(Photo: Gregory Payan, Associated Press)
Auburn Hills — The placement seemed odd. Two top-tier prep prospects heading to Vanderbilt.
Seeing an SEC school get two big commitments. Auburn, maybe. LSU, possibly. Kentucky, more likely.
But Vanderbilt? That’s supposed to be the academic school, not a basketball powerhouse.
Darius Garland and Simi Shittu were looking to shake things up in football country, giving Commodores fans something to cheer about, aside from their perennial baseball success. Both players were highly touted as freshmen last season, but Garland suffered an injury five games into the season, putting a pin in Vanderbilt’s hopes.