Maryland has a pair of portal guards already in the fold in Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Rodney Rice, and now, head coach Kevin Willard will host another guard with plans for UC-San Diego guard Bryce Pope to visit College Park beginning April 15.
With one season of eligibility remaining, Maryland was among the initial schools to reach out to Pope, a 6-foot-3 guard, after entering the transfer portal last week and one day after his redshirt senior season was over. USC, Texas, Louisville, Notre Dame and Creighton were among the double-digit schools to reach out to the high-scoring guard, but Maryland will be first up to host him.
UC San Diego guard Bryce Pope (@bpopesd1) announced earlier today his intention to enter the transfer portal.
The grad transfer averaged 18.3 points per game last season was named to the All-Big West First Team.
Pope will likely get some P6 looks. pic.twitter.com/JtRthYwcr4
— Luke Chaney (@lukechaney247) March 25, 2024
After redshirting his freshman season, Pope started in 15 games in 2020-21 while averaging 9.7 points, but saw his stock elevate as a sophomore after starting in all but one of the Tritons’ 28 games. Pope went on to become the 14th player in program history to eclipse 1,000 career points before being named to the All-Big West second team as a redshirt junior. Pope has started in all 62 games over the last two seasons and shot 32.5% from three and 42.3% from the field during that span. He posted a season-high 32 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the field against UC-Irvine back in February and scored at least 25 points six times this past season. Pope became the first Triton to earn NABC All-District honors and was named to the All-Big West First Team. He finished third in the Bib Sdxg in scoring in conference games and was named conference player of the week three times this season while ending his time at UC-San Diego fourth in all-time points scored with 1,611 career points.
Whether Maryland can sway the California native to make the cross-country move remains to be seen but with a need to restock the backcourt and veteran Jahari Long’s status questionable for the 2024-25 season, Kevin Willard will look to infuse more scoring into a team that finished 154th in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom.
“It’s a tough decision,” Pope said this year. “This is my fifth year at UCSD. I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot. I’m glad to have helped lead the team to new heights this year. I feel like I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do at UCSD, and (I have) that opportunity to play at potentially a power conference school and everything that comes with that and move up the ranks and see where I can go.”
On3 ranks Pope as the 292nd-best prospect currently available in the transfer portal, as of April 4.
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