Maryland basketball will close out the home portion of the 2023-24 season on Sunday afternoon when Indiana heads to College Park for the annual Gold Rush game, but Sunday will also mark the final time in front of the fans for a handful of key pieces. Jahmir Young, Donta Scott, Jordan Geronimo and Jahari Long are set to be honored during Sunday’s pregame Senior Day activities as head coach Kevin Willard hopes to send his senior Terps out with a win inside the Xfinity Center. Kevin Willard, Jahmir Young and Donta Scott explain all of the emotions that are building up to Senior Day, the state of the program, plus commentary on Mike Jones being named the next head coach at Old Dominion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4DTGb0oMjU Willard on what Donta Scott and Jahmir Young have meant in his second season I think Jahmir and Donta have been instrumental in helping lay down the groundwork that we've been trying to do. Their hard work, the fact that they bring it every day and they compete every day has really been good for all the young guys that we brought in.” Willard on how hard it is for a player to be selfless “You would think that's, it's part of what you want senior guys to be able to do. It's kind of part of their job a little bit is to be responsible for the guys ‘cause at some point someone older was taking care of them, so it's like passing it on a little bit. And I think that's something that both these guys have done a really good job of is trying to help the young guys understand what college basketball is all about, especially since they've been in it for five years.” You have a relationship with all your guys. I think every senior that's played for you at some point has done something for your program that you remember.” Willard on what he’s liked about the progression of this year’s team “I really think from a defensive standpoint, we have become a really, really good defensive team, much better than I thought we were going to be able to at the beginning of the year. Just from the standpoint of adding some young guys. I think the young guys have done, for the most part, a really, really good job in understanding our defense and progressing in it.” Willard on how Jahmir Young has helped set the foundation “You couldn't ask any more from one of your first recruits that you get. I think his work ethic is unbelievable. He's a terrific teammate. He's a great young man to be around. I couldn't ask any more for what Jahmir has given to this program.” Willard on DeShawn Harris-Smith’s recent play “He’s playing with so much more confidence, it's great to see, and that's the progression that you hope freshmen make. I think it's taken all freshmen a little bit longer this year and just because of the COVID years and guys being so old, but it's just good to see him make that progression and be a little bit more aggressive driving to the basket. I think he's made really, really good progress.” “I think it's hard for every freshman right now. I do. I just think it's a totally wacky world.” Willard on whether this year’s team has helped lay the groundwork for the program “Yeah, I do. Obviously it hasn't gone the way we wanted to go, but how hard they've played, how well they've played defensively. The fact that we've been in every game we've played and had a chance to win every game. I think the competitive nature of this group has been really good. It's just some of our offensive struggles has kind of derailed this season a little bit but I think definitely the way they've competed has definitely laid a great foundation.” Willard on what Donta Scott has done for the young guys “I just think Donta’s been a very good example of a guy that shows up every day and works really hard, has success, stays even keeled the whole way. I think a lot of the younger guys, even last year respect the fact that Donta, he shows up every day, you know, and does it at a high level.” Willard on the hire of Mike Jones as Old Dominion’s next head coach “We're ecstatic for Mike. We really are. It's a great opportunity to go back to his alma mater, a place where he played and had a lot of success. Mike's a terrific person. He's a great coach. He's going to do a fantastic job. It’s been a crazy, I guess it's been eight months now. I've had four assistants hired in that time frame. But it's great. It's kind of what you want as a coach. It means you're hiring good people and I think Mike's going to do a fantastic job.” Jahmir Young on Mike Jones being named Old Dominion’s head coach “He’s left his mark here. He wasn't here for long, but for him to be able to come home and for him to be able to coach myself and the rest of my teammates was special. Just being able to pass down knowledge, such a knowledgeable coach and he's been around for a long time and I'm excited for him. I know he's excited. Just pushing for him. I'm just excited for him and I know he's thankful for the opportunity and I know he's going to do well.” Willard on the importance of Donta Scott staying for five years “I think the University of Maryland's been very good for Donta and I think Donta’s been really good for the University of Maryland. I think sometimes when guys don't leave it's cause it's a good fit. And I think this program's been a good fit for Donta, and Donta’s been a great fit for this program. It is rare that you see that anymore but I think the big thing is it just shows you the character that Donta has. He's a guy that's, like I said, he brings it every day. He's loyal, he's hardworking. He's just been a great, great ambassador for this program.” Willard on what he’s looking for the rest of the season “We're not that far off. I feel we can beat anybody so there's no development. We're still trying to win every game. I mean, that's our mindset. Northwestern, unfortunately, we just didn't play very well offensively and Martinelli had a heck of a game, but we're not that far off. So we're still trying to win every game and our focus has turned to the Big Ten Tournament now.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jhh1LE1zQs Jahmir Young on taking advantage of his final games JY: “It’s really just going out, making sure that we're having fun, making sure that we're playing with a purpose, with a chip on our shoulder knowing that we only have a few left. So I'm just trying to extend the season and bringing the guys along and to stay together so we can go out on the right foot.” Young on whether the team is better than the record shows “I would say our guys our team just as a whole, it doesn't reflect our record but as a whole, I feel like we've been staying positive and we've been coming to work every day and we're not getting down. I feel like everything is tough. Winning is tough. It comes to like a free throw, blockout or passing up on a good shot to get a better shot. Just little things like that which separated us from maybe winning some of those games. Just looking back it's tough, but I mean, we're still here as a team. We're still sticking together and we're just going to keep pushing. We're going to keep working and just try to keep the season alive.” On what they're looking forward to on Senior Day JY: “Really just all my support system to come out, all my family, all my friends coming out and just showing love. The last home game, probably the last game I played at home in Maryland. So it's a special day for both of us and just happy to get out there and enjoy it with, with our teammates.” DS: “Just going out there to be able to play in front of my family, maybe one more time, close to home and just go out there and just see the fans cheer for us while I’ll be at Maryland.” On what it’s meant to get through the 2023-24 season DS: “It just means a lot because you put your hard work and dedication into it and not everybody sees the grind, not everybody sees the challenges that you overcome every day. And just getting to this point just means another milestone in our lives because you only got so many games and just, it's an honor to come back and be able to give it one more year and just go out there and play.” JY: “Like Donta said, just not taking anything for granted, being able to come back and pour a lot into this program. This program means a lot to both of us and we've worked hard and poured a lot into this program. It just means a lot to be able to get to this point. And I'm just thankful for the opportunity to play here and wear Maryland across our chest.” On the direction of the program DS: “I feel like it's only gonna go from here. We might not have the season that we wanted to have, but they're bringing in a couple talented players for next year and really hope that they really turned it around where we couldn't, like, pick up. We had a couple tough losses, but that's just the game. But I feel like this program is really just going to be looking up, especially with them making a new facility where they can be able to get away and actually work on their game a little bit better without having to go through some obstacles.” JY: “I feel like it's in good hands under Kevin Willard. A great coach. A lot of potential with the young guys that we have and guys that they're bringing in. Only positive things from here. I feel like in under Kevin Willard, I feel like the only thing is going to be able to get to the top.” On how they’ve seen themselves grow as leaders DS: “When I first came here, I wasn't that much of a talker when it comes to court stuff, but I feel like I've blossomed in that perspective. Just being more of a talker, being more of a guy to try to keep the team together a little bit. And just changed as a man, gives out thanks to all the coaches that came before and the coaches that are here now and just that I've grown in multiple ways, just like mental and physically. It takes a village like they say, and I feel like I had a lot of good men behind me helping me out with difficult challenges in my life, so.” JY: “I mean, I feel like I was kind of the same way with just going with the flow coming into college, not being much of a leader, kind of just taking a back seat, but as my college career has gone on, I feel like I've grown into a leadership role and guys look to me in terms of leadership, in terms of controlling the team. It’s crazy just to know that it's been five years and I've been in school for five years. I'm just thankful. I'm glad that I've been able to make it this far injury-free as well. So I'm just thankful to be here and just thankful for the growth.” Donta Scott on facing Indiana “I feel like our defense has gotten a lot better since then, and I feel like going into the Big Ten play, we weren't as ready as we needed to be, but coming out now, I feel like we got some things clicking and I feel like we're going to get back on the wave of just trying to get this game out of the way and win. And I feel like that's what we can do and we're capable of. Some nights may not be the best, but I believe that soon we'll hit shots, and the sooner we'll hit shots, things will click a lot more because our defense is there. It's just all about offense when it comes to making shots sometimes.” Young on the focus on Senior Day “The real focus is the game. Even though it's senior night, a lot of people, a lot of emotions, a lot of people is going to be there, but we're focused on winning the game. We're focused on the task at hand and that's coming out with a . All the other distractions want to be put to the side and we're gonna make sure that we're locked in.” Scott on his five seasons at Maryland “It means a lot to me see this family. Not too many guys come into programs think that they want to be here for that long, if that's from going to the NBA or maybe things not working out the plan and they transferred. But me, I'm very loyal to the things I go to. I've been very loyal to any team I've stepped on and that's what I just try to do these five years. And being here for five years mean a lot, being in the same place for a while without people trying to kick you out means a lot. You still got your supporters. You're always going to have your people that hate, but your supporters always outweigh that.” Scott on looking back on the 2019-20 team “It feels like yesterday, just all the people that played with me in the game and stuff like that since I was a freshman, all the way up to now, that's really what made the difference in me being a College Park. I've considered all these guys my brothers and not too many people could say that, but whatever these guys need, I got their back and that goes a long way for me.” Related Links
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