Griffith starred at Louisville Male High School and was heavily recruited by colleges all across the country. In fact, Griffith reportedly turned down an offer to forego college and sign with the ABA\'s Kentucky Colonels. He decided to attend his hometown school, the University of Louisville, much to the delight of local fans.\n', '

He didn\'t disappoint, delivering the school\'s first-ever NCAA men\'s basketball championship in 1980. He scored 23 points in the Cardinals\' 59-54 victory over UCLA in the championship game. Due to his strong performance, he was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. Griffith totaled 825 points in his senior season, setting a school record. For his efforts, he was named First Team All-American by the Associated Press and was given the Wooden Award as the best college basketball player in the nation. He left college as Louisville\'s all-time leading scorer with 2,333 points in his career. His jersey number, 35, was retired during ceremonies after the 1980 season.\n', '

Utah selected Griffith with the second overall pick in the 1980 NBA draft. The Jazz had recently moved to Salt Lake City from New Orleans, and the team needed a star to replace legendary shooting guard Pete Maravich. Griffith accepted the challenge, averaging 20.6 points per game in his first season and earning the NBA\'s Rookie of the Year award.\n', '

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