Men's Basketball: Former Bulldog Marcellus Garrick Signs Pro Contract in Argentina

Men's Basketball: Former Bulldog Marcellus Garrick Signs Pro Contract in Argentina
July 29, 2022

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Former Allan Hancock College men's basketball standout, Marcellus Garrick, has signed a professional contract to continue his basketball career in Argentina. Garrick inked a deal with Argentino de Junin in the Buenos Aires Province. The team is a member of the Liga Nacional de Básquetbol, which is the top-tier level of the Argentine basketball league system.

When discussing how his time at AHC prepared him for success at the next level Garrick shared, "Honestly, the things that Coach Aye taught me when I came to Hancock have never left my mind and I believe that's why I've been able to keep striving. He always told us that attitude and effort are the only things in life you can control, and that is true. Adversity is going to hit you, but those two things will always remain the same. I'll always be indebted to Coach Aye for letting me play through so many of my mistakes and trusting me since day one." 

The 6-foot-4 guard spent two seasons as a starter with the Bulldogs from 2015-17. During his sophomore campaign, the South Carolina native led the program with 15.9 points per game while also averaging 20.3 points per contest versus conference foes. He finished the season shooting 48.1 (141-for-293) percent from the floor and 35.9 (51-for-142) percent from three-point range.

"My advice to other athletes considering this route is to remember that JUCO is a grind! You need to let go of your ego and the thought that you're bigger than where you're at. I saw so many players that were better than me while I was at the JUCO level just not be mentally tough enough to finish it out," Garrick added. "If you're going to Hancock, trust in Coach Aye. He's all about getting college offers for his athletes and he knows what he's doing." 

Garrick, who also averaged five rebounds per game, was tabbed as a First Team All-Conference selection at the conclusion of his final season with the Bulldogs. As a freshman, he averaged 8.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while starting in 27 contests. 

"The list of people I'd like to thank, not just at Hancock but also in Santa Maria as a whole, is way too long. I definitely have to thank every coach that was on staff during my time there, but I also need to thank the athletic trainers and the people I worked with in both the Public Affairs office and the President's office," Garrick stated. "There is one person though who I need to recognize individually and that is Mrs. Vicki Hernandez, along with her beautiful family. She was basically a second mom to me while I was there and I will forever be indebted to her for all of the love and support that she showed me." 

Garrick moved on from Hancock to continue his playing career at Cal Poly, becoming the first AHC basketball player to sign with the Mustangs since the program moved to the NCAA Division I ranks in 1994. He finished out his collegiate career at Poly, averaging 11.7 points per game and shooting 34.9 percent from distance during his senior season. Garrick graduated with a degree in Sociology from Cal Poly in 2020.