’s clear he could be a heavy factor in the rotation this year with one eye on being a star in the future.