by JOHN HELSLEY, Staff Writer
jhelsley@opubco.com , The Oklahoman

Continuing what has already been a dream year for the former Sooner keeps presenting bold realities, with Griffin now set to grace the cover of the NCAA Basketball 10 edition, due out for the holiday season late this year.

"I definitely dreamed about it and envisioned it," Griffin said via phone Monday. "But to become a reality is definitely very cool.

"That's a game I've played over the years. To be on the cover is a big deal."

Griffin is a big deal.

The consensus National Player of the Year for the 2008-09 season, he's expected to be the top pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in Thursday's NBA Draft. Griffin spent Monday touring ESPN, appearing on a variety of the network's shows, radio and TV.

Now endorsement deals are rolling in, with Subway joining EA Sports in signing Griffin to deals.

Griffin will participate in Subway's "Fresh Fit" meals.

According to Subway's chief marketing officer, Tony Pace, Griffin's favorite sub is "our oven-roasted chicken breast on wheat bread with American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumber, oil and vinegar."

Griffin said that fronting products he already believes in was a natural way to open the endorsement side of his career.

He'll be front and center on NCAA Basketball 10, a popular hoops game that he's enjoyed for years.

"Before I was at Oklahoma, I used to play as Kansas a lot," Griffin said. "They're always a good team. But once I was going to Oklahoma, I always played with them and always tried to make them the best team on the game."

Griffin's place in the new game will be restricted to the cover. He won't be in uniform for OU, although he will be in action when the latest NBA Live game hits the shelves.

Still, Griffin remains a Sooner on the NCAA cover.

Former UCLA standout Kevin Love was featured on the front of NCAA Basketball 09.

"I like the way it looks," Griffin said. "It's a little bit different. They have a shot of me dribbling, and I've got an intense look going on.

"But the OU crowd is in the background. The OU mascot is in the background a little bit. It's definitely very cool. I like it."

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