Maryland basketball's lone 2025 recruit, Chris Jeffrey, on Kevin Willard's situation and what he'll do
What will Maryland basketball's lone commit, Chris Jeffrey, do next with Kevin Willard's situation in question?
Have you been looking for any sort of silver lining in the Maryland basketball at least Maryland chaos? Well ... you don't have to worry about losing a lot of recruits because of the Kevin Willard situation?
There's one commitment in Maryland basketball's 2025 recruiting class because Willard's been increasingly focused on the transfer portal instead. But he's a good one. Mt. Zion Prep (Md.) point guard Chris Jeffrey is coming off a dominant season during which he averaged more than 24 points per game and won every MVP award available. Jeffrey, of course, has been following along, waiting for final news on Kevin Willard's expected move to Villanova.
"I was surprised it started like that, right when they were going to the Sweet 16. But I still feel like he could come back," said Jeffrey, the N0. 13-point guard in the 2025 class.
Has Willard reached out to the 6-2 Brooklyn native and former teammate of freshman Malachi Palmer?
"Not yet," he said.
"Personally, me, I do want to play at Maryland. That's what I've always wanted to do, and playing with Malachi," he said.
But if it's not Willard there?
"I would have to know, like, who the coach would be if he was to leave," he said.
He also didn't rule out considering Villanova if Willard goes there and recruits him.
"I could still play for coach Willard if he stays, or if he goes to Villanova," he said
Chris Jeffrey's 247Sports scouting report, via Adam Finkelstein:
Jeffrey is an ultra-competitive and consistently productive power guard. He stuffs a stat sheet like few other guards in the country and averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and almost 2 steals per game during the EYBL season. He has good backcourt size at 6-foot-3, a very strong build, and plays with both a high-motor and extreme physicality. His intangibles and leadership skills are off the charts as he sets the tone on both ends of the floor.
While he's not a conventional point guard, he's often played with the ball in his hands. He's capable of initiating offense but can be turnover prone when asked to be the primary handler. He excels at getting downhill, playing through contact to get paint touches, and snapping kick-out passes once he collapses the lane. He's also comfortable stopping for mid-range pull-ups, but an inconsistent three-point shooter with questionable, set-shot type, mechanics (30% 3pt in EYBL while averaging just one made three every two games).
Jeffrey is a very aggressive defender who gets after people on that end of the floor and is capable of forcing turnovers. His physical strength also gives him the versatility to switch onto bigger players, while he is also an excellent rebounding guard.
Overall, he may not have the most polished skill set or a ton of wiggle, but he's the type of player who raises the level of everyone around him and is consistently productive because of his physicality, toughness, motor, and aggressive two-way floor game."
