Tatianna Griffin Takes on a Bigger Role at Ontario Christian Basketball
Tatianna Griffin Shines Bright at Ontario Christian
Tatianna Griffin, a standout forward at Ontario Christian High School, is gradually garnering recognition for her impressive abilities on the court, despite sharing the spotlight with teammate Kaleena Smith. The Knights, ranked No. 1 nationwide to start the season, boast a remarkable record of 30-2, largely thanks to Griffin’s contributions.
The 5-foot-11 freshman was honored as the 2024-25 MaxPreps national freshman of the year. Her performance helped lead Ontario Christian to a Southern Section Open Division title, highlighted by a narrow victory over Etiwanda, 65-63. In their subsequent regional finals matchup, although the Knights fell 67-62, Griffin’s influence remained evident; she recorded 29 points and 11 rebounds in the first game and followed up with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the rematch last March.
Griffin’s season statistics underscore her skill: she averaged 17.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.8 steals per game, leading her team with a field-goal percentage of 54.0 and a three-point shooting percentage of 41.0. Over the course of 31 games, she secured 551 points, 255 rebounds, 122 assists, 87 steals, and 22 blocked shots. Remarkably, she scored in double digits in all but one game, with 12 of those games exceeding 20 points.
"I started playing basketball when I was 4 years old," Griffin shared. "I grew up watching my dad play at the park. I was looking for a middle school, and we were on the freeway and drove by Ontario Christian." This moment paved the way for her basketball journey.
Despite high expectations and a demanding schedule, head coach Aundre Cummings sees Griffin thriving. "I’ve not only seen growth in terms of her off-the-court leadership and accountability, but she’s become more versatile too," he noted. Cummings pointed to Griffin’s adaptation from playing the four to now operating as a three, with significant improvements in her on-ball defense. "She’s learned to shoot through mistakes. Whether you make or miss, we need you to be aggressive," he emphasized.
In a recent thrilling double-overtime game against San Jose Archbishop Mitty, Griffin tallied 20 points and 18 rebounds, though her effort was overshadowed by Smith’s remarkable 50-point performance. Griffin remains focused on team success, stating, "When my shots aren’t falling, I get to the rim and look for rebounds. It’s satisfying to get the win."
This season, Griffin’s scoring averages have climbed to 22.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, achieving the 20-point mark 14 times so far. Her noteworthy performance includes a standout 34 points and 18 rebounds against Lancaster.
Kaleena Smith, a consensus five-star recruit and the top prospect for the 2027 class, praised Griffin, calling the duo "the best in the country." During the summer, Griffin dedicated herself to improving her skills, specifically her shooting. “I’ve seen improvement in Tati’s jump shot, and I’m very proud of her,” Smith remarked.
Griffin credits her connection with Smith to a friendship that has developed since childhood. “Our off-court bond is really special,” she expressed. "We’ve played together since I was 7 and she was 8 on the Rugrats."
After experiencing their first loss of the season to Bishop McNamara at the Hoophall Classic, the Knights are resolute in their ambition to reclaim their Southern Section title and pursue their first Open Division state championship.
Looking ahead, Griffin’s aspirations extend towards college basketball or even the WNBA, yet she remains grounded in the present. “I can’t live without basketball,” she stated passionately. “I want to be the best ever to do it.” With her current trajectory, Griffin is on a promising path to achieve her goals.
