Maryland football and basketball will have a healthy group of visitors on campus as both staffs take advantage of the Saturday gameday.
Good Counsel (MD) four-star RB Dilin Jones will make the trip in as the Terps get a chance to impress one of their top targets. Jones and St. Frances (MD) four-star Dejuan Williams, who will visit Michigan this weekend, sit atop the running back board as the all-purpose back from the WCAC makes his first visit since the summer. Outside linebacker coach James Thomas and running backs coach Elijah Brooks were among the coaches to trek through Olney this month as the staff made a heavy presence, which coincides with the abundance of Power Five talent coming out of the Falcons’ program this cycle. While the staff won’t have any other 2024 talent headed to campus, 2025 four-star safety Faheem Delane tells IBG he’ll also make the trip in.
After visiting during the season, King George (VA) four-star WR Mekhai White will make the trip in with his family after initially expecting to visit for the UCLA game. White has been a top target for Maryland at receiver and the staff has made it a point to visit his school during every window available over the last few months, even checking out White’s basketball game last month. His teammate, King George four-star WR Chanz Wiggins, is tentatively scheduled to visit this weekend as the staff is in the mix but has a list of heavy hitters they’re up again. Just like Maryland checked on White’s basketball game, Maryland also stopped through Wiggins’ swim meet earlier this month as they prioritize him. I’m still more optimistic on White than Wiggins at this juncture.
Possibly the biggest visitor is Mountain View (VA) four-star LB Kris Jones, who is the top linebacker target on Maryland’s board. Jones and his entire family made the trip in for the Purdue game last fall and they’ll all be back in town this upcoming weekend with inside linebacker coach Lance Thompson and analyst Gary Wortham Jr. chipping away. Ohio State, Penn State, Virginia Tech, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Notre Dame and Virginia join Maryland in Jones’ top 12 as early intel points to the Big Ten foes and Notre Dame as early contenders.
Flowers (MD) four-star CB Braydon Lee is on the list for this weekend as Maryland has ample work to do. At this stage in the cycle, I might be least optimistic on Lee than any other local recruit but the longtime target made it in for a game last fall while the staff stopped through the PG County 4A runner-up this month. Meanwhile, Timber Creek (NJ) three-star defensive end Brahim Wynn will make his first trip down after picking up an offer this week after assistant Henry Baker trekked through his school.
Other visitors include Roosevelt (DC) QB Khalil Wilkins, 2025 Saint Michael Catholic (VA) QB Nahshon Wilson and 2025 SFA (MD) LB Carlton Smith, who will play a big role in the Panthers’ defense this upcoming season.
On the basketball side, Maryland is hosting IMG Academy (FL) three-star center Braden Pierce for an official visit and are on the cusp of good news by the end of the weekend. “I liked it a lot. I know the students weren’t back but it was a really good environment. I talked to [Cox]. I toured campus a little bit before then talked with coach [David] Cox a little bit after too. I liked the campus,” Pierce told IBG last weekend. Maryland will emphasize his development plan and fit in Willard’s pace and with Missouri, the top contender, in wait-and-see mode, the staff will look to add to its answer in the frontcourt as assistant Grant Billmeier bolsters the room.
Meanwhile, 2024 SJC guard Daquan Davis told IBG that he’ll visit Maryland on Saturday as Cox leads the way for the former St. Frances guard. “I like how everybody is engaged with me when I came, everybody showed love, everybody made me feel welcomed,” Davis told IBG last fall.
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