Darius Garland, the 6-foot-1 point guard from Brentwood Academy (TN), committed to Vanderbilt on Monday.
Garland had visited Vanderbilt (Sept. 23-25), Kentucky (Oct. 13-15), Indiana (Oct. 20-22) and UCLA (Oct. 27-29).
“This was the best fit for me and my family,” he told ESPN. “I can have the best of both worlds in academics and basketball at Vanderbilt. Someday the ball will stop bouncing and I want to prepare myself for that situation. My family put me in position to be successful so I want them to see me play as much as possible.”
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Garland, the son of former NBA guard Winston Garland, added that he wants to help change the culture at Vanderbilt.
“He is an honest guy who I believe in,” he told ESPN. “I have known Coach [Bryce] Drew since I was in third grade going to his camps. He wants to change the culture at Vandy and I want to help him do that.”
Vanderbilt may not be done, either.
They remain in the mix for 6-5 shooting guard Romeo Langford, down to Vanderbilt, Indiana and Kansas, and 6-10 forward Simi Shittu, whose only official visit was to Vanderbilt.
Garland is working on both to join him.
“He is actively recruiting both guys to come with him to Vandy,” Jamal Richardson, Garland’s trainer, told ZAGSBLOG.
“They have the potential to be a Final Four-caliber team with adding those two dynamic players.”
Photo: 247Sports
