Clayton Garrison’s surname and his mother’s maiden name were both household names on the SWMO hardwood scene at different junctures since the turn of the century.
Casey Garrison and Conley Garrison were standout preps at Bolivar and went on to enjoy successful careers at Missouri State and Drury.
Likewise, Nathan Bilyeu starred at Ozark and remained a premier rebounder at MSU.
Clayton is likely to be named the Class 1 Player Of the Year in the coming days, but isn’t related on his father’s side of the family to Bolivar’s Garrisons or on his mother’s side of the family to Bilyeu.
The Chadwick state champion junior forward’s family basketball heritage isn’t exactly bare, but his hoops skills seem better characterized as earned than inherited.
“They're surprised,” Garrison said of his parents’ reaction to his ever-surging basketball development. “But they know how hard I've worked for it. They’re proud of me for how hard I've worked.”
Garrison’s parents both are Chadwick grads. His mother, Brittany (Bilyeu), played for the Lady Cardinals and was on their 2004 team that finished third in Class 1.
Garrison’s aunt, Baylee (Bilyeu), stands 6-foot-3 and averaged 14.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game her senior year at Salem. She went on to throw the shot put and discus at Appalachian State.
Clayton took to basketball naturally and, just as importantly, whole-heartedly.
“At 6 years old, I knew it was my favorite thing to do and it still is,” he said. “I worked hard enough that it came to me. I trained a lot as a young kid.”
Chadwick coach Shawn Guerin is a long-time friend of Clayton’s parents and has known him since he was born. As Garrison grew up, Guerin took note with great interest of Garrison’s basketball ability.
“We knew he was going to be a talented player and he grew into an extreme athlete,” Guerin said. “I (saw) it in the seventh grade. I was thinking, 'This kid has a chance.’”
Garrison has fulfilled the promise he showed as a youngster. He’s fresh from a state championship game performance that was complete at both ends of the court. He collected 24 points, 15 rebounds, five steals, four assists and one blocked shot.
On the season, Garrison averaged 22 points and 10.5 rebounds a game while reaching 1,500 career points.
He values the support he’s received from many corners for helping him gain and establish winning intangibles that have helped him on his way.
“My parents and everyone around me were on me to be the best version of myself,” he said.
Garrison and his girlfriend, Sparta grad and former all-state pitcher Natalie Wilks, are nearing two years as a couple. He credits her for making him stronger mentally.
"She's a very confident person and she’s helped me with my confidence,” Garrison said. “She keeps my head up.”
Finally, Garrison’s predecessors wearing the Cardinals uniform over the years provided him immeasurable motivation.
"Watching the guys before me, they were great players,” he said. “I wanted to be like them, step up and make history for Chadwick. That's what we did.”
