Maryland Basketball Scoop: DeShawn Harris-Smith's future, the big change and a guard recruit
What to make of that? What's the deal with the DeShawn Harris-Smith transfer rumors? What's a hidden key to their emergence? That and more here.
Kevin Willard's team is hitting its stride. After curb-stomping Syracuse in a 27-point win that wasn't that close, one warmup remains on Maryland basketball's schedule, this Saturday against Maryland-Eastern Shore. Then comes a stretch of games the Terps can use as a springboard, road trips to Washington and Oregon before a home game against UCLA ($20 off Maryland basketball tickets with code "IMS").
Maryland's been elite lately on both ends of the court, catapulting the Terps toward the top 10 of the major analytics rankings. Now they'll need to prove they can show it with the competition about to become far tougher after a non-conference schedule that ranks 360th of 364 teams nationally per KenPom. What to make of that? What's the deal with the DeShawn Harris-Smith transfer rumors? What's a hidden key to their emergence?
Answers to those questions, an update on one of Kevin Willard's favorite recruits and more below.
This team is killing the look test lately, lighting up the scoreboard on offense and shutting down opponents on defense.
Selton Miguel has abruptly ended a quiet first month of the season. In the past six games, he's averaging 16 points and shooting 21 for 36 from three (58.3 percent). Willard already had two guys playing at an all-conference level in Derik Queen and Ja'Kobi Gillespie along with high-level play from the other two starters -- Julian Reese and Rodney Rice -- and a bench far better than last year's. Miguel playing like consistently could make this team a Big Ten contender.
My only reservation about deeming this an elite team is the level of competition so far. They had two bites at the apple against marquee teams and fell just short in both. That doesn't mean they won't beat a bunch of ranked teams, but even while the analytics rankings take strength of schedule into account, they still haven't guaranteed they're as good as they look. (They look like Maryland's best team since the 2019-2020 squad that didn't get to play in the NCAA Tournament because of Covid, maybe better.)
The most noticeable improvement has been from the 3-point arc, where they've shot 56 of 127 (44.1 percent) during the past five games. But the improved offensive fluidity has been nearly as important. Early this season, their chemistry didn't look great, resulting in clunky possessions. Credit Willard and his staff for using that soft early schedule to streamline the offense. Against Syracuse, the highlight was Ja'Kobi Gillespie's drive and behind-the-back pass to Miguel for a three. Miguel, despite his red-hot shooting, passed on a couple of shots, something he probably wouldn't have done early this season.
Gillespie finished with 11 assists and zero turnovers. Maryland recorded 26 assists on 35 baskets. In the past three games, they rank sixth nationally in assists per possession. Small sample size against lesser competition, but a notable improvement.
For a guy who doesn't play a major role, DeShawn Harris-Smith has been a frequent conversation topic. After the former top-25 recruit struggled as a freshman, there was hope he'd take the proverbial sophomore jump. But he looked like the same guy over the summer and has struggled again this season, prompting Willard to send him to the bench in November in favor of Rodney Rice.
His role is diminishing and he's shooting 14.3 percent from three and 36.4 percent overall and in the past four games, he's totaled four points. It hasn't helped him that a few bench guys have been better than expected and the Queen-Reese combo inside calls for shooters outside.
Rumors have spread about him transferring as soon as midseason, also known as now. I asked a source close to Harris-Smith how much of a chance there is of that.
"None," he said.
Still, some close to Harris-Smith felt he should transfer last offseason, as you might recall from our coverage. It seemed close to happening, but to his credit? he decided he wanted to stick it out.
But it sounds unlikely Harris-Smith will stick around next year. It's not his fault those lofty rankings were stamped on him, but they've increased the criticism he's taken during his struggles, and the pressure clearly has affected him. His confidence doesn't appear high, and his body language has been awful at times.
Willard didn't like the look he got as Harris-Smith went to the bench during the St. Francis game and never called for him again. He logged a career-low four minutes.
Malachi Palmer, a freshman who was rated several tiers lower than him as a prospect, has been making a bigger impact, eating into his minutes while looking like. A valuable future piece.
But you never know. Harris-Smith could see the light turn on this season.
On the recruiting trail, Chance Mallory is coming off a visit to Tennessee. The Volunteers are a threat, of course, but he'll visit Maryland in January. Another guard Willard likes is former Good Counsel standout Parker Robinson. He's having a good season, averaging 13.2 points for Overtime Elite. Tennessee and Michigan are sniffing around, he told Sam Jane, but Willard's telling him he can make an early impact. More soon on him and Mallory.
