Walker is a four star guy from a great high school program, but he probably needs to drop down a couple notches to learn the game.

He had a fine year as a high school junior at Bishop Ireton, a very good local program, but was not able to contribute much to the offense as a senior at a great program, Montrose Christian. So he probably can contribute more in a mid-major program, judging by this track record. But I don't like to lose any of the Terps, including Shane Walker.

So this move is probably the best for him, and for the Terps, who can fill the slot with someone who can contribute more, at least in the next year or two.

Wonder who that will be? Maze after he qualifies? A juco big man? Kim starting in 2008? Or maybe an extra big-time signing for 2009? Any guesses?

Well, presumably, there's the extra scholarship over which everyone was clamoring. Absent any other transfers and/or unless there's a remaining unsigned "can't miss" "big" left in the '08 class, I believe Maryland will be better served to reserve that scholarship for the '09 class and Dante Taylor. By all reports, this kid is the Terps' top taget, is steadily improving and will be monster when he graduates from HS.

So, the additions will be transfers Tyree Evans and Gus Gilcrest (second semester) along with freshman Sean Mosley. With Walker opening up a scholarship, will Bobby Maze be coming?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I now see two guys over 6 foot 7 on next year's squad (Burney, Dupree) and both of them so far have sucked. . .is that gunna cut it in the ACC? I hope Gary knows something I don't. Yes, Gilcrest will be nice when he's eligible in Jan 2009, but we'll only have 2 big bodies until then, and what happens when they get in foul trouble? Is Ken Bowman still availible? . .I hope next year isn't painful :-(

--Highrock

I had heard during the ACC tournament that Walker wasn't long for College Park. Nice kid, but his lack of basketball IQ and any kind of physicality showed. It showed how far in the doghouse Dupree was when Walker was getting more minutes during a large chunk of the ACC season. As for next year, Burney is the only big guy who wants to bang inside. From what I've heard recently, Gilchrist is starting to pattern his game after Gist -- too many threes, not enough dunks. I doubt Bobby Maze is going to come, even if he qualifies, with Vasquez coming back. Bowman was also considered too much of an academic risk. Maryland fans had better hope that Dupree turns over Lonny Baxter over the summer.

Hey who ever said Burney and Dupree sucked knows crap about basketball. If you look at both of them they had flashes of good college ball players but one was totally out of shape and one barley got used. When Dupree is in shape he is hard to stop and it was a good thing that he had someone in his position that could score and play defense like Boom and Gist because he now knows how to play bigger than his size on paper. Burney came on late in the year and if it wasn't for the fact that Boom got sick he might have never got the chance. Because of the fact that Gilchrist can't play until December will help Burney develope confidence so when Gus does come back they should be a more well rounded team with options. What MD lacked last year was backcourt defense. The only ones that I saw playing defense as far as the guards were Bowie, and Milbourne, Vesquez and Hayes constantly got beat by smaller guards and could not contain not one guard in the ACC. Vesquez can score and get you a couple of rebounds a game but I have seen him get mad on the court for his team mates missing defensive assignments but a lot of those missed assignments were from his man taking him off the dribble. Lets make one thing clear he is not a point guard he just has an ability to score.

Come on Big Mike, seriously? You're gonna put your faith in 2 guys who played sparingly last year, and had "flashes" of good play. This is the ACC. These guys will be going up against big time front court talent every game. And who's backing up Dupree and Burney off the bench? Nobody!!! How is this team well rounded at all?? And how do you know that Dupree is good when he's in shape? He's been out of shape since high school.

Maryland is in deep trouble again this year and will be lucky to make it to the NIT.

Little confused about the talk of opening up a scholarship. Walker's departure was what allowed Tyree Evans to be signed. From my estimation, the Terps will have twelve scholarships out next year. By class: Senior (1) - Neal; Juniors (4) - Vasquez, Hayes, Milbourne, Evans; Sophomores (5) - Burney, Gregory, Dupree, Bowie, Tucker; Freshman (2) - Gilchrist, Mosley. As Neal runs out of eligibility, his 'ship will be used for Jin Soo Kim. So where is the extra for Dante Taylor? I believe if the Terps want to bring one more (Taylor) from the class of '09, then there will have to be another transfer.

Don, you earlier reported that Gregory is going to transfer. What is happening with Gregory? Is he going to transfer also?

Any reason why Gary backed out of the commitment with Bobby Maze? I have seen several news stories online confirming this fact. I was hoping that with Walker leaving it would open a spot for him.

Now it looks as if he may be a free agent going to Kentucky:

http://www.aseaofblue.com/story/2008/4/27/34522/5244

Mike, the only thing I saw out of Dupree last year was him getting fatter sitting on the bench. They're gonna need a forklift to get him in the game if he keeps getting bigger. I agree about Burney though. I think he's going to be a good player by mid next season.

Shane got had his issues with the student council of conduct. Kid needed to go since he obviously was too immature to handle being in CP. He disrupted team chemistry.