SIOUX FALLS — Griffen Goodbary’s collegiate basketball career started on a high note.

The 6-foot-10 forward began his college career with the Drake Bulldogs Monday afternoon at The Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon at the Sanford Pentagon.

Goodbary tallied four rebounds (one offensive rebound) and one assists in 11 minutes off the bench in the Bulldogs’ 77-71 come-from-behind win over Northern Arizona.

“It feels great. It feels great that we got the win and pulled through,” Goodbary said of the win. “It was a little rocky, but I’m glad we got the win.”

Ironically Goodbary, a Sioux Falls Christian grad and true freshman for Drake, made his college debut in his hometown with countless family and friends in attendance.

Drake Bulldogs' Griffen Goodbary walks back up court during the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon Monday, Nov. 3 2025 at the Pentagon in Sioux Falls. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

“It was awesome, got a lot of family and friends here which it felt good to see, but I had a lot of nerves with that too,” Goodbary said. “Everyone’s coming to watch so I had a lot of nerves with it, but it was great.”

And this is the second time Goodbary has played at the Sanford Pentagon in 2025. Back on Jan. 26, the 2025 South Dakota Mr. Basketball powered the Chargers to an 80-51 win over Tea Area en route to a Class A state boys basketball championship later in the season.

Goodbary initially committed to South Dakota State for basketball, but after head coach Eric Henderson took the vacant job in Des Moines, Iowa, Goodbary knew he wanted to stick with his coach.

“It’s been awesome,” Goodbary said of his relationship with Henderson. “That’s kind of the main reason why I went to Drake and it’s been great. He hasn’t changed one bit, still very energetic and just a good guy.”

Henderson, who picked up his first win as head coach for Drake, says despite the early nerves, Goodbary will be a key piece in the Bulldogs’ success moving forward.

“He’s going to be great,” Henderson said of Goodbary. “He was a little nervous probably today but he’s a terrific player that has a great feel. Has an unbelievable ability to score in multiple ways so he’s going to help us a lot this year.”

Goodbary says the focal point of his college career thus far has been bulking up in the weight room to prepare for the physicality of college basketball.

Drake Bulldogs' Griffen Goodbary shakes the hand of a teammate during the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon Monday, Nov. 3 2025 at the Pentagon in Sioux Falls. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

“Right away we mainly focused on just gaining weight and preparing me physically for the game,” said Goodbary, a 220-pound forward. “As it’s gone on, just getting more action like ball screens and a lot of that.”

It’s something coach Henderson knew would need to be part of Goodbary’s development, but has already seen major improvements in game one.

“I think physicality wise, he’s way more physical than I thought,” Henderson said. “He’s always had strong lower legs, but he’s gotten a lot bigger upper body, and then his ability to shoot obviously is something we love and so for him to be able to space the floor and things like that, he’s special.”

Goodbary’s collegiate basketball career is just getting started and is slowly carving out a role in the Bulldogs’ rotation, but he and Henderson feel confident with his debut.

“I feel like our coaches do a good job of letting me know what they want me to do and I think offensively this game, they were switching one through five so we got a little choppy there, a little stagnant, but I think that will get better for sure,” Goodbary said.

“My guess is he’s going to get more comfortable every time we step on the floor and we believe in him, I can tell you that much,” Henderson said.