Milford Mills (MD) three-star quarterback Deshawn Purdie is among the local prospects suiting for basketball this season as the 6-foot-4, 205-pound athlete is in the midst of a 6-6 season.
Basketball has been a longtime interest for Purdie after taking up the sport back in middle school, but he’s enjoyed an uptick in his recruitment with coaches trekking through his school each day. “I talked to Liberty on Thursday. They’ve got a whole new coaching staff up there and they all came through.”
Maryland made its local rounds last week as the staff looks to bolster its 2024 class with the litter of local talent and Purdie says contact with Maryland is as strong as it’s ever been. “They’re trying to get me up there for a photoshoot. I’ve talked a lot with [Brian] Braswell, coach [Lance] Thompson, coach [Tommy] Paolucci.” Maryland suffered a big shakeup on the offensive side of the ball last week when offensive coordinator Dan Enos left for Arkansas, but Purdie knows the Terps’ identity remains the same with head coach Mike Locksley at the helm of the program.
“I watched the Mayo Bowl. They could’ve put up way more points in my opinion, but they got it done. I can see myself in their offense. It’s a spread offense, RPOs. They like to run the ball, bring in the defense so I see me in there. And I look good in red. They’re turning the program around, 100%. It’s the same for me but it’s also exciting knowing I have an offer from a school headed in the right direction.”
As for Maryland, the need for a quarterback in 2024 remains and with Taulia Tagovailoa exhausting eligibility following the 2023 season, the Terps have ammo to sell at the position. Maryland is also in pursuit of local four-star quarterback St. Frances (MD) four-star Mike Van Buren and Highland Springs (VA) three-star Khristian Martin among others, but Purdie is a prime target in the quarterback chase. The big-bodied quarterback has natural athleticism that easily translates to the hardwood, but his ability to extend plays whether its extending the pocket with his legs or evading defenders in space has led to consistent contact from the staff.
Purdie made it in for a pair of games last fall and isn’t sure if he’ll make it in for Maryland’s recruiting event slated for the Nebraska game, but he will head down south this week with his family to check out a handful of new schools. “I’m leaving on the 25th and I’m going to check out LSU, Texas A&M and Houston.”
Purdie doesn’t have a timeframe for a top school list.
Purdie is rated a three-star prospect by On3 and an 88 overall, sitting as the 14th-best prospect in Maryland. He’s rated a four-star prospect and a 90 overall by IBG.
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