Kevin Willard has landed his replacement for Jahmir Young as former Belmont guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie has announced his transfer to Maryland. Gillespie gave his commitment to the staff on Tuesday, just three days after the prized portal target made his way to College Park alongside his parents for a visit. Maryland pounced quickly on Gillespie, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound guard from Greeneville, Tenn., as assistant Greg Manning Jr. spearheaded efforts to get the Terps into the mix. After a virtual meeting last week, Gillespie made his way to campus where the staff rolled out the red carpet for their top portal target. Gillespie drew interest from Alabama, Kansas, Florida and LSU among others, but the returning core around Gillespie in College Park stuck out above the rest. Despite the Terps taking command in his recruitment coming out of the weekend, Gillespie was intent on taking additional visits out of the portal, but Maryland never wavered and worked to close on its top portal target. Gillespie started in eight games and made 32 appearances as a freshman where he averaged 9.6 points per game off 45.4% shooting, eventually being named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team, but it was his sophomore season that turned heads. Starting in all but one game he was available as a sophomore, Gillespie turned into a scoring machine after averaging 17.2 points per game on 56.1% shooting, including 38.7% from deep, before being named to the MVC most-improved team. Gillespie ended his two-year career at Belmont with 38 career double-figure scoring games, 19 games with at least five assists and 15 games with at least three steals. His instant scoring will be a welcomed addition for a Maryland team that struggled on the offensive end in Willard's second season after averaging 69 points per game, the second-fewest in the conference. Gillespie joins the program with two years of eligibility remaining. Related Links
Julian Reese returning to Maryland for senior seasonVIP: portal frenzy, QB battle, target to watch (+)Local edge Yvan Kemajou takes in Maryland’s first spring practice (+)Maryland makes the top group for priority OL Eidan BuchananNotes from first spring practice (+)Mike Locksley, Maryland assistants talk shift in coaching responsibilitiesPG portal buzz (+)Mike Locksley previews spring ball, talks staff changes, ‘Baltimore Day’, personnel