Maryland Basketball Recruiting Scoop: A chance to impress an elite recruit, a top target and the next guard
Maryland basketball's primary focus for its regular-season finale tomorrow against Northwestern, of course, is winning and securing a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament. But the Terps also have some big-time recruits in the stands to impress.
Maryland basketball's primary focus for its regular-season finale against Northwestern, of course, is winning and securing a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament. But the Terps also have some big-time recruits in the stands to impress.
The big fish is Baba Oladotun, the Blake High School (Md.) phenom ranked the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2027. Maryland is going all-in on its recruitment of the 6-9, 180-pound forward with offers from most of the country's top programs.
Normally, I'd view any such prospect as a longshot for Maryland because of the history of five-stars leaving town, and because he plays for a major Nike program, Team Durant. But I continue to hear he and his family like Maryland and the idea of staying home. It's early and they'll still have to win a full-scale national recruiting battle, but they're definitely in the chase. It doesn't hurt that his father is a successful businessman in College Park. Building a relationship early with the whole family is a good start.
A refresher from my reporting on Oladotun a month ago:
One of Maryland's top center targets in the 2026 class, Favour Ibe, will also attend the game. The 7-1, 235-pound center has risen on Maryland's list after the staff spent so much time at his school, Mt. Zion Prep (Md.), earning commitments from teammates Malachi Palmer and Chris Jeffrey. Aire, the No. 12 center and No. 106 player in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, seems high on Maryland, which is no surprise given Jeffrey is his teammate.
"I talk to Favour all the time about it," Jeffrey told Inside Maryland Sports in February. " Think we are in a good spot."
Jeffrey will also be at the game. Maryland's lone 2025 commit, the Brooklyn native is coming off a starring performance in the Elite Prep League playoffs, where he led Mt. Zion to the championship while following up his regular-season league most outstanding player honors with the tournament MVP. Jeffrey has the feel of that sort of gritty but underrated recruit Gary Williams used to bring in. He'll be our guest on IMS Radio soon.
