COLLEGE PARK, Md. (April 15, 2020) - University of Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon has announced the official signing of transfer Jairus Hamilton (Boston College) and incoming freshman Aquan Smart to the men’s basketball program. Hamilton and Smart join incoming freshman, Marcus Dockery, who officially signed on Oct. 13, 2019.
Hamilton has two years of eligibility after competing for two seasons in the ACC at Boston College. Hamilton averaged 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 25.8 minutes of action as a sophomore in 2019-20.
Hamilton: “I’m very excited to be coming to College Park this fall. It felt right committing here because of the tradition of winning and the great family bond the community upholds. It’s also a great institution to advance academically. I look forward to playing with a great group of guys and learning from Coach Turgeon and his staff.”
Turgeon on Hamilton: “Jairus is a very skilled and versatile wing/stretch-4 who will fit right into the culture of our program. We recruited him out of high school so we had a previous relationship and knew the kind of person he is. His skillset fits into our system really well which will help develop his game. He’s a great kid who loves basketball and has a strong work ethic that fits our culture.”
Smart: “I’ve never been more excited for anything than I am to join the Maryland basketball program. Maryland was the right fit for me because of the point guard success they have had and the coaches trusting them so much. Maryland fans can expect a hard working player that is going to do anything for the program to hang banners in the rafters.”
Turgeon on Smart: “Aquan really came into his own over the last season and had a terrific senior year. He’s a scoring point guard who can also really pass the ball. He has great size and length at 6-3. He can be a great defender for us and can also really shoot the ball well. We feel like we are getting a great player and a great kid from an excellent family. He will fit in well with our team’s culture and personality.”
Jairus Hamilton
Forward
6-8, 234
Charlotte, N.C.
Cannon School / Boston College
As a Sophomore at Boston College (2019-20): Appeared in 24 games, making 20 starts … averaged 9.3 points on 43-percent shooting and 4.3 rebounds in 25.8 minutes/g … shot 78-percent from the free throw line … scored 12 points vs. Notre Dame (3/11) …had 11 points in back-to-back games against Virginia (2/19) and NC State (2/16) ... scored career-high 23 points and matched season-high with eight rebounds and three assists vs. Virginia Tech (1/25) … scored 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting at Pitt (1/22) … posted career-high three steals at Duke (12/31) … had 18 points and eight rebounds vs. Cal (12/21) … scored 16 points vs. Albany (12/10).
As a Freshman at Boston College (2018-19): Appeared in 30 games, making eight starts as a freshman ...made collegiate debut against Milwaukee, scoring eight points and grabbing seven rebounds … scored 11 points to go with three assists vs. Loyola Chicago in the title game of the Fort Myers Tipoff … narrowly missed a double-double, with 10 points and nine boards against Sacred Heart … added 13 points and six rebounds in an overtime home loss to Providence … earned his first collegiate start vs. Columbia, contributing eight points and four boards … grabbed a season-best 10 rebounds against Hartford ... knocked down 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, en route to scoring 13 points at Virginia Tech … made 4-of-5 shots from the floor - including 3-of-3 from the perimeter - scoring 11 points in a win over Pittsburgh … tallied 11 points - including a go-ahead basket with under a minute to play - at N.C. State … poured in a season-high 17 points at Clemson to go with six boards, two assists, and two steals
Before Maryland: Finished prep career as the No. 2 scorer in Cannon School history, with 2,574 points in three varsity seasons … two-time Associated Press All-State boys basketball selection - considered the most highly regarded honor in North Carolina … a McDonald’s All-American nominee … three-time N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association All-State selection … two-time Charlotte Observer All-Region Player of the Year … as a senior, averaged 28.3 points, 13.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, finishing as one of the top scorers and rebounders in the state of North Carolina … helped lead Cannon and head coach Che Roth to the quarterfinals of the NCISAA 3A state championship as a senior … as a junior, Hamilton registered averages of 24.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game … played his AAU basketball with Team Loaded Virginia … was a consensus top 100 rated recruit by all the major college basketball recruiting services: Future150 - 53; ESPN100 - 56 (15 - positionally); 247Sports - 63 (14 - positionally); Rivals150 - 80 (18 - positionally)
Che Roth, Cannon School Head Coach
“Maryland is getting a big time person and a big time player. I’ve known Jairus for about eight years now and he is an awesome human being. He lights up the room with his personality. He’s a high level competitor. He will add to the championship culture Coach Turgeon has established at Maryland. He will mesh well with his teammates and is excited to hopefully play late into the season. Jairus has the ability to play multiple positions. He can do it all on both ends of the court - he can defend big guards and play above the rim. He’s a hard-nosed kid who will fit into Coach Turgeon’s style really well. I couldn’t be happier for Jairus.”
Aquan Smart
Guard
6-3, 200
Evanston, Ill.
Niles North HS
BEFORE MARYLAND: A 3-star recruit and the 8th-ranked player out of the state of Illinois … unanimous Illinois Basketball Coaches Association First Team 4A All-State selection … named Illinois AP Second Team All-State … as a senior, led Niles North to a 27-6 record, in addition to regional and conference championships … averaged more than 20 points as a senior … averaged 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.3 steals as a junior … helped lead Niles North to 20-win seasons in each of his varsity seasons.
Camille Calhoun, Mother
“I’m so excited for Aquan to sign with Maryland. I thought Maryland was a great fit after meeting the coaches and experiencing a game. Aquan knew it was right for him and so did his father. The coaching staff is phenomenal. They made it feel like a home away from home and with Aquan being my only son, that was important. Maryland is getting somebody who is a delight to be around. He will make you smile and lights up the room.”
Michael Smart, Father
“The Maryland coaching staff made us feel really secure and were sincere about everything they said. Coach Turgeon was is really humble and cares about the kids and their well-beings while they are in school and in life after college. That was really important for us. It just felt like the right place. The academics at Maryland are really strong. It’s the right place for Aquan to become a great person in life. Maryland fans can expect a really poised player who is passionate about the game. He loves his teammates and loves getting them involved.”
Glenn Olson, Niles North HS Head Coach
“Maryland is getting an exciting player. Aquan is a guy who can change the game from both ends of the floor. If you look at all of his accolades, he’s a kid who is a competitor and a winner. He was a unanimous all-state selection by Illinois coaches in 4A - the largest classification in the state. Overall, he takes the most pride in being the school’s all-time winningest player. He has won more games here at Niles North than anyone. You’re getting a competitor and a winner who plays an exciting game of basketball and is extremely unselfish.”
Hamilton has two years of eligibility after competing for two seasons in the ACC at Boston College. Hamilton averaged 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 25.8 minutes of action as a sophomore in 2019-20.
Hamilton: “I’m very excited to be coming to College Park this fall. It felt right committing here because of the tradition of winning and the great family bond the community upholds. It’s also a great institution to advance academically. I look forward to playing with a great group of guys and learning from Coach Turgeon and his staff.”
Turgeon on Hamilton: “Jairus is a very skilled and versatile wing/stretch-4 who will fit right into the culture of our program. We recruited him out of high school so we had a previous relationship and knew the kind of person he is. His skillset fits into our system really well which will help develop his game. He’s a great kid who loves basketball and has a strong work ethic that fits our culture.”
Smart: “I’ve never been more excited for anything than I am to join the Maryland basketball program. Maryland was the right fit for me because of the point guard success they have had and the coaches trusting them so much. Maryland fans can expect a hard working player that is going to do anything for the program to hang banners in the rafters.”
Turgeon on Smart: “Aquan really came into his own over the last season and had a terrific senior year. He’s a scoring point guard who can also really pass the ball. He has great size and length at 6-3. He can be a great defender for us and can also really shoot the ball well. We feel like we are getting a great player and a great kid from an excellent family. He will fit in well with our team’s culture and personality.”
Jairus Hamilton
Forward
6-8, 234
Charlotte, N.C.
Cannon School / Boston College
As a Sophomore at Boston College (2019-20): Appeared in 24 games, making 20 starts … averaged 9.3 points on 43-percent shooting and 4.3 rebounds in 25.8 minutes/g … shot 78-percent from the free throw line … scored 12 points vs. Notre Dame (3/11) …had 11 points in back-to-back games against Virginia (2/19) and NC State (2/16) ... scored career-high 23 points and matched season-high with eight rebounds and three assists vs. Virginia Tech (1/25) … scored 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting at Pitt (1/22) … posted career-high three steals at Duke (12/31) … had 18 points and eight rebounds vs. Cal (12/21) … scored 16 points vs. Albany (12/10).
As a Freshman at Boston College (2018-19): Appeared in 30 games, making eight starts as a freshman ...made collegiate debut against Milwaukee, scoring eight points and grabbing seven rebounds … scored 11 points to go with three assists vs. Loyola Chicago in the title game of the Fort Myers Tipoff … narrowly missed a double-double, with 10 points and nine boards against Sacred Heart … added 13 points and six rebounds in an overtime home loss to Providence … earned his first collegiate start vs. Columbia, contributing eight points and four boards … grabbed a season-best 10 rebounds against Hartford ... knocked down 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, en route to scoring 13 points at Virginia Tech … made 4-of-5 shots from the floor - including 3-of-3 from the perimeter - scoring 11 points in a win over Pittsburgh … tallied 11 points - including a go-ahead basket with under a minute to play - at N.C. State … poured in a season-high 17 points at Clemson to go with six boards, two assists, and two steals
Before Maryland: Finished prep career as the No. 2 scorer in Cannon School history, with 2,574 points in three varsity seasons … two-time Associated Press All-State boys basketball selection - considered the most highly regarded honor in North Carolina … a McDonald’s All-American nominee … three-time N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association All-State selection … two-time Charlotte Observer All-Region Player of the Year … as a senior, averaged 28.3 points, 13.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, finishing as one of the top scorers and rebounders in the state of North Carolina … helped lead Cannon and head coach Che Roth to the quarterfinals of the NCISAA 3A state championship as a senior … as a junior, Hamilton registered averages of 24.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game … played his AAU basketball with Team Loaded Virginia … was a consensus top 100 rated recruit by all the major college basketball recruiting services: Future150 - 53; ESPN100 - 56 (15 - positionally); 247Sports - 63 (14 - positionally); Rivals150 - 80 (18 - positionally)
Che Roth, Cannon School Head Coach
“Maryland is getting a big time person and a big time player. I’ve known Jairus for about eight years now and he is an awesome human being. He lights up the room with his personality. He’s a high level competitor. He will add to the championship culture Coach Turgeon has established at Maryland. He will mesh well with his teammates and is excited to hopefully play late into the season. Jairus has the ability to play multiple positions. He can do it all on both ends of the court - he can defend big guards and play above the rim. He’s a hard-nosed kid who will fit into Coach Turgeon’s style really well. I couldn’t be happier for Jairus.”
Aquan Smart
Guard
6-3, 200
Evanston, Ill.
Niles North HS
BEFORE MARYLAND: A 3-star recruit and the 8th-ranked player out of the state of Illinois … unanimous Illinois Basketball Coaches Association First Team 4A All-State selection … named Illinois AP Second Team All-State … as a senior, led Niles North to a 27-6 record, in addition to regional and conference championships … averaged more than 20 points as a senior … averaged 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.3 steals as a junior … helped lead Niles North to 20-win seasons in each of his varsity seasons.
Camille Calhoun, Mother
“I’m so excited for Aquan to sign with Maryland. I thought Maryland was a great fit after meeting the coaches and experiencing a game. Aquan knew it was right for him and so did his father. The coaching staff is phenomenal. They made it feel like a home away from home and with Aquan being my only son, that was important. Maryland is getting somebody who is a delight to be around. He will make you smile and lights up the room.”
Michael Smart, Father
“The Maryland coaching staff made us feel really secure and were sincere about everything they said. Coach Turgeon was is really humble and cares about the kids and their well-beings while they are in school and in life after college. That was really important for us. It just felt like the right place. The academics at Maryland are really strong. It’s the right place for Aquan to become a great person in life. Maryland fans can expect a really poised player who is passionate about the game. He loves his teammates and loves getting them involved.”
Glenn Olson, Niles North HS Head Coach
“Maryland is getting an exciting player. Aquan is a guy who can change the game from both ends of the floor. If you look at all of his accolades, he’s a kid who is a competitor and a winner. He was a unanimous all-state selection by Illinois coaches in 4A - the largest classification in the state. Overall, he takes the most pride in being the school’s all-time winningest player. He has won more games here at Niles North than anyone. You’re getting a competitor and a winner who plays an exciting game of basketball and is extremely unselfish.”
