Tennessee’s Top Player Picks Vandy
So often Kansas, Kentucky, and Duke get all of the best players in the country. Darius Garland had opportunities to pick any of them, but he didn’t.
“My mom told me during this process to follow my heart,” said Darius Garland. “My dad told me that the lord is going to make it clear to me, until eventually it would become easy. That is why I decided to stay home and I will be going to Vanderbilt University (unzips hoodie and reveals Vandy t-shirt).”
Darius Garland is the highest rated player to ever pick Vanderbilt basketball. What makes this selection even more powerful is that Darius will likely spend more than one season in college. He is relatively thin and doesn’t look like a year away from an NBA body.
That said Garland, son of NBA-veteran Winston Garland, will likely have a great shot at the NBA. He will play for a head coach that dabbled in the NBA in Vanderbilt Head Coach Bryce Drew.
“I would like to thank Jesus Christ, my lord and savior, for allowing me to be here today,” started off Darius Garland in the Brentwood Academy gym. “I would like to thank the administration at (Brentwood Academy) BA, all the teachers, the staff, and a special thanks to Jamal Richardson for all the hours in the gym. Also, thanks to (Brentwood Academy) Coach Hubie Smith. Thank you to my brothers for always being there.”
Garland continued methodically, hitting all of his words with that somewhat shy voice. He never hurries and seems to almost always make good decisions. Is this the latest?
“Last but definitely not least I would like to say thank you to my parents for all the years in the gym with me, taking off work to travel with me to put me in a situation to succeed,” said Garland. “The recruiting process was a great experience and overwhelming at times. I want to thank all the universities that offered me scholarships to play for them.”
Perhaps the most interesting point of the press conference came as Garland labeled his finalists and kindly offered reasons they were in consideration.
“I love the tradition of Indiana,” said Garland. “I love the thought of staying home and going to Vanderbilt. And I love the coaching staff. Even though UCLA is a four-hour plane ride I love the program and everything about it.”
Then Garland strained to reveal a beaming smile. He looked up from his prepared text and verbally committed to the hometown Vanderbilt Commodores.