Darius Adams on his commitment to Maryland, expectations for 2025-26, why he clicked instantly with Buzz Williams

Ahmed Ghafir
7 hours ago
5 min read

Maryland men’s basketball added their second McDonald’s All-American in as many recruiting cycle after top-25 prospect Darius Adams became the first high school pledge of the Buzz Williams era. Adams breaks down his commitment to Maryland on GCR, how it materialized just days after visiting campus, how he fits and plenty more:

How Maryland became the pick

“After my decommitment from UConn, my phone was getting hit up by a lot of coaches. And then me and Buzz [Williams] talked one day and then we had a great conversation. It was kind of like a connection there, like off of the first phone call. So then he came to see me the next morning. And then I went down there and then it was just from there, just the connection I made with him. It was pretty good.”

On his relationship with Buzz Williams prior to Maryland’s pursuit

“To be honest, no, I didn't know at of him at all. He did not recruit me when he was at Texas A&M. So it was really like a shock to me of how like we talked the first time we met.”

On Buzz’s recruiting style, why they clicked

“First, we didn't really talk about basketball when we were on the phone. It was more about his family, my family and that really just showed the type of person he was. And then, so my dad's a pastor so I'm a believer. That was definitely a topic of conversation we had. It was exciting when I first met him. It was exciting.”

Whether Adams has thought about becoming a pastor

“No, I haven't thought about that yet, just because basketball is really mainly on my mind. But it's not something I would say no to definitely in the future. But I just haven't, like, haven't even, like, processed that yet.”

On his knowledge about Maryland prior to his visit

“I knew Maryland, obviously, because it's close to home, so I knew Maryland. I wasn't really looking into their basketball program until after I decommitted, but I did watch last year. Obviously, they had a big run. And then things I needed to see, I definitely needed to see the campus. That is the, mainly, one of the main reasons why I went down. The campus, just to feel it out. You know, the gym, Xfinity center, it looked like a great gym to play in.”

On his fit, role at Maryland as a freshman

“I feel like I'm a very versatile player. I feel like I am able to play the one and the two, if that's what they need me to do, then I will do that. And I feel like I'm a player that can shoot it very well, but also I can get to the rim. I can get to my mid-range. I could pass, dribble, shoot and pass. So it's being versatile. I could play many positions, guard many positions.”

On what he sees from Maryland in 2025-26

“As we can see, coach Buzz is definitely a coach that wins anywhere he goes. So that's like the first thing. And I feel like the players that he got from Texas A&M to come with him, and then the players that we got to the transfer portal are definitely going to help. And I think with me, and it's just going to be even better. I think we're going to be competing for a top spot in the Big Ten, obviously, and I think we're going to be working really hard to do that. And I think Buzz is going to get us to work really hard to do that.”

On his relationship with his new teammates at Maryland

“No…I knew, like, some of the transfers they had. I seen a couple of them play, but I don't know any of the guys. I'm excited to meet them. I've been followed back on Instagram and stuff like that, but not actually in contact. I'm gonna be at school in a month. So it's not really affecting me.”

On bringing the new roster together

“I wouldn't say it's my responsibility, but if that role is going to get put on me, I'm for sure going to take it. I'm going in there. I'm competing. I'm gonna see where I stand…and if that becomes my role, then I'm for sure going to take it. And I'll be there to help.”

On his relationship with his sister

“When we were younger, always one-on-ones, but like it got too rough, so we had to stop. But just seeing her journey, just seeing her journey on, like her basketball journey, being there, it definitely helped me. Seeing what she went through, definitely helped me. She was a McDonald's all American as well. So that's something that I wanted to follow her in her footsteps. So just seeing like the things she went through and me being around basketball because of her definitely helped me.”

On the basketball relationship with his sister

“I've been to probably – so it was her last season at Rutgers this year. I probably went to two of her games. And we FaceTime probably like twice a week. So just keeping her confident. It's from her brother, so, like, she knows it's somewhere from out of love. And the same thing, if I have a bad game, I'm definitely going to be calling her, because she can give me advice, because she has bad games as well at the highest level. It's good to have someone that goes through the things you go through, just to be there and talk about it.”

On trash talk

“My trash talk to her was always that she couldn't shoot but she would always just try to bully me in the paint. That's the only reason why I said that. So that was the really only trash talk.”

Whether he talks trash during games

“I'm not much of a trash talker. I'm not, I would say if someone starts with me, like, I'll do it back. But I'm not really much of a trash talker. I do the – I let the game speak for itself.”

On how he handles recruiting, the attention

“God is a big part of that, just talking with him, he's the one that gives me peace with all that. And definitely family, my mom and dad and my three sisters, they're great. They're great with me. They're very supportive. So just being able to talk to them, knowing that talking to them is coming out of love. And then I also have a PSA, my PSA director Munch. He is someone I talk to that always gives me the truth no matter if I want to hear it or not. So that's definitely something I need.”

On his decision to transfer to La Lumiere School

“When I was in Jersey, I spent my first two years at a public school, Manasquan. Great, great school. Great coach. Loved it there, but I wanted to have more of a challenge, competition, playing against the best players I can play against every day. So then I moved out to here and it's been great here. The competition is crazy. Our schedule we play is crazy. So just playing the top competition and knowing what it's like to workout two times a day and lift them…is just gonna prepare me for the next level.”

On his interests outside of basketball

“I'm definitely just a hooper. Like, I want to be – I can’t wait to get there and have full access 24 hours in the gym because I can't wait to just like be in the gym, workout every day, get better. I would say, outside of basketball, it's nothing. It's just I'm hanging out with friends, I'm watching Netflix, or I'm watching the NBA Playoffs or highlights on YouTube.”

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