Vanderbilt Freshman Class Provides Hope for Upcoming Basketball Season

As the summer winds down and the fall school year starts next month,  many 2018 freshman college recruits are settling into their new homes for the next 4 years.

Vanderbilt

This Vanderbilt team who finished 12-20 overall and 6-12 in the SEC looks to make a big impact in this up-coming 2018-19 season.

Vanderbilt basketball is a very well known program throughout the SEC for many seasons but had a bit of a struggle this past season. They fell short of the postseason, earning the 13th seed behind the last team Ole Miss in the SEC. So this season head coach Bryce Drew is on the hunt to rebuild his program.

Bryce Drew, who has only been the head coach of Vanderbilt for two years since taking the job in 2016, is taking on the role of trying to bring back  “Memorial Magic” to the program.

Freshman Class

During the season, he was recruiting heavily for the program, bringing in three freshmen that are very talented and determined to win: Darius Garland, Simisola Shittu, and Arron Nesmith. Simisola Shitti, who is recovering from an ACL injury and has not participated in anything, looks to be cleared to play this upcoming season.

Darius Garland is a 5-star recruit who has been heavily recruited by Vanderbilt and head coach Bryce long before this past year.

Garland is a local kid who attended Brentwood Academy. Drew had a very special bond with Darius and his family which made the decision easy for him to attend the university.

DG the PG is on this week's Commodore Insider podcast! Take a listen | #AnchorDown https://t.co/Q8yG1mz0un

— Vanderbilt Men's Basketball (@VandyMBB) June 28, 2018

Head coach Drew’s keys to the success of his recruiting process was a very family oriented one where usually coaches are trying to sell the program. Drew found a bond with the recruits and their families that helped with the recruiting process.