NBA star Darius Garland watches Brentwood Academy capture DII-AA Middle Region crown Saturday

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard and former Brentwood Academy star Darius Garland was at Father Ryan Saturday night to watch the Eagles knock off Montgomery Bell Academy, 67-44, in the Division II-AA, Middle Region championship.

Garland spoke to the Eagles after the game and was left impressed by what he saw on the court.

"I just wanted to come out and support these young guys," Garland said. "They have a lot of talent and I'm looking forward to seeing how they finish. They got a really, really good team."

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This was Garland's first opportunity to see Brentwood Academy play in person since he was the fifth overall pick by the Cavs in the 2019 NBA Draft. The NBA All Star break allowed Garland the chance to return to a high school program he led to four straight DII-AA state titles (2015-2018).

"My years at BA were great," Garland said. "School-wise and basketball-wise it was perfect. I mapped it out and accomplished all I wanted to do here. I had a great time and I hope all the other guys coming up behind me at BA have a great time too."

Garland, who was selected to the 2022 NBA All Star game, was left off this year's roster despite averaging a career best 21.7 points and eight assists a game for the Cavs, who sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference at 38-23.

Garland debuted as a starter for Brentwood Academy as an eighth-grader and went on to win three straight Mr. Basketball awards (2016-2018) and was named an McDonald's All American. He played at Vanderbilt before a knee injury cut his freshman season short.

Eagles star Tyler Tanner — a two-time Mr. Basketball finalist, including this year — talked with Garland in the hallway after the game.

"He just told the team to keep pushing," said Tanner, who had 24 points Saturday, including four 3-pointers. "He told us how he was disappointed that he didn't make the All Star team but that the next game after he found out he didn't make it, he had an incredible game. He's got that dog in him. He just wants to see that dog come out in us."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Former Brentwood Academy basketball star Darius Garland