Graham Safford is an intense competitor on the basketball court.
It was obvious during his high school career — two years each at Camden Hills High School and Hampden Academy — and his passion has been evident during his time at Bates College in Lewiston.
The senior point guard has been the catalyst for the Bobcats, who took a 7-0 record into their holiday break.
“He is, no question, the most competitive kid that I’ve ever coached, worked with, been around,” said Bates coach Jon Furbush.
“His mental toughness and physical toughness certainly are strengths that he shows on the court in practice every day.”
Safford, who moved to Camden from Michigan when he was 11, has learned that with life’s uncertainties, one must get the most out of every day. It was a lesson he learned through personal tragedy.
Safford was a 17-year-old senior at Hampden Academy when on Christmas Day 2010 his father, David Hollis, died of brain cancer.
“I literally watched him take his last breath and as I move forward, it’s something that will always stay with me,” said Safford, whose legal name is Hollis Graham Safford.
“It makes me remember not to take things for granted,” he added while preparing to spend the holidays with his mother and brother in Hampden.
Hollis was diagnosed with cancer shortly after his son helped Camden Hills go undefeated and win the Class B basketball state championship in 2009. Only last year, Safford discovered a special memento of the accomplishment — his dad’s written account of the season.
“That was really cool,” Safford said.
The following season, after the Saffords relocated to Hampden so his mother Lori could take a new job, Hollis still attended as many of Graham’s games as possible even though he was undergoing treatment.
Looking back, Safford marvels at the effort.
“Every game that he was at, it just made that game mean so much more. That carries with me today, that he’s still watching me play.”
Hollis taught his son a lot about the game and Safford still finds himself remembering to “keep your elbow in” when shooting.
As Hollis battled cancer, he and Graham began to explore their faith. Safford said it helped him deal with his anger about the circumstances, while his dad was able to find some peace.
In the fall of 2010, Safford turned down a scholarship from Division I Longwood University and applied “early decision” to Division III Bates. His senior basketball season had barely begun when Hollis died on Christmas.
Safford admitted that the memory of his dad’s death on Christmas has the potential to make it a sad occasion.
“It was very powerful for me when he finally passed,” Safford said.
Even so, it also provided a sense of relief that his father’s suffering had been alleviated.
“I think it was a sign that, on Christmas Day, it eased all his pain and he was able to go to a better place.”
Having been confronted with the fragility of life, Safford committed himself to seizing the day.
“Every time I play, I want to give everything I’ve got out there,” he said. “That pertains to all aspects of life.”
With a heavy heart, Safford helped lead coach Russ Bartlett’s Broncos to a 16-4 record and a spot in the Eastern Maine Class A semifinals in 2011. He was named a finalist for the Mr. Maine Basketball Award and was honored on the BDN All-Maine first team.
He has excelled at Bates, where he is a three-year starter and a captain for the second straight season. The 6-foot-1 guard is averaging a team-leading 15.7 points per game along with 7.3 rebounds, 6 assists and 2.6 steals.
His 36.7 minutes per game are the most of any player in the New England Small College Athletic Conference.
Safford has successfully developed his mentoring skills along with his basketball talents.
“This year, more than in the years past, he’s taken all the guys around him and brought them up to that (same) level of intensity and competition,” Furbush said. “His leadership is really infectious.”
He said Safford is an inspiration because of how he has allowed a tragic event to inspire him and maintain a positive outlook.
“He’s come a long way,” Furbush said. “It was only four years ago, so it’s still lingering a little bit. He’s totally looking at the cup as half full now. His dad is certainly proud of him.”
Safford struggled to settle on an academic major and explored several different avenues. In reflecting on the experience with his father, he chose religious studies.
“It’s kind of been cool to dive deeper into that field and learn more ways of interpreting things,” said Safford, who plans to go into business after graduation.
However, he keeps an often-visible reminder of his dad with him always. Safford has a large tattoo on his left arm and shoulder.
It is a cross that includes the word “Dad” and the date of his death, “12-25-10.”
“In the end I chose the cross because I think it represents a victory over death,” Safford explained. “It think it’s a symbol of God’s love, a symbol that unites heaven and earth — all the things were relevant to what I’ve been through.”