Four-star forward Aidan Shaw was one of two official visitors for Maryland this week as three-star center Christ Essandoko also made it in to College Park this week. While Essandoko is wrapping up his official visit on Thursday afternoon, Shaw returned home on Wednesday evening with a much stronger grasp of what the Terps have to offer.
“I learned a lot so it was definitely a good experience,” Shaw told Inside the Black and Gold. “Well first thing when I went up there, just the drive to the school. We passed a lot and I didn’t realize how close DC is to the school. The campus looked night so that stuck out that first day there.” After the Terps offered back on May 6, the four-star admitted his knowledge of the program and history was limited as assistant coach Danny Manning had his work cut out for him as the primary recruiter. While Manning showed Shaw why he fits into the Terps’ style heading into the visit, the two were able to connect in-person further.
“He’s definitely a cool guy, got to pick his brain a bit about basketball. He used to be really good so it was good just getting to talk to him, especially about practices and defensive principles and stuff.” His meeting with the coaching staff gave him an in-depth look at how Turgeon views Shaw on the roster. “We had a little meeting with head coach [Mark] Turgeon. He put together a presentation that had his players, I was on there too but he’d go through and point out where I’d be at in his style and how I’d fit in their style. He told me how I’d fit in there, like a big guard for them,” he added. “I came back home with a better understanding of how they run their offense.”
Shaw added he didn’t have a player host but was around the team for the bulk of his visit. “It was kind of more a chill environment, just hanging out with them.” The time spent with the players gave Shaw an opportunity to ask his own questions surround the fit. “They kind of talked about it. Some of the guys were freshmen and they really enjoyed it, the way the players enjoy and trust the player development there.”
With the official visit now in the rear-view mirror, Shaw has now taken five officials as he’s seen Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Oklahoma State, and Iowa. Shaw has one more visit set. “You get five official visits your junior year and five your senior year so I have one more set for the fall. I’ll be going to Arkansas on my next official.” After admitting he has no top group in place right now, Shaw is taking the process in stride.
“The schools that I’ve visited are up there in terms of being most consistent with me but there’s some other schools that I just haven’t been able to get to. Still just sorting everything out.”
Earlier this week, Shaw announced that he will suit up for Link Year Prep for his senior season.
Shaw is rated a four-star prospect and a 95 overall by 247Sports, sitting as the nation’s 13th-best small forward.