Maryland basketball makes top cut for two local targets

While head coach Kevin Willard is in search of his first commitment in the 2025 class, Maryland basketball made the cut for a pair of local targets on Sunday as both Chris Jeffrey and Cam Ward released their finalists. Mt. Zion Prep (MD) three-star guard Chris Jeffrey trimmed his list to eight on Sunday with Maryland, Mississippi State, Michigan, Oklahoma State, Butler, Penn State, Texas A&M and Tennessee still in the mix. In no rush to wrap up his recruitment, Maryland was the first school to host the local guard for an official visit with assistant Greg Manning Jr. leading the way into summer. Maryland has been in the mix with the Brooklyn, NY native since his junior season after head coach Kevin Willard zeroed in on Malachi Palmer, Jeffrey's teammate, as one of his two signees in the 2024 class. Jeffrey will also look to take visits to Butler and Mississippi State in the fall among others with no commitment timeline on the horizon, but the Terps were able to showcase his fit in Willard's style. “It felt really good being around them because they’re always at my games, so sitting down and getting to talk to them face-to-face was really good,” Jeffrey told IBG after his official. “It was great getting up there, getting to know the coaching staff a little bit more, seeing things that they do and how they differ from other colleges because they take their bodies way more serious to get to the next level. A lot of coaches prepare for right now but I could tell that Maryland, they’re preparing to get guys to the next level.” Hours later, Largo (MD) four-star forward Cam Ward included Maryland in his final list he revealed on Sunday. Ward, a 6-foot-6, 190-pound forward, released a final ten including Michigan State, Marquette, Mississippi State, Alabama, Kansas State, Maryland, Virginia, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and Florida State. Assistant David Cox has led the way with Ward, who is scheduled to take an official visit to Maryland the weekend of Sept. 21 with officials to both Kansas State and Michigan State also set in September. The four-star previously took an official visit to Marquette in June and told IBG that Alabama, Mississippi State and "I think Vanderbilt" were on the table for visits in October. "I might do them in October, but after that, that’ll probably end it. I think I’m going to do two or three more schools in October just to see a few more but other than that, that’ll probably be it,” he added. “I don’t think there’s much to be answered. I just think I’m going to take these visits, talk it over with my family and then decide from there.” Cam Ward is rated a four-star prospect and 95 overall by On3, checking in as the second-best prospect in Maryland in the 2025 cycle. He was named the Gatorade Maryland Boys Basketball POY after averaging 26 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.7 steals, 2.4 assists and 2.1 blocks per game while leading Largo to a 25-2 record and 2A state championship. Ward was also named a Washington Post First Team All-Met selection. Related Links '26 in-state tackle builds relationship with Terps assistant on latest visit'26 Pa. tight end details his fit in Maryland's offense after offer, visitRuben Hyppolite, Jordan Phillips ready to lead Maryland football’s ’24 defenseTop ’25 target, regional ’26 targets expected to visit Maryland on SaturdayDivision-less Big Ten gives Locksley, Maryland “an opportunity to think differently outside the box”Mike Locksley on facing Michigan State, commitment to run game in 2024