Darius Garland Signs Exclusive Autograph Deal With Upper Deck

“We are very excited to see what the future has in store for this talented rookie,” said Jason Masherah, President of Upper Deck. “Garland is a young player who has tremendous potential.”

Upper Deck has a special section for signed Garland memorabilia on its website, including jerseys, basketballs and photos.  Inscriptions are available on some pieces. Additional autographs will be available this Spring, including an original 16″ x 20″ signed “On the Rise” collage print.

The fifth overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, the 20-year-old Garland has great bloodlines. His father Winston Garland  played point guard and competed in the NBA for five different teams from 1987-1995.

 

Garland entered 2018-2019 as the highest-rated recruit to ever sign with Vanderbilt and was the only freshman to make the preseason All-Conference team. He might have been drafted even higher but a meniscus injury in his left knee put an abrupt end to his career at Vanderbilt. He only played five games as a freshman but averaged 16.2 points per contest.

 

His impressive 47.8% three point shooting was certainly one of the reasons NBA scouts were drooling. His long range efficiency certainly caught the eye of long time trainer Chris Johnson and NBA vet and fellow Upper Deck signee Ben Simmons during a shoot-around. Simmons, so in awe, famously asked “whose baby is that?” 

 

Currently averaging just under 12 points and four assists per game, he’s shown flashes of highlight reel talent. Garland has connected from long distance at least once in 39 of his last 42 games while dishing out 5.8 assists per game in the last five contests. He leads the Cavs in assists and ranks third in both points and steals. 

 

While attending Brentwood High School in Tennessee, Garland won four-straight state championships and was named Tennessee’s “Mr. Basketball” three times. During his senior season in 2018, he was named a McDonald’s All-American.