Maryland will look to get the ball rolling on the 2024 class when they begin welcoming official visitors to campus starting next weekend with Jaeden Mustaf. The staff has been active through the live periods this summer, sitting front and center for several of their top targets as they stay in the mix until visits resume. Who are the names to know and where does Maryland stand heading into the visit? We break it all down here.
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Visit date: Sept. 29
Maryland’s point guard recruiting has been at a standstill since the staff moved on from Daquan Davis in the spring, watching him commit to Providence, as the need to fill Jahmir Young’s shoes looms as a top priority this cycle. Maryland had made itself a factor with Fland through the summer in large part due to the hire of Mike Jones, which will become a recurring theme through this article. Jones's relationship with Fland began while still an assistant at Virginia Tech, and when Davis went sideways, the contact from Jones picked back up. A source said that contact from Maryland's end has primarily gone through the five-star point guard himself as he’s set to officially visit the weekend of September 29. Maryland will need to familiarize Fland's family more with the program as the staff has work to do to build relationships with the parents, but the vacancy at the point is the biggest draw to set up the visit. There's more confidence in Maryland's chances with Mustaf than Fland at this stage, though the relationship between Jones and Fland is as strong as anyone in his recruitment
Maryland is scheduled to be the last stop for Fland after previously taking officials to Michigan, Indiana and North Carolina. Fland will officially visit Kentucky (Sept. 8) and Alabama (Sept. 22) with St. John’s and UConn heavily involved and inside his final eight.
Visit date: Sept. 1
The connection between Jones and Mustaf dating back to their time at DeMatha has propelled the Terps through the summer, giving the Bowie native a chance to return home next and play at the same school that his father, Jerrod, once starred at. Mustaf also made his way to campus earlier this summer for an unofficial visit where he and his dad were able to watch practice and connect with the staff, cementing their status as a player in his recruitment. Contact, though, has been exclusively between Mustaf, Jones and head coach Kevin Willard as the staff gets a chance to chip away with the relationship with his parents. Mustaf also made the move to Overtime Elite for his senior year with the Terps the final school to host him in a hectic two-year recruitment. NC State is the biggest challenger down the stretch as Mustaf is set to make his commitment on Sept. 14.
Florida State, Indiana, NC State, Georgia Tech and Arkansas though the Razorbacks won't get a visit prior to his decision. Mustaf's camp was very comfortable with Maryland being the last school to host him prior to making a decision, and if there's a school that can change his mind, it's Maryland.
Visit date: Sept. 8
Assistant Greg Manning Jr. has made Oliogu a priority through his sophomore season, but the competition has picked up through the summer and it may not get any easier. Despite initially planning to suit up at DME Academy, Oliogu pivoted and became the latest to make the move to Overtime Elite for his upcoming season but after unofficially visiting Maryland earlier in the summer, Oliogu will make his way back to campus for an official visit the weekend of Sept. 8. Oliogu will then head to Missouri the following weekend before checking out Auburn the weekend of Oct. 7, quickly setting up the visit after head coach Bruce Pearl jumped into the mix. Georgetown, Illinois and Missouri have all gotten involved with the top ten prospect in 2025 cycle. LSU became the latest school to offer Oliogu as they work on an official visit date, but at the very least, Maryland has a chance to cement itself as a contender with Manning's consistency in his pursuit catching Oliogu's full attention. Oliogu initially planned to enroll at DME Academy as a 2025 prospect before making a decision, but his most recent move to Overtime Elite has left another question mark with his recruitment taking shape.
Visit date: TBD
Queen, arguably the top target regardless of class since Willard's arrival, has been plenty familiar with Maryland through his recruitment having made very comfortable with the program. The Baltimore native remains very receptive to the idea of returning home for college as head coach Kevin Willard has led the all-out staff effort to keep the top-ten product home, making themselves present nearly every time Queen was in action during the live period. Even with Maryland prioritizing him for a year-plus, Queen's recruitment is far from settled.
The biggest development came earlier this month when Kansas landed five-star Fiory Bidunga, taking themselves out of the running. Queen took an unofficial visit to Georgetown back in late July as first-year head coach Ed Cooley attempts to break through. Houston and head coach Kelvin Sampson have become a player through the summer and is now expected to receive an official visit, while Indiana is set to host him for his second official visit to Bloomington when he makes his way to campus on Sept. 9. Queen told IBG this week that he will officially visit Maryland in October as Willard and the staff work to keep the momentum for the top-25 prospect.
Maryland has also felt comfortable with its NIL standing for Queen throughout its pursuit and between Queen's longing desire to return closer to home and the all-out effort, Willard and company will look to hang on with the final stage of his recruitment approaching.
Visit date: Sept. 14
The newest addition to the list, Rooths will officially visit Maryland the weekend of Sept. 14 as assistant Mike Jones tries to convince the 6-foot-7 forward to stay closer to home. Rooths will also head to Virginia Tech (Sept. 2), and Florida State (Sept. 22) before taking his second official visit to Georgia (Oct. 5). The biggest hurdle for Maryland will be convincing Rooths, a former Georgetown Prep star, to make his way back home for college. Georgia was the school that held the buzz at the beginning of the summer and has the most depth to the relationship heading into the fall, but the Hokies will get first crack at cracking the door in his recruitment. Assistant David Cox is leading the way for the Terps ahead of a likely fall decision.
Visit date: Sept. 14
Hodge will begin the first of several visits before an October decision with Xavier first up on the list beginning Sunday. Penn State (Aug. 31), Marquette (Sept. 7), Maryland (Sept. 14) and Virginia (Sept. 22) are all in-line to host Hodge before he bunkers down into decision mode. Jones not only teamed up with Hodge’s father, Odell, at Old Dominion but was his former college roommate as Maryland has steadily built off that relationship. The depth to the relationship between Jones holds true as head coach Kevin Willard has also been a mainstay for the German forward. Maryland also held a virtual meeting with Hodge this summer to solidify their standing early. “We had a Zoom call a couple of weeks ago and he explained everything about his vision for me. It was awesome to get the chance to see that. And the whole coaching staff was on there so the feeling that they really wanted me was there and I got to get that feeling, which is important to me. Nothing bad I can say.”
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