For junior guard Garrett Long, basketball has always been more than just a game. It’s been a way of life, shaped by the people closest to him. “I’d probably say my older brother and my dad inspired me to play basketball,” said Long, “They played college basketball. I was always going to my brother’s AAU tournaments and high school games and stuff.”
That early exposure turned into ambition during Long’s freshman year of high school. “That’s when I started taking it more seriously. I started to play for travel teams in Seattle and got some college recognition. It kind of transpired from there,” explained Long.
Like many athletes in his recruiting class, the process wasn’t without its obstacles. “The recruitment process was definitely a little weird,” said Long, “I had a lot of interest [in] my sophomore, junior and senior year, and then COVID kind of happened. I was talking to a lot of DII schools and the Big Sky, but nothing really came from it.”
Eventually, Long accepted a scholarship offer from Carroll College, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) school—but that didn’t go as planned. “The coach there was just a different pace than me, and he ended up leaving,” Long explained, “So, I decided to come to Whitworth over a couple [of] other offers I had. I’m glad it worked out. The guys here are cool.”
Since arriving at Whitworth, Long has embraced the challenge of transitioning from high school to college hoops. Long states, “It’s a lot more work. I’d say high school basketball is more like the NBA, very one-on-one. But in college, you’ve got to win games consistently. You’ve got to do it every day. It’s more like a job.”
Balancing academics and athletics can require serious discipline. “A lot of it’s just time management,” said Long, “Getting up early to knock out homework, then making time for practice and workouts. Some days you want to just chill or go to a party, but as a college athlete, you’ve got to figure out what comes first.”
Game days follow a focused routine for Long. “I wake up, get a good breakfast, hydrate, then head to shoot-around. I’ll get shots up with guys like Colton or Steve—threes, mid-range, layups, free throws. After that, I go home, take a nap, then come back to get taped and locked in. I’ve been journaling and reading the Bible a lot this year, too, especially on game days. It helps me stay calm and be a leader,” explained Long.
When it comes to preparation, Long doesn’t differentiate between regular and high-stakes games. “It’s really all the same for me. I’ve had success with basketball and been on good teams. I just go in with the mindset to kill everyone,” he said, laughing.
One of Long’s most memorable games came last season in the NCAA tournament against California Lutheran. “I was kind of hurt the whole year, and I came back starting in that game. It went to overtime, and we won. It was crazy. The crowd was lit. It was enemy territory. A really dope game.”
As a point guard, Long sees his role on the team as both a vocal and example-driven leader. “Every day I’m getting shots up, making sure the guys know I’m in the gym. If one of the better guys on the team is in there, they should be too,” said Long, “I try to lead with that mindset—be a dog out there and keep everyone together.”
Off the court, Long credits the team culture for his growth as a person. “These guys are dope. We’ve been doing Bible studies outside of basketball. Everyone here likes each other. When you know these guys aren’t just teammates but brothers, it makes everything better. I’ve definitely become a better person because of them,” he said.
As for what’s next, Long’s keeping his options open. “I might have another year of eligibility, so I could play again. I’ve also thought about coaching—maybe getting a grad assistant role and coaching at the college level. Whether it’s college or high school, I definitely want to coach down the line.”
For now, Garrett Long is focused on leading, grinding, and being the kind of teammate—and person—that makes a difference at Whitworth, both on and off the court.
