I know, I know, the season isn't even over yet, BUT the portal is open for business and Maryland is going to need to add a bunch of guys this offseason. So I'm going to start a thread, some names will already officially be in, some won't. Some I have heard speculation on and some I'm making educated guesses as possibilities based on things I know. So lets get started.
- Sticking with this as the top name to know until I hear otherwise: Tyrell Ward. Left the LSU program just before the start of the season due to 'mental health' reasons. FWIW, I was told by folks close to him a year ago he was not happy in Baton Rouge and really wanted out then but money is pretty much what kept him there. He's been pulled in a lot of different directions since high school and I think it all just started to wear him down mentally. As for fit, he'd basically be plug and play for Selton Miguel. He made 52 threes at LSU as a sophomore, hitting at a 41.3% clip. In league play, his % got even better, going 33-72 (46%) which was 6th best in the SEC. He scored in double figures 10 times in league play and 14 times overall. He's got ideal size for the 3 at 6-foot-6, he's long and a plus athlete. But his story is very similar to Rodney Rice's and lets not forget, those two were teammates at DeMatha and won a WCAC title together. To be clear, I have not been directly told that there is interest either way heading into this offseason, but he absolutely had interest in coming home last year and there has also been some G'town chatter (but it is worth mentioning that the reason he was possibly going to G'town out of high school isn't there, so they don't necessarily have any sort of 'in.')
- I can confirm there is interest with Drexel wing Kobe MaGee out of Allentown, Pa., who has announced he will enter the portal. He is very similar to Ward and again, would be someone to replace Miguel. He also stands at 6-foot-6 and like Ward is a sniper from beyond the arc. He made 82 triples this season at a 44% clip, good for 42nd nationally. In conference play, he was 38-88 (43%), good for 4th in the CAA. As for why I prefer Ward, I think the answer is pretty obvious, he's already proven he can do it at the highest level in the SEC, while the CAA is a good few notches down from the B1G. I also think the fact that Ward has a winning history with Rice is a major plus for him, as well. Finally, MaGee averaged nearly 34 minutes per game to get those numbers, while Ward averaged just 22 minutes per game as a sophomore. Ward could see his numbers explode with similar minutes.
- I know there will be a lot of talk about Iowa transfer Owen Freeman, the 6-foot-10 center who led the Hawkeyes in scoring and rebounds before being injured and missing the final half of league play. He's already got several blue bloods throwing millions at him and I've been told one B1G school is already in talks with him, as well. Throw on top the fact that he has a 'do not contact' status in the portal and I don't see the Terps having a shot here despite a big man being their biggest need.
- I would keep an eye on Utah 6-foot-10 sophomore forward Jake Whalin, who is in the portal. He averaged just 6.2 points and 5 boards per game, but scored in double figures five times, including versus BYU, Kansas and Texas Tech. He started 22 of 32 games, shot 58% from the field and had 21 blocks. He would be a solid replacement in the front court with multiple years of eligibility remaining.
- Just throwing out a name here, with Ryan Odom almost certainly on the way out at VCU, one name to possibly keep an eye on is Luke Bamgboye, who spent some time in Baltimore before transferring to a prep school out in Ariz. last year. As a true frosh, he was 2nd nationally in block percentage, averaging 2.1 blocks per game. While he only averaged 3.7 points and 3.2 boards, he has made major strides as the season has progressed. Even if he isn't much of a scorer, he has the potential to be an elite rim protector at the highest level. With all of that said, I could easily see him following Odom to UVA or Villanova and who knows, maybe he's happy at VCU, but my guess is he's in the portal at some point this offseason and he's an elite rim protector who lived in Maryland and played for the same Team Thrill AAU program as Queen.
The Terps are going to lose Queen, Reese, Miguel, Geronimo and Young for certain. I'll be shocked if either DHS or Chance Stephens are back. I also think with Christian Jeffrey coming in that Long will leave, as well. So that means Maryland has potentially 7 scholarships to fill at the moment. Highest priorities being an elite big, a starting 4 and a starting sniper at the 3.
Ok, that's a start. Will add to this as guys enter the portal and as I hear more.
- Sticking with this as the top name to know until I hear otherwise: Tyrell Ward. Left the LSU program just before the start of the season due to 'mental health' reasons. FWIW, I was told by folks close to him a year ago he was not happy in Baton Rouge and really wanted out then but money is pretty much what kept him there. He's been pulled in a lot of different directions since high school and I think it all just started to wear him down mentally. As for fit, he'd basically be plug and play for Selton Miguel. He made 52 threes at LSU as a sophomore, hitting at a 41.3% clip. In league play, his % got even better, going 33-72 (46%) which was 6th best in the SEC. He scored in double figures 10 times in league play and 14 times overall. He's got ideal size for the 3 at 6-foot-6, he's long and a plus athlete. But his story is very similar to Rodney Rice's and lets not forget, those two were teammates at DeMatha and won a WCAC title together. To be clear, I have not been directly told that there is interest either way heading into this offseason, but he absolutely had interest in coming home last year and there has also been some G'town chatter (but it is worth mentioning that the reason he was possibly going to G'town out of high school isn't there, so they don't necessarily have any sort of 'in.')
- I can confirm there is interest with Drexel wing Kobe MaGee out of Allentown, Pa., who has announced he will enter the portal. He is very similar to Ward and again, would be someone to replace Miguel. He also stands at 6-foot-6 and like Ward is a sniper from beyond the arc. He made 82 triples this season at a 44% clip, good for 42nd nationally. In conference play, he was 38-88 (43%), good for 4th in the CAA. As for why I prefer Ward, I think the answer is pretty obvious, he's already proven he can do it at the highest level in the SEC, while the CAA is a good few notches down from the B1G. I also think the fact that Ward has a winning history with Rice is a major plus for him, as well. Finally, MaGee averaged nearly 34 minutes per game to get those numbers, while Ward averaged just 22 minutes per game as a sophomore. Ward could see his numbers explode with similar minutes.
- I know there will be a lot of talk about Iowa transfer Owen Freeman, the 6-foot-10 center who led the Hawkeyes in scoring and rebounds before being injured and missing the final half of league play. He's already got several blue bloods throwing millions at him and I've been told one B1G school is already in talks with him, as well. Throw on top the fact that he has a 'do not contact' status in the portal and I don't see the Terps having a shot here despite a big man being their biggest need.
- I would keep an eye on Utah 6-foot-10 sophomore forward Jake Whalin, who is in the portal. He averaged just 6.2 points and 5 boards per game, but scored in double figures five times, including versus BYU, Kansas and Texas Tech. He started 22 of 32 games, shot 58% from the field and had 21 blocks. He would be a solid replacement in the front court with multiple years of eligibility remaining.
- Just throwing out a name here, with Ryan Odom almost certainly on the way out at VCU, one name to possibly keep an eye on is Luke Bamgboye, who spent some time in Baltimore before transferring to a prep school out in Ariz. last year. As a true frosh, he was 2nd nationally in block percentage, averaging 2.1 blocks per game. While he only averaged 3.7 points and 3.2 boards, he has made major strides as the season has progressed. Even if he isn't much of a scorer, he has the potential to be an elite rim protector at the highest level. With all of that said, I could easily see him following Odom to UVA or Villanova and who knows, maybe he's happy at VCU, but my guess is he's in the portal at some point this offseason and he's an elite rim protector who lived in Maryland and played for the same Team Thrill AAU program as Queen.
The Terps are going to lose Queen, Reese, Miguel, Geronimo and Young for certain. I'll be shocked if either DHS or Chance Stephens are back. I also think with Christian Jeffrey coming in that Long will leave, as well. So that means Maryland has potentially 7 scholarships to fill at the moment. Highest priorities being an elite big, a starting 4 and a starting sniper at the 3.
Ok, that's a start. Will add to this as guys enter the portal and as I hear more.
