Official Maryland Terps Thread 3.0

[Ruzious]

Can't say i feel confident with Gill and Tomaic as the PF's. I'm hoping Bender wins the job. Tomaic may end up good, but he just turned 18, and my hunch is that he's green and won't be ready for Big Ten ball as a frosh. From video highlights, he looks to have upside and moves smoothly though without explosiveness.
https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/enhanced/webdr02/2012/12/15/17/anigif_enhanced-buzz-2223-1355608946-2.gif?output-format=mp4

[Wizardspride]

Can't say i feel confident with Gill and Tomaic as the PF's. I'm hoping Bender wins the job. Tomaic may end up good, but he just turned 18, and my hunch is that he's green and won't be ready for Big Ten ball as a frosh. From video highlights, he looks to have upside and moves smoothly though without explosiveness.

I feel very confident about Gill.

Not saying he's a star but there was a reason he was considered one of the best grad transfers on the market.

And fwiw, there's a distinct possibility Justin Jackson could end up being the starting PF.

[Ruzious]

Can't say i feel confident with Gill and Tomaic as the PF's. I'm hoping Bender wins the job. Tomaic may end up good, but he just turned 18, and my hunch is that he's green and won't be ready for Big Ten ball as a frosh. From video highlights, he looks to have upside and moves smoothly though without explosiveness.

I feel very confident about Gill.

Not saying he's a star but there was a reason he was considered one of the best grad transfers on the market.

And fwiw, there's a distinct possibility Justin Jackson could end up being the starting PF.

Agreed about Jackson. That'll let them use 3 guard lineups - so they can use their best players. Gill was very ordinary at Duquesne. His defense and rebounding stats were bad for a 4, and he wasn't a big scorer (13.4 points per 40 minutes as a junior on 43% shooting).

[Wizardspride]

Can't say i feel confident with Gill and Tomaic as the PF's. I'm hoping Bender wins the job. Tomaic may end up good, but he just turned 18, and my hunch is that he's green and won't be ready for Big Ten ball as a frosh. From video highlights, he looks to have upside and moves smoothly though without explosiveness.

I feel very confident about Gill.

Not saying he's a star but there was a reason he was considered one of the best grad transfers on the market.

And fwiw, there's a distinct possibility Justin Jackson could end up being the starting PF.

Agreed about Jackson. That'll let them use 3 guard lineups - so they can use their best players. Gill was very ordinary at Duquesne. His defense and rebounding stats were bad for a 4, and he wasn't a big scorer (13.4 points per 40 minutes as a junior on 43% shooting).

In reading various articles it looks like the plan is go more uptempo next season.

I'm not saying we'll win more games but I think we'll be more explosive offensively.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I feel very confident about Gill.

Not saying he's a star but there was a reason he was considered one of the best grad transfers on the market.

And fwiw, there's a distinct possibility Justin Jackson could end up being the starting PF.

Agreed about Jackson. That'll let them use 3 guard lineups - so they can use their best players. Gill was very ordinary at Duquesne. His defense and rebounding stats were bad for a 4, and he wasn't a big scorer (13.4 points per 40 minutes as a junior on 43% shooting).

In reading various articles it looks like the plan is go more uptempo next season.

I'm not saying we'll win more games but I think we'll be more explosive offensively.

The team won't disappoint like it did this year.

NCAA ball is a guard's game. This year I never felt after seeing them early on that Turgeon would win playing big lineups.

[80sballboy]

I like what Maryland did in the offseason. In fact, I love it though I probably would have saved the last scholarship for next season but the long and athletic Tomaic might be worth it. They needed to get longer and more athletic because Nickens, Brantley, Dodd, Checko, a healthy Wiley and Trimble are not super quick. Now you add a pretty good athlete in former UNLC commit Justin Jackson, quick lead guard Anthony Cowan, wing Kevin Huerter, Tomaic, athletic grad transfer L.J. Gill and a very athletic Micah Thomas. They were picked #18 in the ESPN preseason poll before Tomic signed/committed. But as Maryland fans, let's be realistic.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/school?id=120

Everything is about Melo Trimble and in the second half last season, he was sub-par to be nice. Now he has to be the focal point of the offense coming off shooting 31 percent from 3-point and 41 percent from the floor. And he should have gotten better looks last season with Stone, Carter and Layman on the floor. Teams will be focused to stop him because nobody else is proven.

This will really test Turgeon as a coach because we know he can recruit. Coaching is another story. As for Gill playing the 4, I think Jackson might play the 4, Gill or Nickens at the 3 with Melo at the 1 and Wiley at the 2. Watch for Kevin Huerter, who apparently has grown to around 6-7 and can plays some small forward. I know he'll be compared with Layman (because he white a pretty athletic) but he's more of a playmaker. Just too many question marks but I like it. No real expectations though we'd be disappointed if they go NIT. I just don't see #18.

[80sballboy]

Agreed about Jackson. That'll let them use 3 guard lineups - so they can use their best players. Gill was very ordinary at Duquesne. His defense and rebounding stats were bad for a 4, and he wasn't a big scorer (13.4 points per 40 minutes as a junior on 43% shooting).

In reading various articles it looks like the plan is go more uptempo next season.

I'm not saying we'll win more games but I think we'll be more explosive offensively.

The team won't disappoint like it did this year.

NCAA ball is a guard's game. This year I never felt after seeing them early on that Turgeon would win playing big lineups.

I hated Turge going with Stone and Dodd up front. While Stone developed his offensive game, his defense game and boardwork went from horrible to suspect. It's hard to win that way but if they would gone with Carter at the 5, he wasn't exactly rebounding or defending either. Yet, now he's playing himself into a late first or second-rounder. Where was that production this past season? All these guys were thinking about the NBA more than the team. Next year's team will lack the experience and the starting five won't have the same NBA-caliber players, but they will be deeper and more athletic. Should be a fun team to watch but those expectations of last year's squad probably wore on them. These guys won't have the same expectations. Not even close.

[Wizardspride]

http://maryland.247sports.com/Bolt/Cam-Spence-Transfers-to-St-Johns-45584309

Cam Spence Transfers to St. John's


Maryland's first four-star commit in the 2017 class is returning home for his senior year. Former IMG Academy (Fla.) defensive tackle Cam Spence is transferring to St. John's (D.C.), where he'll team up with fellow four-star commit, quarterback Kasim Hill.

Spence began his career at Gilman School in Baltimore, creating recruiting buzz during a strong sophomore campaign. He moved to IMG in the months thereafter and was joined by a pair of local natives in four-star linebacker Jordan Anthony and five-star defensive end Joshua Kaindoh, also a Maryland commitment.

Spence, who committed to Maryland over offers from Penn State, Ohio State and numerous other major programs, joins a St. John's program full of Maryland recruiting targets. In addition to their future quarterback, the Cadets; roster also includes three-star linebacker/defensive end Tyree Johnson, 2017 wideout Ed Lee and 2019 linebacker Shane Lee, among others. With the addition of the 6-foot-4, 300-pound Spence, the Cadets add another piece to their efforts to dethrone DeMatha from the top of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.

[Wizardspride]

http://maryland.247sports.com/Bolt/Florida-Receiver-MJ-Jarrell-Commits-to-Terps-45614051

Florida Receiver M.J. Jarrell Commits to Terps


Maryland's recruiting run in Florida continued tonight, when Orlando receiver M.J. Jarrell committed to the Terps.

Jarrell is rated the No. 189 receiver in the country, but his offer list tells a different story. Virginia Tech and South Carolina recently offered, while Alabama, Georgia and others were eyeing the 6-foot-2, 183 pound rising senior. Duke, Louisville, N.C. State and Pitt were also among the 25 schools to offer Jarrell, Maryland's 10th verbal commitment and third wide receiver commit. With Jarrell and Georgia wideouts Sean Nelson and Carlos Carriere on board, the Terps will likely focus on rounding out the position with Virginia four-star Tahj Capehart.

He's the third player from a Florida high school to commit to Maryland, whose new staff closed last year's recruiting class with a run of recruits from the Sunshine State.

With Jarrell's commitment, Maryland's football's recruiting class moves up two spots to No. 11 in the 247Sports composite rankings.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/danieljtgallen/status/738556565947449345[/tweet]

[Wizardspride]

http://maryland.247sports.com/Bolt/Maryland-SG-Dion-Wiley-Set-to-Participate-in-Summer-Workouts-45663206

Maryland SG Dion Wiley Set to Participate in Summer Workouts




Maryland shooting guard Dion Wiley is ready to return to action. Wiley, who tore his meniscus last November and missed the entire 2015-16 season, was cleared to resume basketball workouts three weeks ago, and has now been given the greenlight to participate in team workouts this week, per a report from CBSSports’ Jon Rothstein.

Last month, it looked like Wiley -- a former top-60 recruit -- would have a lot of pressure on him to come back healthy and pick up where he left off last summer, when sources said he looked prime to make a major leap following an up-and-down freshman season. But now, with Melo Trimble back and forwards Justin Jackson and Joshua Tomaic also on board -- giving Mark Turgeon 13 scholarship players for the first time since taking the Terps’ job -- he should be able to return to form at his own speed. With freshmen guards Kevin Huerter and Anthony Cowan also now in the mix, Turgeon figures to have a lot of options in the backcourt and could deploy a number of different looks.

Wiley’s knee injury right before the season began last year not only affected the backcourt depth, but also lineup flexibility at all positions, giving Turgeon no choice but to play bigger lineups longer than he may have liked to. After finding success with smaller lineups during Wiley’s freshman year, Maryland’s first year back in the NCAA Tournament since 2010, Turgeon has already said he envisions using similar looks this year, which could mean using Wiley at small forward for stretches alongside any combination of Trimble, Cowan, Huerter and Jaylen Brantley in the backcourt.

"I think we're gonna be more like we were two years ago. We'll probably closer to, like, a four-guard offense. Dion's been cleared, he looks great, so we're excited about him. The thing I like, being a former point guard, is I feel like I have a ton of point guards on this team with Melo, Jaylen Brantley, Anthony Cowan, Kevin Huerter has a lot of point guard in his game [and] Dion Wiley has a lot of point guard in his game,” Turgeon said recently. “So I feel like we're gonna have a lot of guys on the court that are really good decision makers. We've been lucky so far late, we've been able to add two good pieces, shooters that'll stretch the floor a little bit more. And than I feel really good about our center position with Damonte Dodd and Michal Cekovsky.”

Although Turgeon’s role in summer workouts is limited due to NCAA rules, the next couple of months can be crucial for developing chemistry on the court and determining which pairings and combinations work best together.

[Wizardspride]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Khillqb11/status/743243312946110464[/tweet]

[Wizardspride]

http://maryland.247sports.com/Bolt/Huerter-Makes-the-Cut-45835801

Huerter Makes the Cut


Incoming Maryland freshman Kevin Huerter is one of 18 players to be named finalists for the USA Basketball under-18 team, the program announced Thursday on Twitter.

The 6-foot-6 guard from Clifton Park, N.Y., survived the six-player cut after impressing during the first two days of the team's camp this week in Colorado Springs. The team will practice there through Saturday and convene again for a training camp in Houston from July 11-15 after which the final roster will be announced. Huerter, named New York's Mr. Basketball last season -- and made into the logo of his high school team -- is expected to play a significant role for Maryland as a freshman this winter.

Maryland coach Mark Turgeon is an assistant on the team, which also includes highly regarded Terps targets M.J. Walker and Kris Wilkes. The games begin July 19 in Valdivia, Chile

[closg00]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics/2016/06/wrentham_s_jake_layman_waits_to_see_where_he_lands_in_nba_draft

[80sballboy]

Len Bias died 30 years ago to this day. Can't believe nobody brought this up. Changed me, the University of Maryland and Maryland sports forever.

[Ruzious]

Len Bias died 30 years ago to this day. Can't believe nobody brought this up. Changed me, the University of Maryland and Maryland sports forever.

It's a depressing subject. I was a student at MD when he was there (as was CCJ) and would see him occasionally walking on campus. He went to HS with my best friend at UM. I'd sit in Cole Field House watching the team practice - mainly to check his progress his first 2 years there. Still remember when I got the news - from someone at work. I totally didn't believe him - figured it was some kind of twisted joke. Couldn't fathom it being true.

[80sballboy]

Len Bias died 30 years ago to this day. Can't believe nobody brought this up. Changed me, the University of Maryland and Maryland sports forever.

It's a depressing subject. I was a student at MD when he was there (as was CCJ) and would see him occasionally walking on campus. He went to HS with my best friend at UM. I'd sit in Cole Field House watching the team practice - mainly to check his progress his first 2 years there. Still remember when I got the news - from someone at work. I totally didn't believe him - figured it was some kind of twisted joke. Couldn't fathom it being true.

I was a senior at Largo HS, waiting to go to College Park. Just out of school and had a day off from my summer job. Just remember going through the entire day in a haze, listening to the radio and watching all the news. When my friend called at around 9am to tell me the news, I thought, "heart attack at 22?". The only conclusion we came to was Marfan's syndrome as nobody believed he could have overdosed since his image was so pristine.

[closg00]

So Dez Wells is playing for the Bulls SL team, Best Wishes to him.

[Wizardspride]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/NCAAFNation247/status/735510319229997057[/tweet]

[Wizardspride]

http://maryland.247sports.com/Bolt/Terps-Hoops-Scoop-A-New-Looks-Beginning-46054041

Terps Hoops Scoop: A New Look's Beginning


The new look of Maryland basketball has officially begun, with most of next season's roster now in College Park. A few notes:

The only player not on campus is Spanish forward Joshua Tomaic, who was chosen to represent his home country in the Under-18 FIBA Europe Championships. Tomaicis reportedly checking in closer to 220 pounds than the 210 at which he was originally listed, so it's possible a redshirt year won't be needed; it'll be interesting to see how he compares to the others in a largely unproven frontcourt upon his arrival.

The latest arrival was Canadian forward Justin Jackson, who got to College Park within the past week. With his versatility and college-ready body at 6-foot-7, Jackson is a legitimate contender to start at small forward. We'll keep tabs on how he performs against fellow freshman small forward Micah Thomas, who's been showcasing his elbow-above-the-rim athleticism and knocking down outside shots when his selection is good.

Jackson will also be competing with similar-sized forward L.G. Gill, who's been on campus for about a month and has earned rave reviews for his rebounding and scoring knack. Gill seems like a sure thing to start at power forward.

After surviving the opening round of cuts for the USA Under-18 team and graduating from high school in late July, freshman Kevin Huerter recently got settled in. He won't be around for long, as the next round of trials begins July 11 in Houston. The other of Maryland's touted freshman guards, Anthony Cowan, has been on campus for several weeks and already. We're hearing Cowan "doesn't look like a freshman," and has been showing off his poise in pick-up games.

As for the veterans, there will soon be plenty of chances to gauge their offseason progress in July, when Maryland will have at least six players -- Gill, Michal Cekovsky, Jaylen Brantley, Damonte Dodd and Jared Nickens -- playing at Georgetown's Kenner League. As always, stay tuned to IMS for coverage.

[Wizardspride]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/testudotimes/status/750747648169283584[/tweet]