It’s only June, but the buzz surrounding Vanderbilt’s basketball team is noticeable.
For those on the outside, that may seem surprising for a program that won just 12 games last season – its lowest since going 11-18 during the 2002-03 campaign.
However, for those who follow recruiting, it’s easy to understand why expectations are extremely high for the Commodores entering Bryce Drew’s third season in Nashville.
Drew and company pulled off an incredible haul in the 2018 recruiting class in signing 5-star prospects Darius Garland and Simi Shittu, as well as 4-star wing Aaron Nesmith.
From a rankings perspective, the class as a whole is the best in the program’s history.
And for Drew, it was evident early in the recruiting process that this type of class could become a reality.
“A lot of it was building relationships,” Drew said on Thursday’s SEC coaches teleconference. “We recruited these guys really hard. There was an instant connection with all three, and not just with the players, but with their families.”
“Darius and Simi knew each other and thought they could play well together. They didn’t know Aaron as well until this month, but the three of them have really gotten along well so far.”
Adding three players of that caliber is enough to heighten interest, but there’s additional intrigue on Vanderbilt’s roster heading into one of its most anticipated seasons in recent memory.
The Commodores may lack experience due to the losses of seniors Riley LaChance, Jeff Roberson, and Matthew Fisher-Davis, but the combination of talented returners and new additions may be enough to overcome the experience problems.
Saben Lee (10.6 ppg), Joe Toye (5.7 ppg), Max Evans (3.9 ppg), Clevon Brown (3.9 ppg), and Ejike Obinna (2.7 ppg) all return having played quality minutes last season, while Drew also adds Notre Dame transfer Matt Ryan and 6-10 forward Yanni Wetzell.
Ryan and Wetzell both sat out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules, but should each have an opportunity to step in and make an impact right away.
And that will certainly be the case for the three freshmen, who are already showing they have what it takes to give the program a huge boost this season.
“We feel that all three will make an impact from day one,” Drew said. “Simi is still recovering from ACL surgery, but he’s progressing great. Darius and Aaron have both looked really good.”
Garland, a Nashville native who initially connected with Drew and his staff during their days at Valparaiso, will likely be the catalyst of this year’s team thanks to the position that he plays.
But having been coveted by traditional national powers like Duke, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, and UCLA, it’s safe to say that he’s more than equipped to deal with the challenges that may lie ahead in what could be the deepest conference in the country next season.
And having the opportunity to play such an important role for the Commodores is something that the 6-2 point guard is already embracing.
“It means a lot to me, just putting on the black and gold jersey,” Garland said on a recent episode of the Commodore Insider Podcast. “It means something to a lot of us, especially the upcoming freshmen.”
That mindset is one that Drew will need from the freshman class to help make up for a lack of upperclassmen on the roster.
However, considering their stellar high school careers, a lack of maturity isn’t something that’s even on Drew’s radar when it comes to this group.
“Our freshmen have been exposed to a lot in their high school years with all the events, national teams, and All-Star games they’ve been a part of. So even though they’re young, they come in with a great deal of maturity.”
With all those attributes involved, there’s plenty of reasons for excitement when it comes to the future of the program.
As for the expectations and potential for the 2018-19 season? According to Garland, it’s pretty straightforward.
“We all have the same goal,” he said. “We all want to win, make it to the tournament, and keep advancing.”
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