The latest from College Park.
Long list of visitors on Tuesday…no visitors this past weekend with part of the staff at the NFL combine while others were in attendance for local coaching clinics. That remains true for this upcoming weekend, but the staff keeps it rolling during the week with several more local targets headed to campus on Tuesday. DeMatha (MD) three-star OT Terez Davis made his way to campus today and a big one headed to College Park, though, as IMG Academy (MD) five-star defensive end Ernest Willor joins Flowers (MD) four-star edge rusher Obinna Onwuka on campus. Maryland was the first school to offer Willor back in the day and did well rolling out the red carpet for him early, and while the interest in the Terps hold true, Willor is a case where the staff will need to turn the tide on his tune to staying close to home. What helps is that a return back home for Willor’s senior season could be in the cards after one season at IMG.
With St. Frances on spring break this week, I expect more targets to visit this week including four-star safety Edrees Farooq and offensive tackle Logan Bennett. 2025 cornerback Blake Woodby will also visit on Tuesday, another talented defensive back in a loaded St. Frances secondary. With possibly the entire SFA secondary ending up at Power Five schools, it may be Woodby who is the fastest of them although 2025 cornerback Kevyn Humes may have something to say about that.
Maryland is in the top group for Farooq, cousin of Oklahoma receiver Jalil Farooq, after making his top ten in January though they sit in the back half of the group. I’m also hearing that Virginia three-star cornerback Asaad Brown, who has transferred from Oscar Smith (VA) to St. Michael (VA), will make his way to campus on Tuesday. He’s a target that Maryland has and continues to make major strides with to become a player in his recruitment. Still work left to do, but getting him on campus is step one. One 2025 prospect making his way to campus is 2025 Freedom (VA) ATH Jeff Overton, who is increasingly looking like a prime candidate to kick off the Terps’ 2025 recruiting class. 2025 St. Michael (VA) safety Remington Moss will also be on campus for the second time this offseason, another name to remember next cycle. St. Michael (VA) quarterback Nahshon Wilson will also be in attendance.
Another in attendance–Good Counsel (MD) receiver Elijah Moore as the staff continues to chip away in his recruitment. Maryland is in a good spot with him early, though a summer commitment is more likely at this stage.
Local QB…as reported last week, SFA duo Mike Van Buren and Ify Obidegwu made it to campus on Friday where it was a big visit for Van Buren with news publicly surfacing one day prior that Josh Gattis would become co-offensive coordinator alongside Kevin Sumlin. Don’t understate Ify’s visit, though, with Zac Spavital on campus and a chance to meet him face-to-face. Ify has family ties linking him to Maryland and he’s been countless times over the years, but it was the relationships that needed to be improved. Lance Thompson has done well in his recruitment and I’m hearing there’s a realistic chance the Terps end up hosting Obidegwu for an official visit down the line. Tennessee is a school to watch for both Ify and Edrees Farooq. In regards to MVB, I’m told that Van Buren has the same top three: Oregon, Penn State and Maryland. In that order. I’m also hearing that mom prefers Penn State, another hurdle early the staff will chip away at this spring. Van Buren is the key to Maryland’s local recruiting efforts this cycle and he’ll be back on campus in early April for spring practice.
International trip…news broke late last month that Maryland would cross the pond this upcoming summer and take part in a trip to Italy. While details are being finalized heading into summer, I’m told this is expected to be a likely ten-day trip in August that mirrors the 2018 trip with three games played across four cities including Rome, Florence and Venice. For a team who will need to find its new identity with several veterans possibly departing with coveted, yet inexperienced pieces set to replace them, the extra practices may be most beneficial with improved team chemistry being the added bonus. Expect a summer announcement from the program.
Roster expectations…with postseason play now in full swing and players beginning to enter the transfer portal around the country, Maryland basketball will have yet another hectic offseason. With one scholarship currently open, finding a portal big man remains the top priority by a mile with a dire need to pair Julian Reese with an experienced piece in the paint. Caelum Swanton-Rodger showed flashes in limited opportunities in a year one mainly centered around acclimating himself to the college pace, and the second-year player will be able to give the frontcourt minutes in the rotation while Braden Pierce enrolls. While the rest of the roster settles, the biggest question is whether there’s a possibility that any of Jahmir Young, Hakim Hart or Donta Scott return to Maryland. Sources have maintained over recent weeks that Scott is most unlikely to return for another season in College Park while Young has become a hot commodity as NBA scouts have routinely made their way to Xfinity for practices and games through conference play. While NIL could incentivize Young for a potential return, the professional route is the early expected decision. Hart is a possibility as his situation remains wait-and-see as he could end up being the lone piece to anchor next year’s team alongside Julian Reese. Speaking of, the sophomore big man has shown the consistency fans have longed for through conference play to give Maryland a presence in the paint. It’s expected that while Reese will request feedback from the NBA, he’ll be back in College Park for a third and what could possibly be his final season in College Park.
With the college basketball portal now open, assistant Tony Skinn reached out to Dartmouth forward Dame Adelekun, who entered the portal on Monday morning. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists on 56.3% shooting from the field this season. Maryland was among a long, long list of schools to reach out as Adelekun reportedly also heard from Wisconsin, Wichita State, Boise State, Arkansas, Rhode Island, FGCU, UNCC, Vanderbilt, Ohio State, NC State, Loyola Chicago, Santa Clara, ECU, Clemson and Seton Hall all reaching out. Adelekun will be the first of money with the offseason nearing.
Related Links
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