I follow the women team also watching them this season Sellers and especially poppen are the most no defense playing starters i have seen at Maryland in a while

It's become apparent who Maryland basketball's top guy is​

The latest from the Terps basketball beat.​

Maryland basketball strength and conditioning coach Kevin Tarp said Ja'Kobi Gillespie is one of the smoothest athletes he's ever coached. Kevin Willard says he's "always going." Gillespie's played more than 35 minutes in each of the past four games.

And the Terps needed all 36 of his minutes to secure a victory on Sunday in a must-win game over Nebraska. Gillespie scored the game-winning basket with 40 seconds remaining to give Maryland a 69-66 win. He also secured a key milestone, surpassing 1,000 points scored in his collegiate career.

The junior point guard scored 22 points on 8-15 shooting. He made five triples and dished out five assists to only two turnovers. Gillespie also ripped away a season-high four steals, helping generate 13 points off Nebraska turnovers.

"It's just crazy that I finally hit 1,000 [points], but I didn't even know that I hit 1,000 in the moment," Gillespie said.

Derik Queen was crowned as Maryland's best player early in the seasons. Julian Reese is the veteran post presence and former all-conference choice. Rodney Rice is the microwave scorer. But Gillespie has become the Terps' most dependable and arguably best player. Analytics site Evan Miya's metric ranks him as the fourth-best player in the Big Ten and No. 16 nationally, and KenPom's adjusted efficiency numbers love the Belmont transfer as well.

After he struggled on Maryland's trip to Washington and Oregon, Gillespie's started to figure out the Big Ten. He's averaging 19.5 points per game over the Terps' last four contests on 47% shooting. Willard has loved how Gillespie's played but wants him to realize the importance of conserving energy.

"But he's wired to score a little bit, he's wired to go. A guy that size that plays as hard as he does on both ends, he's been really, really productive and he's wired that way," Willard said. "He wants to do it. I think the biggest thing for us is trying to get him to realize when you're playing 38 minutes, there's got to be sometimes where you got to chill out a little bit," Willard said.

Maryland Basketball Recruiting Scoop: Is there a chance for a big addition?

It hasn't affected Gillespie late in games, though. His three-pointer with six minutes remaining gave Maryland a nine-point lead and then his right-handed scoop layup gave the Terps the lead in the final minute.

Willard's play call was telling. The look was designed to get Gillespie downhill to his right hand, the same way he scored late against Northwestern earlier this week.

"I know I just needed to get downhill," Gillespie said.

Willard preached to Gillespie all season the importance of adjusting to the Big Ten. It's a massive jump from the Missouri Valley Conference to one of the best leagues in the country. He's struggled occasionally, but overall, his play has been as good or better than anyone hoped.

"Ja'Kobi's really going through this league for the first time." Willard said. You gotta make sure that they are learning that they are staying positive and that they are understanding that there are going to be some setbacks in this league. You're going to play bad. This league is, if not the best basketball league, one of the best basketball leagues in the country.

While other players like Queen and Selton Miguel struggle, the Terps might need to rely on Gillespie more and more. If recent performances hold true, he's up for the task.

Maryland Basketball Recruiting Scoop: Is there a chance for a big addition?​

Kevin Willard's recruiting efforts have largely been focused on the transfer portal, with few 2025 names still floating around. The Terps have one commitment in the senior class, but is there a real chance they could add another player to Maryland basketball's 2025 recruiting class?​

Kevin Willard's recruiting efforts have largely been focused on the transfer portal, with few 2025 names still floating around. The Terps have one commitment in the senior class in Christian Jeffrey, who's enjoying a strong senior season, but is there a real chance they could add another player to Maryland basketball's 2025 recruiting class?

Seemingly the only 2025 recruit on their list, Mallory has been on campus this weekend for his official visit. The No. 56 player and seventh-ranked point guard in 247Sports 2025 basketball recruit rankings, Mallory de-committed from Virginia after Tony Bennett abruptly stepped down. He's the highest-rated uncommitted point guard in the country and played for Team Thrill, the Baltimore-based Under Armour grassroots program that produced Derik Queen and is run by Mookie Dobbins.

Those connections are helpful, but they won't be the deciding factors in his recruitment, overseen by his father, Joe Mallory's father. I'm told it'll be largely based on opportunity, location and like most big-name recruitments, compensation. He's visited Tennessee, a big-money program with playing time available at point guard, and Miami. The Hurricanes are still a wildcard, but their chances likely have decreased because of uncertainty about their next coach after Jim Larranaga retired abruptly like Bennett.

Mallory, a 5-9 senior at St. Anne's and his family have been tight-lipped lately about his recruitment. But I spoke to a few sources with knowledge of his situation, and it sounds like Maryland has a legitimate chance.

"They're right there," a source said. "He prefers closer to home. Likes the freedom [Kevin Willard gives his guards,]."

Ja'Kobi Gillespie has been one of Maryland's best players and is expected to return next year, so they'll need to convince Mallory he can play a real role as a freshman before becoming a starter as a sophomore, perhaps alongside Jeffrey.

Mallory doesn't have any other known visits set, so a decision could come before long. As always, we'll keep you updated.

247Sports' Chance Mallory scouting report (Adam Finkelstein)

"Mallory may be undersized and play under the rim, but there are few more reliable true point guards in the national class. His skill level with the ball is truly elite. He has complete command of his handle and a pure release on his jumper. He not only shoots it with deep range but is equally comfortable off the catch or the dribble, and has the effortless quick release to get it off despite his lack of size. Mallory can stop quickly for mid-range pull-ups with deceptive lift and also has a deep bag of floaters and runners that he can utilize without breaking his stride inside a crowded lane. While he only played seven games in the UAA this season, his 45/38/90 shooting splits are indicative of what we have come to expect.

"Simultaneously, Mallory is also exceptionally reliable with the ball in his hands. He's extremely strong with the ball, rarely rattled by pressure, a very good passer, and a pinpoint lob thrower (4.2 assists vs. 1.7 turnovers). He's even starting to show more creativity and playmaking with the ball in his hands, all without limiting his efficiency. Mallory is also a diligent defender who can pick up the ball for the length of the floor, fight over ball screens, has good hands (1.6 steals in the 2024 UAA and 2.1 in 2023), and will dig out long rebounds. While there are likely to be some moments at the next level where his size will limit him on that end of the floor, it won't be due to a lack of fight or intellect.

"Mallory's value is also magnified by his wealth of intangibles and true leadership skills. He's not only a throwback true point guard, but one of the most skilled players in the class, with the ideal mental make-up to compensate for whatever he may be lacking in terms of physical measurables."

Queen, plays soft he plays well vs lesser competition.

Who do think is better Queen or Diamond stone?

I need to know TSR Scott. Thanks

Both coaches run up their win totals against lesser competition. When they play the Big Boys we lose most of the time.
Four comments on today's game: 1. Geronimo should get more minutes and Queen less/he was a difference maker today even though his stat line was modest; 2. Where is our heralded defense?/got beat for so many easy buckets in the paint/a step slow on the switches; 3. Queen needs LOTS of work either in college next year or sitting on the bench in the NBA or G League; and 4. Reese setting a pick at the top of the key while Gillespie goes through it and Reese heads to the basket for a pass that play is no longer available/teams have figured it out! Prediction: Illinois will destroy us this week!

We're about 20 minutes from tipoff in College Park this afternoon between the Terps and Huskers.

They come into this one as pretty heavy 9.5-point favorites, coming off of a brutal OT loss at Northwestern earlier in the week. Nebraska, meanwhile, has lost three straight with their last win coming at home versus a reeling UCLA squad. But don't think for a second the Huskers aren't capable of winning on the road, they won at Creighton earlier in the non-conference schedule.

This feels like almost another must-win for Maryland, as they look to get back to .500 in league play before they travel to Illinois on Thursday.

Former Maryland football standout earns new deal, chance to make first NFL impact​

Good news for a former Maryland football standout.​

Jeshaun Jones didn't get a chance to show his stuff during game action this season as a rookie, but the Minnesota Vikings saw enough promise from him to keep him around, nonetheless. The former Maryland football standout has signed a futures deal with the Vikings, the team announced.

An undrafted free agent who signed with the team after the draft, Jones was waived and signed to the practice squad before the season. Despite not playing in the regular season, the physical Florida native impressed during camp.

"Jones pops almost daily. He has made contested catches ... He transitions smoothly into his routes," The Athletics' Vikings beat writer Alec Lewis wrote at the time. "He's a name to keep an eye on."

The Vikings have a superstar receiver in Justin Jefferson and a budding star in Jordan Addison, but there's opportunity behind them.

An NFL futures contract means the player isn't technically under contract until the next season, so his salary doesn't count against the salary cap. But other teams can't sign him, unlike practice squad players. They also earn more money than practice squad players, though Jones' salary hasn't been announced. Before the season he reportedly signed a three-year, $2.84 million contract with a $225,000 guaranteed base salary, the highest among all of their undrafted free-agent signings


Via Rotoballer:

The Minnesota Vikings signed wide receiver Jeshaun Jones to a Reserve/Futures deal on Friday, the team announced. Jones was with Minnesota for much of the 2024 season on their practice squad but never appeared in a regular-season game. The 25-year-old pass-catcher from Fort Myers, Florida, will now be hoping to continue his development with the organization this offseason and into training camp in the summer. Jones went undrafted out of Maryland. In addition to Jones, the Vikings also signed offensive tackle Trevor Reid, defensive tackle Travis Bell, guard Henry Byrd, defensive backs Kahlef Hailassie and Reddy Steward, defensive end Jonathan Harris, wide receiver Lucky Jackson, tackle Marcellus Johnson, linebacker Gabriel Murphy, quarterback Brett Rypien and running back Zavier Scott to Reserve/Future contracts on Friday.

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More on Jones via the Vikings press release:

• In his six-year career (2018-23), played in 48 games and recorded 151 receptions for 2,040 yards and 14 touchdowns.
• Voted a team captain for the 2023 season.
• Led Maryland with single-season career highs in receptions (56), receiving yards (790) and yards per game (60.8) in 2023. Ranked fifth in the Big Ten in each of the three categories.
• In 2022, appeared in 13 games with 11 starts and led team in receiving with 44 receptions for 557 yards.
• Caught four touchdown passes.
• As a true freshman in 2018, scored seven touchdowns (five receiving, two rushing), registering 22 receptions for 288 yards and 18 rushes for 173 yards, as well as a 20-yard passing touchdown.
• Had the most receiving touchdowns (five) by a freshman since Stefon Diggs in 2012.
• Recorded a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown on each of his first three career touches in his college debut against Texas (9/1/18).

Now 3-0 in conference after defeating Wisconsin.

Only seen one spread today, and Odds Shark started at Maryland by 7.5 and has gone to Maryland by 8.5. Let's hope they know what they're saying.

Big opportunity for the Terps tonight in Evanston, as they are slight rod favorites over Northwestern.

As most know, conference road wins are extremely tough to come by and this is a venue the Terps have had some past success. A win tonight to get over .500 would be big.

Game can be seen on BTN.

Former Maryland football star mocks Mike Locksley's Jets interview, questions Terps' NIL-era survival​

Boomer Esiason has never been one to keep critical opinions to himself, even when the topic involves his alma mater. On Thursday, the former Maryland star quarterback chimed in on Terps coach Mike Locksley's recent interview for the New York Jets head coaching job.​

Boomer Esiason has never been one to keep critical opinions to himself, even when the topic involves his alma mater. On Thursday, the former Maryland star quarterback chimed in on Terps coach Mike Locksley's recent interview for the New York Jets head coaching job.

"I think one of the reasons Mike Locksley, the head coach at the University of Maryland, got an interview was because that was a favor for the agent. And probably a little bit of a favor for Mike to show the University of Maryland that Mike, you know, could leave at any time. And I'm sure Mike's feeling a lot of pressure because it hasn't gone well for the University of Maryland football team over the last three to four years now," Esiason said on Boomer and Gio, his show on New York sports radio station WFAN.

Esiason's definition of "hasn't gone well," must not have been formed in comparison to most other three or four year-spans at Maryland. This past season was brutal for the Terps (4-8 overall, 1-8 Big Ten), but they averaged nearly eight wins during the previous three seasons, winning bowl games three years in a row for the first time in program history.


The former record-setting Maryland quarterback and 1988 NFL MVP didn't leave it there, expressing doubt Locksley and Maryland will thrive in the new revenue-sharing landscape, in which Maryland will pay $20.5 million to its athletes in 2025-2026.

"I don't suspect that it's going to get any better. He can recruit as much as he wants, but his team becomes a development ground for Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, LSU, teams that have a lot more money, although supposedly they'll have the same amount of money and be able to share it with their athletes moving forward because of that lawsuit that finally came to an end."

Locksley hasn't spoken publicly about the interview, but his boss has.

"Obviously, I got a call from the president of the Jets and wanted to talk to Locks, and Locks called me about it to get permission, and I'm not going to withhold that permission," Maryland AD Damon Evans said last week during a radio interview.

"It's an opportunity that he wants to take a look at. Obviously, that's something he felt he needed to do, and we'll move on from there. I do appreciate having Locks as our coach, but these things do come up, and we'll handle it appropriately."

BALD TURGEON LOSES ANOTHER ROAD GAME

Derik Queen busted out of a slump, but will he bust out of College Park for the NBA?​

Where does star Maryland basketball freshman Derik Queen's NBA draft stock stand after a mini-slump followed by a breakout?​

For the first time in his brief college basketball career, Maryland freshman Derik Queen hit a mini-slump recently with two single-digit scoring totals in three games after reaching double-figures in 12 of the first 13 games, averaging fewer than four rebounds per game during the same three games.

The Terps heralded big man bounced back with a starring performance on Monday in Maryland's 77-71 win over Minnesota, scoring a career-high 27 points on 10-for-15 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds.

It'll be a while before we know for sure whether Queen will be one-and-done in Maryland. But if the most recent 2025 NBA Mock Draft projections are an accurate indicator, his days still appear numbered.

ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo listed Queen at No. 16 in the site's new mock last Thursday. That's a significant climb from Woo's mock most draft a month earlier, when he ranked Queen 23rd overall.

"The Pacers' frontcourt depth has been tested because of several injuries inside, which might cause the team to look at adding a young prospect whom it can develop behind Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner. Queen is one of the most productive freshmen, bringing an advanced feel for the college game and skill level, creating shots for himself and others for Maryland, scoring and drawing fouls prolifically while filling up the box score."

"He has some questions to answer regarding his defense and perimeter shooting. He is not the most modern big man and wouldn't be a fit for every team's roster because of his average mobility, intensity and lack of shooting range. Scouts will be studying his impact in the Big Ten and beyond to get a better gauge of how to weigh his impressive productivity versus his weaknesses."

Queen, one of 25 players named to the Wooden Award last week, has been at his best against Maryland's top opponents. He has five 20-plus-point games, including two against ranked opponents Marquette and Purdue.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman has him going 18th to San Antonio in his new mock. He wrote:

"Aside from just finding ways to use his strength and soft hands around the basket, he's showing confidence in his jump shot (despite inconsistent results), counter footwork off the dribble and touch shots.

There will continue to be debate over the legitimacy of his perimeter flashes and how his defense projects at the pro level. But Queen appears to be too productive and skilled with excellent passing IQ for scouts to nitpick outside the top 10."

Derik Queen with 27 points tonight vs. Minnesota. Added to his highlight reel of self-created dunks off drives, which have been most surprising. Three-point shot hasn't fallen but he's been better than I expected in face-up and spot-up situations, using dribble and/or touch. pic.twitter.com/rHQw8zCrUK
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) January 14, 2025

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Also last week, the Sporting News released a new mock, projecting Queen to go to the Pacers with the No. 15 pick

Tankathon recently updated its projections, sending Queen to the Sacramento Kings with the 11th pick. He was also a topic of conversation recently on No Ceilings' 'Draft Sickos' podcast.

"Corey and I both, I believe, had him like sixth overall on our boards. And he hasn't really done much of anything to disappoint me. I know his most recent game [against Washington] was an absolute stinker. But I think every prospect not named Dylan Harper and Cooper Flagg have had them, which is why there's a whole separate tier from those two guys. I love Derik Queen. I can't get enough of him. I'm a sucker for big men with feel. I think every NBA team wants a guy that can not only produce at the level Derik Queen is doing. But if you watch this guy move on a basketball court, he just feels like an NBA big man. Some people are saying Chris Webber, which is like a taboo thing. You're not ever supposed to ever compare anyone to Chris Webber. Reminds me a little bit of DeMarcus Cousins offensively, just being able to handle the ball and pass it. Plus, he's a little bit pudgy," host Maxwell Baumbach said.

"You don't see big men at his size move the way he does, see the court the way that he does. I know that he's not always there defensively. I will acknowledge that ... I just think that he is the best player, obviously, that Maryland has ... Sometimes it's just easy to identify an NBA basketball player on a basketball court simply by the way they move, and Queen has it."

​

Maryland Football roster refresh: The defensive backs​

That first wave of transfer portal movement has subsided. Maryland has snagged nine transfers so and will sign more to address needs at multiple positions. In the first installment of our look at each position and what they've added, who returns and which needs remain, we reset the roster in the defensive backs room.​

That first wave of transfer portal movement has subsided. Maryland has snagged nine transfers so far (Maryland football transfer portal tracker) and will sign more to address needs at multiple positions, some of them after spring. In the first installment of our look at each position and what they've added, who returns and which needs remain, we reset the roster in the defensive backs room.

Overview: Maryland saw a ton of departures here, which was expected after its pass defense struggled all season, giving up the third most passing yards per game (241.3) in the Big Ten. There were too many inexperienced players forced into key roles, the result of losing three DBs to the NFL during the previous two seasons, including a first-round pick in Deonte Banks and a rookie star this season in Tarheeb Still, and the lack of additions in the portal last year.

If they had to do it over again, Mike Locksley and his defensive coaches probably would've found a way to bolster this room in the portal last year, but Maryland was the only power conference program not to lose a player to the spring portal, so scholarships were sparse.

Transfer portal departures: Brandon Jacob, Perry Fisher, Kevis Thomas, Lionell Whitaker, Tayvon Nelson, Jonathan Akins, Chantz Harley.

Maryland saw a ton of defensive backs enter the transfer portal and most were mutual decisions between players and coaches. Mostly at cornerback, where they struggled this season. Promising safety Jacob, a four-star signing in '24 who showed flashes as a true freshman, was the one big loss in the defensive backfield. The high-ceiling Floridian returned home, landing at UCF. (The Floridian movement was a theme again.)

Otherwise, it was mostly a group of guys who might be better suited at smaller levels of college football. Fisher, who was expected to become a solid starter but had a rough year, landed at UAB. Whitaker (Coastal Carolina) and Akins (East Carolina) had similar experiences as first-time players. Harley provided some solid performances as a backup but wanted to start and play consistently in his final season. Nelson didn't play in either of his seasons.

Thomas, a well-regarded three-star recruit from Georgia in '23, landed at a higher-level spot than expected (Kentucky).

Other losses: Cornerback Glen Miller and safety Dante Trader have been among Maryland's best defensive backs for the past two seasons. Big losses.

Additions: Jamare Glasker (Wake Forest), Dontay Joyner (Arkansas State).

Maryland might've secured its top two corners for next season. Joyner, who picked Maryland over Michigan State, Houston, WVU and Georgia Tech,

Joyner recorded an excellent 82.3 score from Pro Football Focus. Glasker was Wake's top corner. Most importantly, they have a lot of experience and confidence, the two things Maryland's corners lacked last season.

At safety, where he moved from cornerback during the season, Jalen Huskey was arguably the best player among a transfer haul that didn't pan out. He appears entrenched at one safety spot. Maryland seems likely to add another safety transfer, potentially for the other starting spot. They tried to make a run at Tennessee transfer Christian Harrison, the son of former NFL star Rodney Harrison, but he landed at Cincinnati.

It seems less likely they'll take another corner, but if a good one is available, that could change.

Others to know: While they needed a lot of players to leave, the Terps did want to keep a few of their younger returning guys. The farthest along is probably La'khi Roland, who held his own in a handful of appearances as a true freshman, including a start against Oregon. Composite four-stars Kevyn Humes and Braydon Lee arrived with lofty expectations but struggled after being thrown into the fire as a true freshman. But there's still plenty of optimism about their futures.

Shamar McIntosh, Judah Jenkins, Lloyd Irvin and Alex Moore are the other young, unproven players who could factor in at safety and corner. Jenkins, the Good Counsel (Md.) product Maryland flipped from Indiana last year, played in all 12 games as a true freshman.

This is completely out of nowhere, but the Terps have landed a commitment from St. Frances Rivals100 WDE Zion Elee.

He put out a top five of Bama, Georgia, PSU, OSU and Oregon a little over a month ago.

Enormous pickup.

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Terps are a slight favorite (1, 1 1.5, or 2, depending on where you look).

Indiana fans are getting tired

Maryland Basketball Recruit Chris Jeffrey enjoying huge senior season, coming to Terps with major motivation​

New York basketball players have long had a reputation as tough, physical guards who play with an edge that mirrors their city. Think Stephon Marbury, Mark Jackson, Nate Archibald. Christian Jeffrey embodies that archetype.​

New York basketball players have long had a reputation as tough, physical guards who play with an edge that mirrors their city. Think Stephon Marbury, Mark Jackson, Nate Archibald.

Christian Jeffrey embodies that archetype. The Maryland basketball commit grew up on an outdoor court five minutes from his home in South Brooklyn, where he'd wake up at 7 a.m. and walk to the court to shoot around when nobody else was watching.

Jeffrey's made nearly every decision through the lens of basketball and loyalty. Basketball is why he left his roots to transfer to Mt. Zion Prep, a prep school in Lanham, Md. Loyalty is why he stayed at Mt. Zion Prep when Overtime Elite heavily recruited him. The game is the vessel for his ultimate dream.

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"I want to provide for my family. I'm the person they're depending on, so it's a lot of pressure," Jeffrey said. "I use that pressure as motivation to go way harder so that I make sure that everybody in my family doesn't have to go through what I'm going through."

Mt. Zion Prep coach Rodrick Harrison sees the same thing. His first impression of Jeffrey was that the guard was a "tough kid, a born leader". He and Jeffrey have worked tirelessly to shape his game; Jeffrey shoots more than 500 jumpers every morning and has reshaped his body to prepare for the collegiate level.

His stock has risen recently after he averaged 14 points, five rebounds and five assists during the EYBL circuit last summer. He also made a key decision this past AAU cycle. Maryland's sole recruit in the 2025 class, Jeffrey is the No. 96 player in the country, according to 247 Sports' 2025 recruiting rankings. He had offers from Michigan, Tennessee and Texas A&M. Scouting sites anointed him as a combo guard, but Jeffrey said that Maryland coach Kevin Willard wants him to play point guard.

"I definitely see him at the one, just because of leadership ability and his ability to just change the game, not only by scoring or passing the ball, but defensively, like he's one of those kids that you know possesses some things that you don't see," Harrison said. "He has now, what it takes some guards to get into when they're seniors in college.

Mount Zion Prep’s Christian Jeffrey will be inserted to the 2025 national rankings following Joson Sanon’s reclassification.

Jeffrey is a powerful, downhill guard coming off a big season in the prep ranks.

? @theCBGLive pic.twitter.com/iaFnG6Dvtr
— Adam Finkelstein (@AdamFinkelstein) March 20, 2024

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Overtime Elite, the professionalized basketball league based in Atlanta, for high school played heavily recruited Jeffrey. The guard even committed to them in May. But Jeffrey is good friends with current star Rutgers guard Dylan Harper, who also stressed the importance of allegiance.

Harper stayed at Don Bosco his entire career despite having offers from every high school and then pledged to Rutgers. Jeffrey also listened to his close friend and current Maryland freshman, Derik Queen, who stayed home to play for the Terps.

He ultimately revoked his commitment to OTE and stayed at Mt. Zion Prep.

"I realized all the nice players, they go to a spot where they were taught from. Coach Rod had taught me a lot of things, had got me schools to come see me, why leave a person who helped me on this journey," Jeffrey said.

Harrison and Jeffrey have focused this season on preparing him for College Park. His jump shot is a question mark, so Jeffrey has focused on off-the-dribble shooting. They've also worked on him becoming a more vocal leader, which will pay dividends at the college level.

And Jeffrey has gotten to see a former teammate, Malachi Palmer, thrive at Maryland. The two talk almost every day, and Palmer's given Jeffrey advice on what to expect. Queen told him that Willard just wants his players to be great.

That aligns with Jeffrey's goals perfectly. He loved that at his first practice at Mt. Zion Prep, he had to run 50 sprints. Jeffrey's competitive drive isn't just internal; it's immediately evident to scouts and coaches.

In the coming months, he'll have the chance to show it on a national level. And if everything goes according to plan, he'll finally be able to actualize his final goal.

Kevin Willard and Maryland have something to prove this week and Derik Queen "hungry for more​

"...He's been terrific for a freshman, and the amount of minutes he's playing, the amount of usage he's getting, he's top five in KenPom in the Big Ten, which is, for a freshman, is unheard of. He's doing everything we can really ask him to do, and he's hungry for more, which is great."​

The Maryland men's basketball team has won two consecutive home games to get back to .500 in Big Ten play.

The Terps (13-4, 3-3 Big Ten) will try to carry that success on the road against Northwestern (10-6, 1-4 Big Ten) on Thursday night. Maryland is still in search of its first road win of the season.

Maryland is 0-3 in road games thus far, all close calls. The Terps lost, 83-78, at then-No. 8 Purdue on Dec. 8 despite a masterful 26-point, 12-rebound performance from Derik Queen. Maryland led the Boilermakers by five with 8:25 remaining. Maryland then dropped two games in the Pacific Northwest to start the New Year, a 75-69 loss at Washington on Jan. 2 and an 83-79 loss to then-No. 9 Oregon on Jan. 5. The Terps were 5.5-point favorites over the Huskies, and they led Oregon by two with 4:53 remaining.

As of Wednesday morning, all three of Maryland's previous Quadrant One wins have fallen to Quadrant Two. They could fluctuate back into the first quadrant by Selection Sunday, but the Terps are definitely in need of a firm Quadrant One win to add to their resume, which they could get Thursday.

Head coach Kevin Willard joined "Vinny & Haynie" on 105.7 The Fan on Tuesday to discuss the latest with his team.

Willard spoke about what's been the "biggest challenge" with his team, something that's "unheard of" from Queen and much more.

SLIDE1of 10

ON HOW HE KNOWS AS A COACH THAT THE FOCUS ISN’T WHAT IT SHOULD BE DURING PREGAME​

"Yeah, I just think it's we have, I have a great group. This group plays really hard. They're unselfish. They're scoring the basketball at a really good rate. But I think it's also we have four guys that have never been through Big Ten play before and just getting them to understand what every night is going to be like has been probably my biggest challenge.
SLIDE2of 10

CONT.​

"And I think they're starting to get it through their minds where, we came off a really good win against UCLA coming off the West Coast, and then to bounce back two days later, you got to bring the same enthusiasm, the same concentration. And I thought we did a good job in the second half of picking that up."
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ON WHAT CHANGED FROM A DEFENSIVE INTENSITY PERSPECTIVE FOR THE TEAM AT HALFTIME​

"Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest thing is when we're able to score consecutively, it gives us a chance to kind of set our press up and kind of wear teams down. And we've kind of been, early in games – even when we're pressing at home – we've struggled early in games because teams are fresh and scoring us. I think we've done a really good job at home of wearing teams down.
SLIDE4of 10

CONT.​

"I think that was the biggest difference last night is Minnesota started missing some shots that they made some tough shots in the first half. And then I think our bench has come in and done a really good job of really turning up the defensive intensity. And I've been really pleased with the guys coming off the bench and just giving us a jump start overall and giving us a boost off the bench."
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ON DERIK QUEEN, KEEPING HIM FOCUSED ON THE TASK AT HAND​

"Yeah, I think that's the great thing about Derik is the more attention he gets, the better he plays, the more focused he gets. He's really, he is very driven to make it at the highest level. And every time he doesn't play well, it's remarkable for a freshman, he has an unbelievable bounce back. He doesn't stay down. He comes in the next day very focused. He's been terrific for a freshman, and the number of minutes he's playing, the amount of usage he's getting, he's top five in KenPom in the Big Ten, which is, for a freshman, is unheard of. He's doing everything we can really ask him to do, and he's hungry for more, which is great."
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ON PROVING THEY CAN WIN ON THE ROAD​

"Yeah, I mean that's the challenge we have moving forward. And I think, again, it's what I like about this group. I think they've kind of understood – we had a chance at Purdue. We got up five late in the second half and couldn't get a stop. Same thing at Oregon, we're up two with three minutes to go and couldn't get a stop.
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CONT.​

"And I think the biggest thing is these guys understand that really valuing offensive possessions on the road is so much different than at home. We play the fifth-quickest tempo in the country. I think on the road; we got to slow it down a little bit. We got to make teams work a little bit more on the road, and just kind of slow the game down a little bit. And I think these guys are starting to understand that."
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ON WHAT HE LEARNED ABOUT THE WEST COAST TRAVEL​

"Yeah, I mean, we played UCLA last year and went out two days earlier and played really well. We went out two days early this year to Washington. I think going to Washington, Oregon we'll go a day, just a normal day before. I think when we go to LA, I think we'll go three days before and enjoy some sunshine and get out there and enjoy LA a little bit more. It's really not that big of an issue. The biggest issue is you do have to travel from Oregon to Washington and then back, coming back is kind of where it hits you. But the travel is great. It's, I mean, to get to play Oregon, to get to play Washington, that we've never played before. I think it's a unique experience for the kids."
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ON PLAYING AT NORTHWESTERN THIS WEEK​

"I think the biggest thing for us, again, [Nick] Martinelli killed us last year in the two games we played him, he averaged almost 24 points a game against us. And they're playing [Brooks] Barnhizer a little bit more at the point guard, at 6-6 is a really, is an issue defensively. And again, I think for us going out there, we got to really focus on the defensive end and rebounding against a very good Northwestern team."

Maryland football's getting its first mixed signals from five-star commit Zion Elee​

The first twist in what could be a winding road to Signing Day for Maryland football's highest-rated commitment ever, Zion Elee.​

Five-star football recruiting was already a wild frontier. With the earth-shaking arrival of NIL and revenue-sharing, it's become near-anarchy. So hoping for the No. 2 player in the country to verbally commit and then go off the grid for a year until National Signing Day would be pointless.

For Maryland, that means a year of surviving and advancing each week while five-star commit Zion Elee does his thing in the national spotlight.

Elee committed to Maryland in early January, becoming the highest-rated recruit to ever commit to Maryland and is the nation's No. 1 edge and No. 2 player overall in 247Sports Class of 2026 recruit rankings. With him as the headliner, Maryland football's 2026 recruiting class is ranked No. 16 in 247Sports 2026 recruiting class rankings.
So, he has the sort of offer list you'd expect basically, everyone. After committing to the Terps in December, the 6-foot-3-and-a-half 220-pound junior at Baltimore recruit factor St. Frances Academy has been resolute about being committed and recruiting other top local players.

"I am definitely trying to communicate with Jireh [Edwards], Manny [Immanuel Iheanacho], Edward Baker," Elee said. "I am trying to get all these local guys to come on this project of hopping on board and trying to build Maryland up," he told 247Sports Brian Dohn a week ago.

Elee said he was locked in with Maryland and wouldn't be listening to other schools who've been calling. And there are lots.

"Everybody; Oregon, Penn State, Auburn," he told 247Sports' Brandon Huffman during check-in for the Polynesian Bowl. "There are a bunch of new schools trying to recruit me, too. I just don't respond to them. I haven't really responded to many of them."

He told Dohn, of Mike Locksley:

"He warned me about everybody and how they were going to start throwing things at me, and stuff like that," said Elee, who added it happened as a bunch of schools quickly reached out.
However, Elee showed no interest in other programs.
"My head is focused on where I am at," he said.

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But Elee is a big ticket-item in today's market and other schools will continue to throw big offers at him. Inevitably, the first of what could be plenty of twists arrived on Monday, when Elee revealed he plans to visit an SEC program with deep ties at St. Frances this month. Per Dohn:

"Visiting Auburn on the 25th," Elee said. "Me, Jireh Edwards and Wayne Henry."
Meanwhile, Edwards is the No. 3 safety and the class and spoke highly of Auburn in the past. He was slated to visit Oregon on Jan. 24 and Georgia on Feb. 1 but the trip to Auburn could mean he does not get to Oregon.
Safety Wayne Henry committed to Auburn in early August, but he is not the only St. Frances player high on the Tigers.
Cornerback Blake Woodby, linebacker Bryce Deas and defensive lineman Darrion Smith signed with Auburn in the 2025 class.

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So as expected this is one, you're going to have to wait out until next signing day.

Elee made Greg Biggins' All-Lobby Team last week at the Polynesian Bowl. He wrote:

"Zion Elee is the No. 2 player in the 2026 class and definitely looks the part of a freak when you see him up close. He has a long, twitchy 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame with a ton of length and just looks supercharged.

He put up some freakish testing numbers last offseason and is coming off a strong showing at the Under Armour All-America Game where he didn't look out of place at all despite playing against a strong group of 2025 offensive linemen.

Elee will be able to play in any college front as a 3-4 or 4-3 edge rusher and should be an instant-impact player at the college level."

Zion Elee's Scouting Report:

Via Hudson Standish: "One of the more complete edge prospects in recent memory at this stage of the evaluation process ahead of his junior season. It feels as if he was built in a lab to get after the quarterback, verified hovering around 6-foot-4, 220 pounds with elite length measurements and a combine testing profile that could be mistaken for a field-stretching X receiver. Verified athletic markers are good enough to compare favorably against Top247 caliber senior edge rushers from the past two recruiting cycles. Outside of the athletic traits, has a natural feel for the position that allowed him to rack up 13 sacks in only nine games, even though his bag of pass-rushing moves isn't deep at this stage of his development. Building blocks of his game are his lightning-quick first step, closing burst, and ideal reactionary athleticism. Laterally explosive and can quickly move gap-to-gap or chase down ball carriers from the weak side. Motor consistently runs hot, and there might not be a better edge rusher in the 2026 cycle at quickly redirecting to wrap up evasive quarterbacks. Currently works as more of a new-age speed rusher who can occasionally work speed to power but owns the frame to put on weight and develop into a complete product while retaining the tools that make him unique. Will face a step up in competition as a junior after transferring from MPSSAA 1A program Joppatowne to Baltimore prospect factory St. Frances Academy. Should be viewed as a potential instant impact 3-4 outside linebacker at the next level who could eventually put on a show at the NFL Combine."

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COLLEGE PARK, MD. -- Maryland head football coach Michael Locksley announced the addition of offensive lineman Rahtrel Perry to the Maryland football program on Tuesday.
Perry, who joins the Terrapins after playing two seasons at Central Connecticut State, was ranked as a Top 10 offensive tackle in the transfer portal per 247Sports. Before choosing Maryland, Perry visited Ohio State, Syracuse, Florida State and Pittsburgh.
The Terps have now added 10 student-athletes via the transfer portal since December, including two offensive linemen.
More info on Perry is listed below.

Rahtrel Perry
Offensive Lineman
Redshirt Junior
6-5, 305
New London, CT / Central Connecticut State

• Played in 26 career games across three seasons at Central Connecticut State
• 2024 All-NEC First Team selection
• Started all 13 games in 2024 for a Central Connecticut State that won the NEC and earned a berth in the FCS playoff
• Key part of a Blue Devil offensive line in 2024 that allowed just seven sacks in the regular season and was second in the nation allowing 0.58 sacks per game
• Helped the Blue Devils to the third-best rushing offense in the NEC, averaging 143.3 yards on the ground
• Didn't allow a sack in two games against FBS competition in 2024
• Ranked as a Top-10 offensive tackle in the portal per 247Sports
• All-ECC First Team offense in high school
• Has two years of eligibility remaining

Cam Edge already announce. Here is a 2nd one
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