The latest premium notes on the recruiting trail for football and basketball:
Portal update…Maryland landed their first commitment of the offseason when Rodney Rice went public on Sunday morning, ending a recruitment that has been expected but needed for Maryland to rebuild next year’s backcourt. While I wouldn’t expect Rice to automatically step into a starting role despite the current vacancy at the point, his commitment gives Willard another primary ball-handler to be a part of the solution next season. I say part because Maryland is still in the mix for other point guard portal targets and while we await finalized decisions from guards elsewhere around the country, the staff hasn’t waited around as they pounced on former Belmont guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie with assistant Greg Manning Jr. paving the way. I mentioned on Saturday night that Maryland is running pole position for Gillespie, but the plan is still to take additional visits. While the coaching staff crushed the one-day visit and has developed a comfortable rapport with Gillespie and his parents, I’m hearing that Gillespie’s camp is high on Maryland primarily because of the core around the portal guard and Ja’Kobi himself views Maryland as “a perfect situation.” I’m also told that Julian Reese was part of the plans pitched to Gillespie and his parents as the star forward was in town through the weekend and spent a portion of Saturday working out inside the Xfinity Center, another encouraging sign for plans for year four. I have yet to hear that Reese has finalized his plans for next season, but there’s been growing optimism over the past week that a return to Maryland is in the cards as Willard looks to stabilize the situation.
Coming out of the weekend, I’ve heard that LSU, Arkansas, Tennessee and Florida making strong pushes to get Gillespie on campus. One school making a strong push: Kansas, who a source said is “blowing his phone up” as the Jayhawks look to find another portal guard. I’m also hearing that LSU isn’t expected to be a top contender and “even though it’s Kansas, they have a point guard” in the fold for 2024-25, which is a key deciding factor for Gillespie.
The hope for Maryland is to get Gillespie in the fold before he opts to schedule visits elsewhere as they work the fold, but heading into Monday, it’s Maryland who currently holds the lead over the field. I expected Maryland to get at least one pledge since Friday’s AMA, but it may take time and a bit more work to get the second portal guard in the fold.
Local visitor expected this week…Maryland will kick off spring ball on Tuesday afternoon afternoon with a long list of visitors expected this week, including on Saturday with four-stars Jaylen Gilchrist and Messiah Delhomme expected on campus. It sounds like the Spalding trio–Trent Gillis, Malik Washington and Jayden Shipps–are still expected this week though whether it’s Tuesday or Thursday is up in the air as of Sunday afternoon. Virginia cornerback Terrance “Deuce” Edwards has built a strong rapport with the staff, especially Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, as he makes his way back to campus for the first time in over six months, but there will be another visitor expected alongside Edwards on Tuesday: Gonzaga (DC) defensive lineman Rex Stinchcomb. Co-defensive coordinator Brian Williams extended the local lineman an offer back in January to make Maryland his first Power Five offer and since then, the staff has kept tabs on the 6-foot-3, 280-pound lineman. Three-star Nahsir Taylor is another local lineman who has a visit set for April 1 as co-defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim leads the way there, but don’t sleep on GA David Brownlee’s efforts there either as he’s become another familiar face for the interior lineman. Taylor and Maryland have high mutual interest heading into the spring.
Related Links
New Maryland pledge Rodney Rice breaks down his commitment
Former DeMatha, ACC guard Rodney Rice announces transfer to Maryland
Maryland men’s lax upset on the road by Michigan in Big Ten opener
