Now that football season is over except for the CFP and NFL Playoffs, more heads are starting to turn towards College Hoops and the NBA in the coming months.
Here's a brief breakdown on how some of Vanderbilt's former players are doing in the NBA:
Darius Garland (Garland), 20.5 PPG, 6.6 APG, , 1.1 SPG, 43.1% 3PT, 49.5% FG, 91.5% FT. Garland continues to be Vanderbilt's best active NBA player on a very good Cleveland team leading the Eastern Conference. I wish the Cavaliers had more of a national following because he's easily one of the best guards in the NBA. After averaging 18 PPG last season, Garland's scoring is up 2.5 points in the 2024-2025 season and may increase more as the season progresses. What is particularly impressive with him is his three-point shooting percentage given the high volume of threes NBA players take these days. Cleveland will likely be a Top 3 seed in the East this year and he will hopefully get some more national exposure come playoff time.
Scottie Pippen, Jr. (Memphis), 11.0 PPG, 4.9 APG, 1.2 STL, 38.3% 3PT, 47.2%, 69.9% FT. Pippen has had his best year as a pro this year. Earlier this season, he became the first-father son tandem to record a Triple Double in NBA History. He is on a Memphis team that is third in the West and has an intriguing combination of flash with Morant as well as defense with Zach Edey, Marcus Smart, and Jaren Jackson Jr. Pippen is averaging just under 13 PPG in his last 10 games. As a player who played on some injury plagued and bad Vanderbilt teams, it's nice to see Pippen get a shot in the NBA after multiple seasons in the G League. Memphis is another smaller-market team that will get more national attention in the playoffs.
Aaron Nesmith (Indiana), 9.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 54.5% 3PT, 52.8% FG, 84.6% FT. Nesmith had a hot shooting start to the year from beyond the arc, but has only played 6 games this season due to injury. He's coming off a career high 12.2 PPG and 41.9% 3PT last season. After ending his college career injured and struggling for playing time in Boston, Indiana has been a fresh start for Nesmith. When healthy, he's a perfect fit for Rick Carlisle's system and has really developed as a defender at the pro level. Indiana is an intriguing team with their frantic style of play. Hopefully, Nesmith will be back on the Court soon and will be ready for what looks like another postseason for the Pacers.
Luke Kornet (Boston), 4.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 62.1 FG%, 70.5%. Vanderbilt's Sultan of Swat and the Three-Point King of College Basketball 7 Footers. Kornet has emerged as a fan favorite of Boston's role players. Reinventing his game to stay on the floor, Kornet has stopped shooting three pointers and has been a rim protector and lob threat on a loaded Celtics team seeking a repeat. Recently voted by his teammates as the player who they would introduce first to aliens, Kornet has won the hearts and minds of his Celtics teammates. As the season progresses, look out for more big time blocks and dunks from this Vanderbilt legend as he gets on the floor.
Here are 3 Vanderbilt Commodores (2 current and 1 incoming) who could find their way to the NBA:
1. AJ Hoggard. While Hoggard is not a traditional NBA point guard prospect with his below the rim style and lower volume of three-point shooting, his versatility, defense, and ability to play off the ball could lead him to being a late second-round pick or summer league invitee for an NBA team. Hoggard reminds me a lot of former NBA player Andre Miller. His breakout performance against LSU on Saturday was his best of the season so far and his leadership will be needed down the stretch if this Commodore team ends up making the tournament.
2. Tyler Nickel. Nickel is an intriguing dark horse to play at the next level. He has good size for a wing and has surprising athleticism for a player of his makeup. The key for him is putting all the pieces together. If Nickel can continue to work on his ball handling and shoot at a more consistent rate, he could be an intriguing three and d player at the next level. Albeit, he will likely be a late second round or undrafted summer league invitee. Nickel is currently shooting 40% at home from three-point range and 37.9% overall. If he can deliver the type of performance he gave against LSU down the stretch in conference play, this Vanderbilt team can be really dangerous.
3. Jayden Leverett. A Top 25 ranked center in the Class of 2025, at 6'10' with an ability to step out behind the arc, Leverett possesses a combination of size and shooting that will have NBA Scouts coming to Nashville if he is able to continue his development at the college level. If Leverett lives up to his recruiting, he could be a potential draft pick for the Commodores.
Anyone else who you think should be on or off this list? Let us know!
Here's a brief breakdown on how some of Vanderbilt's former players are doing in the NBA:
Darius Garland (Garland), 20.5 PPG, 6.6 APG, , 1.1 SPG, 43.1% 3PT, 49.5% FG, 91.5% FT. Garland continues to be Vanderbilt's best active NBA player on a very good Cleveland team leading the Eastern Conference. I wish the Cavaliers had more of a national following because he's easily one of the best guards in the NBA. After averaging 18 PPG last season, Garland's scoring is up 2.5 points in the 2024-2025 season and may increase more as the season progresses. What is particularly impressive with him is his three-point shooting percentage given the high volume of threes NBA players take these days. Cleveland will likely be a Top 3 seed in the East this year and he will hopefully get some more national exposure come playoff time.
Scottie Pippen, Jr. (Memphis), 11.0 PPG, 4.9 APG, 1.2 STL, 38.3% 3PT, 47.2%, 69.9% FT. Pippen has had his best year as a pro this year. Earlier this season, he became the first-father son tandem to record a Triple Double in NBA History. He is on a Memphis team that is third in the West and has an intriguing combination of flash with Morant as well as defense with Zach Edey, Marcus Smart, and Jaren Jackson Jr. Pippen is averaging just under 13 PPG in his last 10 games. As a player who played on some injury plagued and bad Vanderbilt teams, it's nice to see Pippen get a shot in the NBA after multiple seasons in the G League. Memphis is another smaller-market team that will get more national attention in the playoffs.
Aaron Nesmith (Indiana), 9.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 54.5% 3PT, 52.8% FG, 84.6% FT. Nesmith had a hot shooting start to the year from beyond the arc, but has only played 6 games this season due to injury. He's coming off a career high 12.2 PPG and 41.9% 3PT last season. After ending his college career injured and struggling for playing time in Boston, Indiana has been a fresh start for Nesmith. When healthy, he's a perfect fit for Rick Carlisle's system and has really developed as a defender at the pro level. Indiana is an intriguing team with their frantic style of play. Hopefully, Nesmith will be back on the Court soon and will be ready for what looks like another postseason for the Pacers.
Luke Kornet (Boston), 4.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 62.1 FG%, 70.5%. Vanderbilt's Sultan of Swat and the Three-Point King of College Basketball 7 Footers. Kornet has emerged as a fan favorite of Boston's role players. Reinventing his game to stay on the floor, Kornet has stopped shooting three pointers and has been a rim protector and lob threat on a loaded Celtics team seeking a repeat. Recently voted by his teammates as the player who they would introduce first to aliens, Kornet has won the hearts and minds of his Celtics teammates. As the season progresses, look out for more big time blocks and dunks from this Vanderbilt legend as he gets on the floor.
Here are 3 Vanderbilt Commodores (2 current and 1 incoming) who could find their way to the NBA:
1. AJ Hoggard. While Hoggard is not a traditional NBA point guard prospect with his below the rim style and lower volume of three-point shooting, his versatility, defense, and ability to play off the ball could lead him to being a late second-round pick or summer league invitee for an NBA team. Hoggard reminds me a lot of former NBA player Andre Miller. His breakout performance against LSU on Saturday was his best of the season so far and his leadership will be needed down the stretch if this Commodore team ends up making the tournament.
2. Tyler Nickel. Nickel is an intriguing dark horse to play at the next level. He has good size for a wing and has surprising athleticism for a player of his makeup. The key for him is putting all the pieces together. If Nickel can continue to work on his ball handling and shoot at a more consistent rate, he could be an intriguing three and d player at the next level. Albeit, he will likely be a late second round or undrafted summer league invitee. Nickel is currently shooting 40% at home from three-point range and 37.9% overall. If he can deliver the type of performance he gave against LSU down the stretch in conference play, this Vanderbilt team can be really dangerous.
3. Jayden Leverett. A Top 25 ranked center in the Class of 2025, at 6'10' with an ability to step out behind the arc, Leverett possesses a combination of size and shooting that will have NBA Scouts coming to Nashville if he is able to continue his development at the college level. If Leverett lives up to his recruiting, he could be a potential draft pick for the Commodores.
Anyone else who you think should be on or off this list? Let us know!
