John Grigsby is the ultimate team player.
He's also as personable and positive as any Cowboy basketball player I've ever been around.
He has played exactly two minutes thus far this season for Wyoming, yet he's as big a part of the team as any starter, and despite the lack of playing time, as well-known as anybody on the team.
The sophomore from Louisville, Colo., is the ring-leader of the Wyoming Bench Mob known as the BCB (Blue Collar Boys), the self-named foursome of Cowboys who orchestrate all kinds of different antics from the bench during the game that positively support their teammates on the floor, and provide quite a show for folks in the stands and on television.
John is a business major with an eye on marketing. He wants to sell products, or maybe a professional franchise. Believe me, he's a natural.
Spend five minutes with him, and it's where do I sign.
"I'm a positive guy," he says as the understatement of the year. "It's just always been my personality. I like to make everyone laugh, and to have fun around me."
Grigsby had some scholarship offers, Army for one, Augustana for another, as well as from a number of Division II institutions.
But his brother Roy, three years his elder, played for Jeff Linder at Northern Colorado. "That was a big influence on me coming here," John says. "I had a good idea of what I was getting into here with Coach (Jeff) Linder. I wanted to better myself and see if I could play at the D-I level. I knew I would develop into a better basketball player with Coach Linder and his staff. It was intriguing for me to play for him because my brother did. It was a pretty easy decision to walk on here. And while I haven't gotten to play that much, I know I'm a better basketball player for coming here."
Both he and his brother stand 6-9. Both were baseball pitchers as well as basketball players. "I wasn't that good as a pitcher, but Roy was very good. I think he could have gone that route if he wanted. But we both loved basketball."
It's obvious that his older brother is a special influence in his life. They face-time each other all the time.
I ask, 'who's a better player?' After the slightest hesitation, he says, "I have to go with me on that," giving me that contagious laugh. And then I ask, who is better looking? "Nobody's ever asked me that before, but I've got to go with me again," he laughs even louder.
Like everyone else within the program, Linder is a big Grigsby fan. "John does so much behind the scenes for us. His energy and his mood never waivers even though he doesn't get much playing time. He came up with our 'hard hat' award which we present to a player following each game. It's for toughness, grit and winning plays. It represents what the State of Wyoming is all about. That was John's idea."
While Grigsby was raised in Louisville, his father, Verlan, got a job in Minnesota, and the family moved. John attended Park Center Senior High School in Brooklyn Park which was the number one team in the state during his time there.
John admits it's tough not getting to play. "As a competitor who believes in himself, it's really difficult. But I work hard every day to get better and maybe one of these days that will change. But I'm a team guy first, and I'm going to do anything I can to help us be successful."
The BCB is certainly one way to help, but John and his three Mob mates (freshmen redshirts Nate Barnhart, Ben Bowen, and Cort Roberson) are even more important as scout-team players, providing those who play a live picture of what the opponent's actions will look like in the game.
"It's very important for us to take that very seriously," John says. "In the college game each possession is vital because there precious, there aren't that many of them. If we can give the team a good look at what the opponent is doing, it may make a difference during a possession or two. We are 100 percent into doing that. I've probably learned 40 different offenses since I've been here with our scout team."
Because of that might he consider coaching as a future possibility? "I'd love to because I love basketball so much. I'd certainly have a lot of offenses to choose from," he laughs.
The BCB and scout team aside, John's approach on game day is just as focused as those who will see playing time. "My mindset is to prepare for each game as if I was a starter. Leading up to the game I'm focused on the scout team. But I prepare mentally on game day and in the locker room as if I am going to play. What if Graham (Ike) or (Hunter) Thompson get into foul trouble? You never know, I have to be ready."
Grigsby's sideline orchestration began innocently enough last year with some playfulness around three-point successes. "Sitting on the bench is obviously difficult so we might as well make it fun. It kept us engaged and I felt like we were helping the team.
"I certainly didn't expect it to turn into anything. It's evolved into a lot bigger deal than I ever imagined."
It is now a big deal and now requires thought and preparation. There is definitely a plan, according to Grigsby. "We try to come up with four or five new wrinkles each game that can be used in certain situations. We also have our 'specials' for different guys. For example we are fishing when Thompson hits a three because Big Country, as we call him, loves to fish. Those are our go-to's, but we have fun coming up with new things for each game."
The BCB has become quite a deal home as well as on the road. Not only has television picked up on it, but it's not uncommon to see them on the video board in the Double A, and away from home as well. They became quite the focus on the video board in the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, during Wyoming's three games at the holiday tournament there. They might have reached celebrity status had the Pokes played more games.
"Remember, though, we're still just four dudes on the bench," he cautions. "But I think our teammates get a kick out of it though, and that's what is important."
While he hasn't had a lot of big moments as a Cowboy just yet, he had a huge one this season when he hit Wyoming's 28th 3-pointer against Hastings College back in late November. That trey tied the NCAA record for three's in a game by a team. It was obviously a huge thrill for him and an unforgettable moment.
It's easy to see how popular he is with his teammates whenever he enters the game and makes a winning play. The entire bench goes crazy for him.
Hopefully he'll have many more winning plays on the floor during his Cowboy career.
How would he like to be remembered?
"I've never thought about that, but I would say that I want to be remembered as being the best teammate on and off the court that I possibly could be. I want them to know that I did whatever I was called on to do to help us win a title. I would love to be remembered for what I accomplish on the floor. But if not, I want to be a great teammate."
That mission has already been accomplished John!
Happy New Year everyone.
