FEATURED SENIOR ATHLETE: Griffin Garner, South Putnam

Griffin is a senior at South Putnam and participates in one sport, basketball.

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Banner Graphic: How important are sports to you, and what have you learned from them?

Griffin Garner: “Sports have taught me about teamwork, working hard, dedication, always having someone to go to and talk to about things. That applies not only to the on the court but off the court.”

BG: Talk about basketball.

GG: “I’ve been playing basketball since elementary school. I’ve always been a big and have played in the paint.”

BG: What’s the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you in sports?

GG: “Sophomore year against Eminence, I got a steal and went for a dunk but got rimstuffed in front of everyone and got pulled the rest of the game.

BG: What does your game day routine look like?

GG: “We usually eat after school, come in as a team to do a walk through, shoot and get stretched out.

BG: You’ve had quite a bit of turnover in coaches since you’ve been in high school. How have you handled the constant turnover?

GG: “It’s a little bit hard because every coach’s style is different. You learn one thing and then get to learn the game all over again. I’ve done my best to adapt to it.”

BG: Do you have any favorite college/pro sports teams or athletes you follow?

GG: “My favorite college team is the University of Kentucky. Kevin Durant is fun to watch and is the most unguardable player the last 20 years.”

BG: What else do you do at school besides things involving sports?

GG: “I don’t do anything out of school and sports.”

BG: What do you like to do outside of school and sports?

GG: “I like hanging out with friends a lot. I enjoy working, making money to buy the things that I want.”

BG: What are your favorites in movies, books, TV and music?

GG: “I like action movies. My favorite show right now is ‘Yellowstone’ and like country music.”

BG: Are you a person that wants to watch TV shows and movies, stream something from YouTube, Twitch, TikTok etc. or something else (gaming, reading, etc.)?

GG: “I’d see if any friends want to hang out, then turn on the TV and have TikTok up.”

BG: What is something you have never done before that you would like to do someday?

GG: “Skydiving. I’m not afraid of heights but jumping out of a plane and relying on my parachute to open, I don’t have a fear of skydiving but feel it’d still be cool.”

BG: What is your biggest fear?

GG: “Whenever I speak in public, I get my words all jumbled up.”

BG: You’ve been placed in charge of making dinner. What’s on the menu?

GG: “I’m good at cooking steak and add some kind of potato.”

BG: Do you have any pets?

GG: “We have four dogs, a pitbull, Dez, another pitbull, Storm, a basset hound, Roscoe and a little mutt, Mia. And a turtle, which we call Turtle.”

BG: If your house were on fire, all living things were already out and you have your keys, cell phone, wallet/purse etc., what is one thing you would go back and get?

GG: “I have a whole collection of Kevin Durant shoes, so I’d grab the box they’re stored in.”

BG: If you were to describe your personality in one word, what would that word be and why?

GG: “Talkative. I pretty much talk to anyone.”

BG: What has been your favorite place to visit?

GG: “Wyoming. It’s the most beautiful state out there. Yellowstone was amazing.”

BG: What was your favorite school field trip?

GG: “The Indians game trip.”

BG: How important is support from your family and classmates to your success?

GG: “It’s pretty important. My family has always been supportive, so that helps. My teammates have also been supportive and that’s been important to my success.”

BG: Describe your overall school experience both academically and athletically.

GG: “I don’t always like school and learning but I do it and have always gotten good grades. I make sure to be here to be able to participate in sports.”

BG: If your school was to offer a class it currently doesn’t, what would you want to see taught?

GG: “I would want to learn how to do taxes, which I know nothing about, and feel that would be an important skill to have.”

BG: What are your plans for after high school, and what career are you headed toward?

GG: “After high school, I plan on doing real estate school then working with Steve Custis at Re/Max as he said he would help me with that.”

BG: Is it difficult to keep up with your school work being an athlete?

GG: “Not really. Our teachers give us time in class to get work done and I use my time wisely to get things done in school.”

BG: Which particular classes and teachers have helped you the most in high school?

GG: “English class has helped me a lot as my grammar is bad. Well...it’s helped a bit as it’s still not great. I also like having my basketball coaches as teachers as I can say what I need to to them and they can give me their advice.”

BG: In the future, once you’ve established yourself, if you had your choice, would you want to live somewhere more remote, such as in the mountains or the countryside, somewhere more flashy like down on the beach or in the big city or in the neighborhood?

GG: “I would rather be in the country. I don’t like being cramped.”

BG: Do you think high school has gone fast, and are you going to miss it?

GG: “Parts of it have gone fast. Parts have gone really slow. I’ll miss it. I wanted to graduate for a while but now I’m going to miss it more than I thought I would.”