Joining Simi Shittu in a strong Vanderbilt recruiting class, Darius Garland is a shifty athlete and potentially the best lead guard in the 2019 draft. He’s explosive off the bounce, using a quick first step to get penetration and dissect opposing defenses.
While Garland doesn’t have elite size at 6-foot-2, he’s crafty enough to thrive against high-level defenders. He embraces contract, can drill pull-ups out to the three-point line, and should thrive as a pick-and-roll ball handler.
Garland is also a quality defender, playing aggressive on-ball defense and showing nice anticipation when it comes to deflecting passes. His combination of skill, athleticism and energy are going to pop on film. He will quickly win over scouts.