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VYPE Magazine Feature: Meet Mr. Griggs
Dec 09, 2020
BEFORE DE'AARON FOX STARRED FOR THE SACRAMENTO KINGS OR AT KENTUCKY, THE FUTURE NBA STAR DID HIS WORK AT CYPRESS LAKES HIGH SCHOOL.
Stories about his games were legendary. Almost to the point where you thought people were just exaggerating. Packed gyms. Local superstars coming to see him play. It was a must-get ticket to watch Fox play.
Now, Houston has Bryce Griggs.
"I looked up to De'Aaron Fox," Griggs said. "We were cool and still cool. He's a H-Town legend. It's good to be compared to a legend like that.
"He put on for the city and I'm following his footsteps and trying to be better."
<p>In some of Griggs' bigger playoff games, the gym has been packed. Cameras rise every time he touches the ball. At times you can look over and see his mentor Houston Rockets star James Harden sitting in a chair at the end of the court. Next to him at times could be Texans' quarterback Deshaun Watson and Texans' legend Andre Johnson. </p><p><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9787720712654893" data-ad-slot="8738871937" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>
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</script></p><p>They all want to see Griggs. </p><p>"I do get starstruck," Griggs said. "I'm cool with them and people don't know that. It's a blessing." </p><p>The 17-year-old has been a star since he first stepped onto the court for Fort Bend Hightower as a freshman. He scored 38 in his first-ever high school game. </p><p>That was special because, Griggs put on that performance for his father Robert Lee Griggs, who died due to colon cancer late in Griggs' eighth grade year.</p><p> "He didn't get to see me play in high school and that was always his goal because I have two older brothers who he got to see play," Griggs said. "I just came out with a chip on my shoulder since my freshman year." </p><p>Since his father's passing, Griggs' family has been the thing that has kept him grounded and guided in the right direction. </p><p><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9787720712654893" data-ad-slot="8738871937" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>
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</script></p><p>"If you come to my games, you're going to see my family behind me," Griggs said. "That's the support that you need. We're very big on that." </p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-s0tYal1zL/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-s0tYal1zL/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-s0tYal1zL/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by @griggs_boy32</a><br></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>People outside of the family have become big influences on his life as well, such as Harden. <br></p><p>Griggs at one point did play for Harden's AAU team before moving on to Houston Hoops. But through it all, Harden has been a mentor to the young star. </p><p>"He just knows my story," Griggs said. "He tries to help and tell me what's right and wrong. He's a pro. He's a superstar. He just gives me little details that I need to follow. Why not follow them? He's done it." </p><p>With his rise as a national prospect, the attention has come with it. Griggs at just 17 is already verified on Instagram and has over 91,000 followers. </p><p><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9787720712654893" data-ad-slot="8738871937" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>
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</script></p><p>In early October, SLAM made a video of Griggs working out with the caption "H-Town, I'm back." It got more than 22,000 views. </p><p>"It just came fast," Griggs said about the attention. "When you get in front of the media and they just love kids that have skill and that are made for the camera. If I go play at the Campbell Center tomorrow, Overtime, BallisLife and SLAM will text me. It's just like, wow. When you're a kid, you look up to those." </p><p>There is no question Griggs is ruthless on the court. He will take over games, put his team on his back and show no mercy to the opponent. </p><p>That style, Griggs says, gives some people who don't know him a misconception about him. </p><p>"People just think I'm a mean kid," Griggs said. "When I'm on the court I have no friends, but off the court I'm very humble, very childish and laid back. I'm a people-person. I'm a down-to-earth person." </p><p>Griggs leans on his faith. </p><p>Growing up in the church, Griggs said God is a big part of his life. Through his upbringing, he has been taught to give back. He does with his time, and even shoes and backpacks he may receive. </p><p>In the next year, Griggs will have to make the ultimate decision – where he will play after FB Hightower? </p><p>Will it be college, the G-League, overseas or straight into the NBA Draft? </p><p>"I'm just going to do what's best for me and the family," Griggs said. "If it's the G-League, going straight out of high school, go to UH, go to Texas -- it's what I'm going to do. I'm going to do what's best for me in a pro offense with a pro coach, who has been through it."</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDeRsfPlEsg/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDeRsfPlEsg/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDeRsfPlEsg/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by @griggs_boy32</a><br></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
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Copy of Elkins' Thompson has grown up with elite mindset
Oct 13, 2020
I had to ask, what's up with the Twitter handle @ELITEBT28?
Elkins' first-team, all-district safety Blake Thompson had a great answer.
"That is a family tradition," he said. "My parents always pushed us to be elite. There is no room for being mediocre. You have to be great at something."
Well, his parents were elite, but that was before Twitter. They have laid high expectations for their children.
Tony Thompson starred as a WR for Texas A&M from 1984-89.
<p>But I had seen that Twitter handle before… back in 2011. His brother, Corey Thompson, graced the cover of <a href="http://vype.com" target="_blank">VYPE's</a> 2011 Football Preview. He went by @ELITE23_CT and still does. Since then, Corey starred at LB for LSU and played for the Buffalo Bills.</p><p>"I hear it all the time," Blake said. "You are only this or that because of your brother. I just stay humble and keep driving. Corey just tells me to have a goal and stay motivated to meet that goal. Then set another goal…</p><p><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9787720712654893" data-ad-slot="8738871937" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>
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</script></p><p>"Honestly, I want to be better than Corey someday."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUwMzQwMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzEyNDE3NX0.17l6Mu3z8ekYHYneUhyWXpoofp8u9QiHGnyM8ZJbJA4/img.jpg?width=980" id="83d15" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b8004db73838e6d1d9d7c670cd0ff9e6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="300" data-height="168">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Corey Thompson</small></p><p>…<br></p><p>Here's an interesting fun fact. Did you know that Elkins has four active players in the NFL in DJ Hayden, Ross Blacklock, Kenneth Murray and Jake Matthews. Thompson was No. 5 but is currently a free agent.</p><p>What's the special sauce?</p><p>"It's all about coach Dennis Brantley," he said. "He puts those goals in our heads early, but he also preaches staying humble and not trying to be a superstar. Just keep your head down and work."</p><p>Thompson lives by that mantra and anchors a solid Elkins defense. </p><p>"I feel like I'm very rangy and a good ball-hawk," he said. "In today's football with everybody playing in space, you have to be able to open-field tackle. I think that's one of my strengths."</p><p><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9787720712654893" data-ad-slot="8738871937" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>
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</script></p><p>Thompson holds offers from the likes of UIW and Northern Arizona, but has one school in his cross-hairs.</p><p>"I really like Southern," he said. "I like the trend of athletes playing at HBCUs. The social justice movement is very important. But really having the opportunity to have offers and have my school paid for is a blessing."</p><p>Now that's an elite mindset.</p>
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