Maryland made the updated top group for four-star Khani Rooths on Wednesday afternoon, but a change of plans has seemingly taken the Terps out of the race.
Rooths included Florida State, Georgia, Maryland, Miami (FL), Michigan, Mississippi State and Virginia Tech in his updated top group as he’s reworked his visit plans. Rooths, originally scheduled to officially visit Maryland beginning September 15, told On3 he has canceled those plans as the top-25 prospect is not scheduled to see either Maryland or Michigan prior to his decision.
Rooths has already taken official visits to Mississippi State and Georgia with Virginia Tech being the most recent visit, while he’s now slated to officially visit Florida State on September 22 and Miami (FL) on September 28.
Assistant Mike Jones led the way for Rooths, who transferred from Georgetown Prep before transferring to IMG Academy, as the Terps worked to convince the versatile top-25 prospect to return home. “Maryland is the home school and has shown love so why not be the hometown hero,” Rooths told On3. But the canceled visit to College Park could prove to be the hill too steep to climb as Willard looks elsewhere.
Rooths, a 6-foot-8 forward, was scheduled to officially visit Maryland the same time as St. Rose (NY) three-star Matthew Hodge, who Mike Jones also leads for after teaming up and once rooming with Hodge’s father at Old Dominion.
The news comes days after head coach Kevin Willard hosted four-star guard Jaeden Mustaf, who they remain in the top group for, as the staff looks to nab its first 2024 commitment with more top targets slated to officially visit.
Maryland will welcome 2025 four-star Efe Oliogu for his second visit to campus, but first official visit, this weekend. Meanwhile, Maryland is currently scheduled to officially host five-star guard Boogie Fland beginning September 29 along with five-star Derik Queen in October.
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