The latest premium notes on a big basketball departure and notable visitors in College Park over the weekend:
Jamie Kasier Jr. makes the call…the transfer bug hit Maryland basketball on Monday morning after Jamie Kaiser Jr. told the coaching staff he plans to enter the transfer portal after one season with the program, a source confirmed to IBG. While the former four-star out of Virginia contemplated a stay-or-go decision toward the end of the regular season, Kaiser’s return was expected after initially meeting with head coach Kevin Willard following the season finale, but that changed as the offseason progressed. Kevin Willard has been aggressive in the portal this offseason and adding more scoring to the rotation has been a primary focus, but I’m told that heading into next season, a starting spot was in question for Kaiser that led he and his family to reevaluate his situation over the last few days. It also sounds like Kaiser will have multiple suitors to choose from as I’m also told that all the schools in Kaiser’s initial top group out of high school are already in contact and under consideration, so there’s a very good chance he stays at this level. Tough, emotional situation for Kaiser after leaving his dream school. As for Maryland, Willard now has two scholarships to work with for the 2024-25 season and adding a proven shooter remains a primary focus for Willard with St. Louis wing Gibson Jimerson among those in the mix. With Jahari Long expected to be sidelined through the 2024-25 season, Maryland also has a chance to bolster its guard depth with Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Rodney Rice currently expected to join DeShawn Harris-Smith in the backcourt. We’ll have more on portal targets once things materialize.
Visitors in College Park…Saturday was expected to be a big day in College Park with multiple visitors taking in the Terps’ third spring practice as four-star safety Messiah Delhomme, four-star nose tackle Bryce Jenkins, three-star ATH Matthew Outten and three-star IOL Jaylen Gilchrist made their way to campus. Another visitor who made his way to campus for a visit and sit down with the staff was DeMatha three-star linebacker Noah Chambers, who I’m hearing the Terps have done well with through the spring. Virginia Tech did well in the early stages in his recruitment with Hokies assistant Elijah Brooks leading the charge, but Maryland continues to challenge the regional rival with a Maryland-VT battle heading into official visit season. Similar could be said about Delhomme with the Hokies making him a top priority, but Ohio State has remained a factor in his recruitment despite landing four-star DeShawn Stewart over the weekend. Outten, meanwhile, has been a steady target for running backs coach Latrell Scott through the spring as Maryland got him and his coach on campus for Saturday’s practice as they now work on finalizing a date for his official visit.
Meanwhile, Good Counsel (MD) priority IOL recruit Gavin Crawford was back on campus on Thursday alongside five-star safety Faheem Delane as the Terps are squarely in the mix for both, with odds slightly better for Crawford than Delane heading into April.
Maryland is expected to host a pair of local targets for Tuesday’s practice with DT Nahsir Taylor and TE JT Taggart making their way to campus. Taylor is a name to remember for defensive line recruiting this cycle as his junior film has impressed the staff and has high mutual interest with the Terps heading into the spring, while Maryland has made Taggart its top tight end target in the early stages of the 2025 cycle.
Related Links
Freshman wing Jamie Kaiser Jr. entering the transfer portal
Four-star safety Messiah Delhomme talks Maryland visit, spring schedule
Maryland men’s lacrosse mounts comeback, pulls off 13-11 win at Penn State
Five-star Derik Queen shines in practice ahead of McDonald’s All-American game
’26 top ten prospect Zion Elee talks Saturday’s visit to Maryland (+)
