Mady Traore enters transfer portal after one season with Maryland basketball

Maryland basketball saw its fifth departure of the offseason after Mady Traore entered the transfer portal on Thursday afternoon, leaving the program after just one season. Traore initially signed with NC State out of high school but began his career at New Mexico State, averaging 1.4 points in just seven games. After electing to hit the portal amid coaching turmoil during his freshman season, Traore arrived in College Park last summer as a high-ceiling prospect who needed time to develop, but was able to flash that upside at times during the 2023-24 season. Traore made his first start as a Terp and second in his career against Ohio State back in February, finishing with eight points and five rebounds in 20 minutes--all season highs. Traore also finished his career at Maryland shooting just 8-of-21 from the field, including 0-of-5 from three, and posted 14 rebounds in 12 games. “I think everyone just needs to take a big deep breath with Mady," Willard said heading into the 2023-24 season. "Just everyone be patient with him because he has the talent, the athleticism, the length to be a superstar, in my opinion, but it’s just gonna take him a little time to adjust from not really playing last year having a very difficult situation to now coming into the highest level of basketball.” Mady Traore joins Jamie Kaiser Jr., Jahnathan Lamothe, Noah Batchelor and Caelum Swanton-Rodger as departing Terps this offseason, while Willard has already announced the additions of portal guards Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Rodney Rice. Head coach Kevin Willard now has a third vacant scholarship to work with this offseason, but they'll get a chance to bolster the backcourt starting on Friday. Former Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian is set to visit Maryland tomorrow with UC-San Diego guard Bryce Pope visiting on Monday as Willard looks to infuse more scoring to a backcourt that has both Rice and Gillespie, along with the expected retention of DeShawn Harris-Smith for year two. Related Links Maryland football headed to DC for spring practice in AprilFive stock risers through the first half of Maryland football spring ballMaryland basketball, Kevin Willard hosting pair of portal shooting guardsFour-star edge talks latest visit to Maryland (+)