Maryland basketball got more good news on Monday evening when news broke that Donta Scott would return for a fifth and final season, but the good vibes began over the weekend as the staff hosted its first portal target of the offseason.
“It was amazing,” former LMU guard Chance Stephens told IBG. “We went to see the whole campus. I got a little workout in. We got to see the football practice, stadium.” The mutual interest between Stephens and Maryland all started with assistant David Cox, whose known his dad, Ben Stephens, from their days together in the DC area years ago. This weekend, however, marked the first time he spent extensive time with head coach Kevin Willard.
“They’re all amazing. Coach Cox, Willard is really cool dude. Just talking to him was amazing. It wasn’t all basketball, a little getting to know each other and just learning about each other.” After watching an underclassman guard depart already this offseason, the focus in the backcourt was to add a shooter and Stephens showed flashes of being that guy as a true freshman. His 49 made threes last season would be more than all but one player (Don Carey, 57) on Maryland’s roster, while his shooting performance against Wake Forest after finishing 7-of-10 from deep turned heads on the national stage.
Not only does Stephens give the backcourt another long-term piece, but he gives the roster a shooter as the staff pointed to a former Seton Hall star as they dove into the fit. “Something they showed me was Myles Powell at Seton Hall, someone that comes off screens and creates his own shot. That comes with a lot of development, a lot of time, but that’s how they envision me playing. Someone that can give them that spark.”
It didn’t take long for Stephens to make a decision on his future, giving his commitment on Saturday afternoon before announcing later that evening. “They just run everything as a business. Even the managers they have, they have ten or 12 managers. They can get in the gym with you whenever you want. Like everything is set up for you to succeed.”
Stephens also got a chance to meet with another guard during his visit.
“I met Jahari Long at one of the dinners. I asked him about coach Willard because he brought him from Seton Hall. He likes coach Willard. He lets his players play free and the players like the system, so it was good to hear that.”
With Stephens now back home, he’ll readjust and regroup before returning to campus this summer. “I’m glad recruiting is over and I know how everything is settled now.”
Stephens added that he will enroll in June during the summer one session.
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