Darius Garland is first Vanderbilt freshman to be on Athlon magazine cover

Former Brentwood Academy basketball star Darius Garland's name hasn't yet been in a Vanderbilt box score, but he already has received some serious ink. 

The three-time Tennessean player of the year and Division II-AA Mr. Basketball is featured on the regional cover of Athlon Sports 2018-19 College Basketball Preview magazine.

And that's a first.

No Vanderbilt or Tennessee freshman had graced the cover of the Nashville-based publication, which has been around since 1967.

Garland is featured on the cover wearing a black No. 10 Vanderbilt jersey and twirling a basketball on one finger along with Tennessee junior Grant Williams.

Athlon annually publishes several covers with the top players from different regions featured on them.

Garland is among the growing number of freshmen who have been on recent covers.  

"We’ve started to feature freshmen on the cover more in recent years because they have taken on such prominent roles in college basketball," said Athlon editor Mitch Light, a Vanderbilt graduate. "These are the guys fans are excited to see. Also, schools have been more willing to promote freshmen. In the past, schools much preferred we put older players on the cover, and they weren’t as willing to cooperate with us — like set up a photo shoot — if we wanted to go a different route."

LSU's Ben Simmons was on the cover of the magazine in Louisiana as a freshman in 2015-16 and Missouri's Michael Porter Jr. was a freshman last year in his state.

Athlon had no problem getting Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew to agree to placing Garland in such a bright spotlight by putting him on the cover.

"Vanderbilt realizes (Garland) is a player that the fans are excited to see," Light said. "He is a local kid who should be one of the top players in college basketball this season. It made sense for Athlon Sports to feature him on the cover, and it makes sense for Vanderbilt to promote him."

Garland is ranked 40th in the magazine's Top 100 Players list. Fellow Vanderbilt freshman Simi Shittu is 70th. 

You can see all of Athlon's basketball preview covers.

The magazine is available on newsstands.

Garland also is on the cover of Lindy's Sports College Basketball 2018-19 Preview magazine along with Tennessee senior Admiral Schofield and new Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway.

► More:When Vanderbilt basketball, Darius Garland will play Tennessee, Kentucky

► More:When star freshman Darius Garland will debut for Vanderbilt basketball

UT Vols in the top 10

Tennessee is sixth in Athlon Sports Top 25 and Williams is on the magazine's All-America second team and ranked sixth in the Top 100.

The magazine predicts nine SEC teams will make the NCAA tournament, including Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

In fact, the Vols will make it to the Elite Eight, according to the magazine's projection. The Commodores will advance to the second round.

The magazine also has Belmont earning the Ohio Valley Conference's NCAA tournament automatic berth and Lipscomb earning the Atlantic Sun's berth for the second consecutive year.

Belmont picks up three commitments in one weekend

Last weekend was a good one for Belmont's basketball team.

The Bruins picked up three commitments: Michael Shanks, a 6-foot-6 forward from Bentonville, Ark., who also was being recruited by Arkansas State, Missouri State and Central Arkansas; Ben Sheppard, a 6-5 guard from Suwanee, Ga., who chose the Bruins over Radford; and E.J. Bellinger, a 6-3 guard from St. Peters, Mo.

Dobbins' Glencliff jersey retired

Former Glencliff football star Tim Dobbins had his jersey No. 44 retired at the Colts' home game on Sept. 14 against Hillsboro.

Dobbins was a running back/linebacker (1999-2001), who went on to play at Iowa State and then spent nine years in the NFL with San Diego (2006-09), Miami (2010), Houston (2011-13) and Dallas (2014).
 
He was Inducted into the Metro Nashville Public Schools Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.  

Wilt heads to Augusta for Drive, Chip and Putt Championship

Nashville's Hudson Wilt qualified for the 2019 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship, which will be played on April 7 at Augusta National Golf Club. Hudson earned a spot by winning the 12-13 age division regional qualifier at the Honors Course in Ooltewah.

Wilt is the grandson of Vanderbilt Sports Hall of Fame member (golf and football) Toby Wilt, a longtime member of Augusta National Golf Club.

“I’ve been to the Masters four times, but it’s pretty exciting to go there now for Drive, Chip and Putt,” Hudson Wilt said. “My grandfather got me to start competing in this three years ago, but this is the first time I’ve won.”

Vandy, UT games earn low TV ratings

The Vanderbilt and Tennessee football games last week were not among the five most-watched sports events in the Nashville market.

Vanderbilt’s 22-17 loss at Notre Dame earned a 7.3 rating and was the sixth-most watched local sports event while Tennessee’s 24-0 win over UTEP earned a 5.0 rating and was 10th.

It means 74,591 Nashville households watched the Commodores and 51,090 watched the Vols.

Moore still making big plays in the CFL 

Kyran Moore made plenty of big plays during his Austin Peay career and has continued to do the same as a rookie in the Canadian Football League.

Moore, who made the 2017 All-OVC first team as a return specialist, returned a punt 97 yards for a touchdown for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in a win on Sept. 15 over Ottawa.

He had a 65-yard punt return for a TD earlier this season.

BGA's Jones is Memphis' new G League coach

Brad Jones, who played basketball at BGA (1983-86), is the new coach of the Memphis Hustle, the Memphis Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate.

Jones previously served as general manager of the G League’s Iowa Wolves and as a pro scout for the team’s parent affiliate, Minnesota Timberwolves.

After starring at BGA, Jones played at Lambuth and went on to earn his master’s degree at Memphis.

He has coached in the G League since 2007.

Saturday afternoon prep football

Tennessee State won’t play a football game at Hale Stadium until Nov. 10 when Jacksonville State visits, but there will be action at the historic venue before then.

Hillsboro is using Hale to play a couple of home games while a new stadium is being built on campus. The Burros will play Beech in a rare Saturday afternoon game on Sept. 29 at 2 p.m.

TSU will play at Vanderbilt the same day at 3 p.m.  

Hillsboro also will play at Hale on Oct. 26 against Hunters Lane (7 p.m.).

TSU grad hired as NFL vice president

Traci Otey Blunt, a TSU graduate, was named the NFL’s senior vice president of corporate communication.

Blunt has spent more than 20 years working in communications, most recently as president of the Urban Movie Channel.

In her new role Blunt will lead communications strategies across key areas within the NFL, including current affairs, business operations, NFL Media, government affairs, health and safety, and social responsibility. 

Blunt earned the TSU Women of Legend & Merit honor and the national alumni association’s Women of Influence Award.

Henson becomes Belmont's winningest soccer coach

The Belmont women’s soccer team claimed a 1-0 shutout over Morehead State Friday night earning coach Heather Henson her 53rd career win, which is the most in program history.

Henson moved ahead of Lisa Howe (2005-10) for sole possession of first place on the coaches list.

Henson, in her eighth year, now has a record of 53-62-19.

FRA golfer Cropper wins Mid-Amateur

Former Franklin Road Academy and Memphis golfer Andrea Cropper claimed her first Tennessee Golf Association title Tuesday when she won the Tennessee Mid-Amateur Championship at The Course at Sewanee.

Cropper posted an 80-71 151 for a 5-over par total and beat Gallatin’s Kayla Murrell by three strokes.

72-year-old former Vol makes first hole-in-one

Jimmy Glover, 72, a defensive back on Tennessee’s 1968 Orange Bowl team, made his first hole-in-one earlier this summer.

Glover, who went on to be a longtime pharmacist in Lafayette, aced the 167-yard, No. 5 hole at Macon County Country Club. The shot was witnessed by Tommy Polston, David Vester and J.R. Howser.  

Hendersonville track great Ricky Steely dies

Former Hendersonville High and Lipscomb University track standout Ricky Steely died on Tuesday. He was 61.

Steely set the TSSAA shot put record in 1977 with a throw of 63-feet-3. At Lipscomb he became an NAIA All-American who set the school record with a 54-8 mark.

Tim Corbin earns ABCA award

Vanderbilt’s Tim Corbin will receive the Dave Keilitz Ethics in Coaching Award at the 75th American Baseball Coaches Association Convention Jan. 3-6 in Dallas.
 
The award honors individuals who embody the ABCA code of ethics.

Corbin has been heavily involved in the ABCA over the last 30 years, going all the way back to his time as the coach at Presbyterian College. He was the president of the association in 2013.

Sports on Nashville TV

The top five local ratings for sporting events from Sept.10-16:
1. NFL: Titans-Texans, 19.6
2. NFL: Patriots-Jaguars, 15.2
3. NFL: Giants-Cowboys, 12.6 
4. College football: LSU-Auburn, 9.1
5. College football: Ohio St.-TCU, 7.8 
Each rating point is equal to 10,218 Nashville homes.
Source: Mark Binda, WTVF-5 senior programming director

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