Age: 19
Height, Weight: 6-foot-2, 175 pounds
Slash Line: .537/.478/.750
Season Averages: 16.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 2.2 3PM
Like Bol Bol, Darius Garland entered this season as a top prospect. He joined Vanderbilt as head coach Bryce Drew‘s top recruit for 2018-19, and all seemed well, until a left knee injury arose in November, after just five games played, and caused the freshman guard to miss the rest of the season.
The Commodores endured a miserable season, as a result. They lost every SEC game and fired Drew after the season ended, just three years into his tenure.
While Garland only has a handful of games on his resume, the losing the coach that recruited him and the prospect of rehabbing with an NBA training staff, are tempting enough to leave college and enter the NBA Draft.
The Charlotte Hornets seem like an unusual fit for Garland, but Kemba Walker‘s return is not guaranteed for 2019-20, as the veteran guard will hit free agency in July. Drafting players precede the open market, so the Hornets must enter June prepping for a future without the 2011 National Champion.
Garland is a risky back-up plan, unless the Hornets feel he will heel for the start of the 2019-20 season. Even if Walker stays, though, Garland can still join as a developmental player behind the starter and Tony Parker.
The New York Knicks could have a point guard need if Dennis Smith Jr. isn’t the player of the future. If they land outside the top five, does Garland make sense?