2019 NBA Mock Draft: There’s movement in the top 5
player. 38. . PG. Vanderbilt. Darius Garland. 6
Garland this week became the latest to move on from college basketball in an effort to regroup and prepare for the draft. He joins 2018 draftees De’Anthony Melton and Mitchell Robinson as well as 2019 prospect Darius Bazley in sitting out the season to work out away from school and get ready to enter the NBA.
Of course, Garland’s choice wasn’t completely voluntary. He suffered a torn meniscus after just five games and was already going to be out for the year. This decision simply removes Vanderbilt from the equation and gives Garland access to professionals who will better prepare him for life as a professional.
According to ESPN, the injury “took an emotional toll on himself, family and teammates.” That’s understandable. Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew talks on a daily basis about the frustrations of missing his dazzling young playmaker and Garland missed out on his one year of collegiate experience as a result of the injury.
Garland looked incredible in his early-season games before the injury. The Magic need exactly a player like Garland to distribute to their prolific big man prospects and save some of those guys’ development. It’s just silly to keep investing in bigs and not have a playmaker to set them up or defend the point of attack.