Everything You Need To Know About Top NBA Draft Prospect Darius Garland

With NBA Draft less than 24 hours away, basketball fans are anxiously awaiting their respective teams’ decisions, as they could be drafting future franchise players. One of the players to look out for is Vanderbilt freshman guard Darius Garland, who has been turning heads as of late. Let's take a look at Garland, and what makes him such an enticing prospect.

Darius Garland Stats

Garland was only able to play in five college games this year before he tore his meniscus in his left knee, but he showed out in those games. On the season, Garland put up 16.2 points per game, with 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He shot very well too, compiling a 54% clip from the field, and 48% from 3-point range.

The 6-2, 175 pound point guard has drawn a few Damian Lillard comparisons, and for good reason, thanks to his incredible knack for scoring the ball. However, because he has a negative turnover-to-assist ratio, and because he missed so many games, Garland's potential remains a mystery to many. Is he more Kyrie Irving or Wade Baldwin?

What makes Garland incredibly dangerous is his speed with the ball, which should make any front office salivate. While he finishes well around defenders, he'll need to get stronger overall if he wants to continue to finish at the rim.

Garland is still developing defensively, but you can tell that he's a true competitor on both ends of the court. He does a nice job at trying to fight through screens and keeps pressure on opposing offenses, but he's not someone who will wow you on the defensive end. He knows how to read the defense and defend his man when passes are made, and does a nice job rotating after the pass, but loses his man from time to time, and tries to force steals a lot despite his low numbers in that area (0.8 steals per game).

One of the things Garland has going for him is his ability to work on or off ball as a shot creator. If he's able to break free, he'll punish opposing defenders with his polished jumper that has great range. He may not be the primary creator you want in an offense, but if a team were to pair him with one or two more shot creators, then they would truly bring out the best in Garland's game.

As of right now, Darius looks like he is going to be a scoring point guard first, and a playmaker second. As he continues to improve his passing, he could be a very viable second option in a starting lineup, or a strong first option against opposing bench units.

Looking a Garland as of right now, it's possible that he is simply a scoring guard with less volume off the bench. That's perfectly fine if you're set at point guard right now, but not if you're looking for a future cornerstone for your franchise.

Overall, it's very difficult to gauge certain facets of Garland's game. We simply haven't seen enough to form an opinion on things like his ability to finish at the rim, or his passing ability. He could wind up being a star scoring guard thanks to his elite range and ability to utilize screens, and also a very clean passer that can get the job done, or he could wind up being a solid floor spacer off the bench. One thing is for sure, however: he's going to be a competitor, no matter what happens.

Garland could wind up being selected by the Pelicans in the No. 4 spot, or the Bulls shortly thereafter. If selected by the Bulls, Garland wouldn't have to be the primary scorer or playmaker, as those duties are handled by Zach LaVine. Garland would be able to utilize his jumper to draw in defenders, making plays for either LaVine or Lauri Markkanen. Of course, he'd likely play off ball with the Pellies, as Lonzo Ball runs the alley-oop offense.

Whoever drafts Garland is truly taking a chance on this mystery player, but it could pay off in the long run, as he has a lot of the tools necessary to be something special in the NBA.

Darius Garland Highlights

This kid can ball.