After having a spectacular sophomore season, Brentwood Academy guard Darius Garland was named the Division II-AA Mr. Basketball on Tuesday night at the Murphy Center on the campus of MTSU.
Garland, considered a combo guard who can play both point guard and shooting guard at the next level, has been able both set up his teammates to score and take over scoring himself in a game. After starting in the middle of his 8th grade season, Garland has help to lead the Eagles to two consecutive state championships and a combined 57-5 record of those two seasons. In this past weekend’s state championship game, he finished with 18 points and 4 assists in BA’s domination of Ensworth.
Outside his play at BA, Garland has been a member of Team USA’s Junior National Team over the past year. His play with the Eagles and with Junior National Team has drawn the attention of coaches and recruiting services. In this past year’s recruiting rankings, he was named a top 10 sophomore player in the country, the number one player in Tennessee, and the number two point guard in the country. Garland has received offers from programs such as Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Virginia, Louisville, and Indiana.
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Other Local Finalists
Two other local players were named finalists.
BA sophomore guard Sydni Harvey was named a Miss Basketball finalist, which went to Baylor School’s Kaleigh Clemons. Harvey, a three-time state champion and tournament MVP, will likely be named a finalist once again next season.
FRA senior guard Kenny Cooper was a finalist for the Mr. Basketball award at the Division II-A level, which went to St. George’s Chase Hayden. Cooper will be playing for Lipscomb next season.
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