Two players become first departures for Maryland men's basketball's offseason

Ahmed Ghafir
11 hours ago
2 min read

After Michigan secured the national championship on Monday night to end the 2025-26 season, the transfer portal has officially opened starting today with the calendar officially turned to the 2026-27 offseason. And head coach Buzz Williams saw his first two depart from Maryland men's basketball this offseason.

Nick Blake, son of Steve Blake, is expected to enter the transfer portal today after one season with the program. Blake arrived in College Park as an under-the-radar scoring guard out of Olympia High School (FL), originally slated to play at DIII Scranton before becoming the final piece to Buzz Williams's first-year roster in College Park. Blake also arrived with the expectation that he would serve as a redshirt piece in year one, now leaving the program without ever playing one minute.

Blake was one of two departures, though, with Jaziah Harper also expected to depart and enter the transfer portal. Like Blake, Harper also redshirted in 2025-26 with the expectation that he would need a year for development. He was also one of three high school additions for Maryland last offseason after Harper arrived from the Bosco Institute (IL) where he averaged 17 points, seven rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game, while shooting 52 percent overall from the floor and 37 percent from beyond the arc.

Other departures are expected to also materialize this offseason with all eyes on the former Washington State teammates with a decision to make for both Myles Rice and Isaiah Watts. Maryland currently has four open scholarships to fill as Elijah Saunders, Collin Metcalf, Diggy Coit and Solomon Washington have also exhausted their eligibility following the 2025-26 season.

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