“That’s one of the things that I would hold as most important and
close to my heart regarding this team, is just the community that we’ve
built,” Alexander says. “I know it sounds like a cliché, but it’s become
somewhat of a family. I can hang out with any of these guys, at one point
we’ve all slept on each other’s couch, and on the weekend when a new
movie comes out we just pile in cars and go check it out together. It’s really
a cool thing. I’ve been close with the teams I’ve been on in the past, but
this is the widest variety of people I’ve been able to do that with.”
Says Garrison, “We have a lot of really humble guys, a lot of guys
who just like being good people. I mean, they’re great guys on campus,
you see them everywhere and they just care. That’s something that
Grand Canyon has always been about, giving back to the community
and being about togetherness, and it’s just cool to see that through our
team. That’s what it’s really all about, at the end of the day, is to build
these relationships. It’s cool with the games, but it’s really all about the
relationships.”
Right now, though, it’s all about the fun. Even Majerle joins in,
standing next to his 12-year-old son, Max, who’s along on his first road
trip, and hoisting 3-pointers. Max, a chip off the old block if there ever
was one, has a nice left-handed touch, but his dad still is a tough out in
H-O-R-S-E, as another newcomer to the team, his nephew Ryan Majerle,
will attest. “The Majerles, we’re shooters, man,” he says.
The mood is relaxed, maybe because they need to unwind before they
start preparing in earnest for what lies ahead.
“Coach Majerle allows us to have fun. You can actually talk to him.
GCU coach DanMajerle shakes hands with Kentucky’s
John Calipari before the start of the game.
GCU players say a prayer before
practice. The team developed a special
bond last summer despite having so
many newcomers.
GCU TODAY • 17
