Maryland Basketball Scoop: Interesting situation developing at one spot
There was some new movement this week at Xfinity Center, pointing toward an intriguing offseason in a key area for the Terps with a potential major addition, questions about returning stars and some uncertainty. Here's the latest exclusive IMS scoop.
There was some new movement this week at Xfinity Center, pointing toward an intriguing offseason in a key area for the Terps with a potential major addition, questions about returning stars and some uncertainty. Here's the latest exclusive IMS scoop. (Not a VIP? New subscribers, get your first month for $1 or 30% off your first year HERE).
I'm hearing veteran reserve guards Jahari Long and Chance Stephens returned to the court this week, adding to Maryland's guard depth in practice and taking the next step in restarting the reserve guards' careers.
Long has been out all year recovering from that serious knee injury he suffered nearly a year ago, late in that season-ending blowout loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament. The 6-5 Houston native, who averaged 4.7 points, 1.4 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game last season, is a fifth-year senior, but hasn't played all season and isn't likely to play. The question about Long who's a fifth-year senior but has a year of eligibility remaining, is whether he'll be playing for Maryland next year.
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It sounds like no decision has been made yet. Long has a more size and physical presence is more of a distributor than the player currently in his old role, Jay Young.
Young is more athletic and is having a career year from three, shooting 40%, albeit on a relatively small sample size (30 attempts) and has given Maryland needed energy on a number of occasions, but his production and playing time have waned as Big Ten play has reached the home stretch (48 miutes, two total points in the past seven games). He also appears to have a year of eligibility left, but it's hard to see Willard keeping both on the roster. Then again, with rosters likely moving to 15, it's possible.
Long might want to transfer somewhere he can play heavy minutes, though he's close with Willard, having played for him at Seton Hall and followed him to College Park. Next year's backcourt could get crowded assuming Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Rodney Rice return. They should be back, though other schools are already trying to poach both of them with big money offers.
Assuming Rice and Gillespie return, that's your starting backcourt. From there, though, it gets questionable. DeShawn Harris-Smith could consider transferring somewhere where he can make a bigger impact. Long and Young's futures are unknown. Freshman Chris Jeffrey will join his former teammate, Malachi Palmer, who's expected to stay and in whom Willard sees a lot of potential. Then there's Chance Mallory, the No. 1 available point guard. Sources have maintained he's seriously considering Maryland after watching his friend and former AAU teammate, Derik Queen, thrive as a freshman. And with Selton Miguel out of eligibility, they'll likely need a 3-point shooter from the portal.
Stephens didn't play at all last season after transferring from Loyola Marymount after suffering a major knee injury in the offseason. Already smallish defensively for the Big Ten, the injury appeared to sap some of his quickness. He's an elite shooter when unguarded but hasn't had a chance to provide he can hit shots or defend at this level. There's no word yet on his plans either.
But with the Terps surging and beginning to be mentioned as a potential Final Four contender, all of that can future planning wait a month or so.
