Vanderbilt Basketball: Breaking down the 2018 recruiting class

Darius Garland – Brentwood, TN

Guard | 6-foot-3 | 170 lbs | No. 14 overall

Even though Darius Garland is not the highest-rated recruit in this class, he might be the most important newcomer. Point guard is arguably the most critical position for a team without a current identity. Due to the fact that the program is losing two key backcourt members in LaChance and Fisher-Davis, the Commodores’ identity will be centered around this incoming recruiting class. With Garland likely taking over the starting point guard position, this is now his team to dictate.

A tremendous playmaker and scorer, Garland can do it all on the offensive end. He has solid size to play at the point guard position and he can score at all three levels. He is extremely talented at probing defenses and either attacking the basket or dishing out to an open teammate. In addition, part of what makes Garland special as a point guard is his ability to simply make his teammates better when he is on the floor.

As a high school senior, Garland averaged 27.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game. It is hard to argue with that kind of all-around production. In regards to his commitment to Vanderbilt, Garland had this to say (247Sports):

"“We are trying to change the culture around. Before I got here, they said that Vanderbilt’s gym was packed all the time, for every game. We are trying to get back to that. That’s the main goal. We are trying to win games and make the tournament next year.”"