Today's guest for 'Five questions' probably watches more high school and AAU basketball than anyone on the planet.

Van Coleman, national recruiting analyst for CSTV.com, has been one of the country's preeminent basketball recruiting authorities for more than 30 years. Here's Coleman's bio:

I’ve been covering and evaluating high school talent since the winter of 1976-77 season. I wrote for Midwest Basketball News (later Basketball Times) from 1977-1980. I began publishing the National Recruiter’s Cage Letter report in 1981, which became FutureStars Magazine in 1989 until the present. I was Basketball Times' Prep Editor from 1985-1996. I started Hoopmasters.com in 2003 along with Bob Gibbons, and have continued it until the present, after Bob left in 2005.

I have been the publisher of FutureStars Scouting Service from 1986 until the present (used by over 150 colleges nationally). I have been a major feature contributor to The Sporting News, Eastern Basketball, ACC Handbook College Yearbook, Lindy’s College Basketball yearbooks, and the CBS Sportsline College Basketball yearbook. I’m a member of the McDonald’s All-American Game Selection Committee, The Naismith Player of the Year Selection Committee, Slam All-American Advisory Board, and the Basketball Hall of Fame Morgan Wooten Award Selection Committee.

Coleman was kind enough to answer five questions (via e-mail) about UM basketball recruiting.

1.) How did Sean Mosley fare in AAU ball over the summer and how does he stack up with other top 2008 shooting guards? How do you see him fitting in with Maryland?

Currently I have him rated the No. 13 shooting guard and the No. 55 overall prospect in the class of 2008. This past summer he showed he was more than a slasher, as he hit the open jumper with regularity, opening up the court for him to explode to the hoop off the dribble. He really finishes in traffic and should give the Terps some instant offense at the two spot from day one in College Park. Whether he starts as a frosh or comes off the bench, he will give Gary Williams another offensive weapon to run the break or put pressure on opposing defenses.

2.) What's the latest on 2008 UM big man commit Terrence Jennings' academic situation? How did he play this summer and are the Amare Stoudemire comparisons apt?

Academically, it really depends on who you talk to. Some West Coast guys say he’s got a ways to go, but folks at Mt. Zion [Christian Academy (N.C.)] say he’ll be eligible at the end of this year. I think it’s going to be close, but I have to give credence to those who are running the show at the prep school; and they say he is going to make it.

Terrence is our No. 6 center and the No. 20 overall prospect coming out of the summer. Comparing him to Amare Stoudemire is a little bit of a stretch since he doesn’t have the same kind of body or approach to the game physically. Stoudemire was ripped at 240 pounds and could flat out destroy opponents physically. Jennings is a solid 230-pounder with good bounce and solid skills facing the hoop or on the blocks. He is a better shooter facing the hoop, but isn’t quite in the same league on the blocks as Stoudemire. I think a comparison to former Terp Chris Wilcox is much more accurate. He has the same type of inside-out game as the current Seattle Supersonic.

3.) Maryland has three offers out to 2008 prospects: New Jersey power forward Quintrell Thomas, Georgia center Ralph Sampson and North Carolina shooting guard Chris Turner. Where is each leaning?

Quintrell Thomas – Thomas just visited Rutgers this past weekend, he’s scheduled to be in College Park next weekend and then he’ll head to Kansas the weekend of Sept. 29. If he’s not ready to decide at that point, he could make treks to Miami, Pittsburgh, Seton Hall or latecomer West Virginia. Personally, I think Maryland leads early on, but Rutgers is close to his home and Kansas is always a great visit, based on players I’ve known over the years. Quintrell is a man on the glass who would compliment Jennings inside. He is a warrior! Much could be learned after he visits UM.

Ralph Sampson – He’s taken a visit unofficially to Kentucky in late August, and was at Minnesota the weekend of Sept. 8. He liked both schools equally well, but said neither is a favorite at this point. He could visit Georgia Tech and Maryland sometime in the next month. He also still lists Virginia Tech, Clemson, Auburn and South Carolina as other possibilities. He told us after the Minnesota visit that; “No one leads at this point, it’s just too early!”

Chris Turner – Turner was ready to commit to the Terps until they received Mosley’s pledge. Maryland is still in the hunt, but they have to hold off Cincinnati, Memphis, Oklahoma, Florida State and George Mason -- all schools who’ve been looking to get Turner to visit. He and Mosley could play together at the 2/3 spots or in a three-guard set. The Terps still have a shot here, but do they need two wings in this class?

4.) Which 2009 kids that are considering Maryland impressed you most during the summer?

Well, I’d have to say that five guys I have rated in the top 25 come to mind first. The Terps are involved with No. 10 rated Deshawn Painter, No. 12 Isaiah Armwood, No. 16 Karron Johnson, No. 20 Daniel Orton and No. 24 Wally Judge. They all had solid summers. Painter is an explosive and long face-up four man. Armwood finishes drives as well as any big man in class. Johnson is physical and can flat out score in bunches. Orton is a physical low block scorer who can swat shots in the paint. Judge was one of the summer’s fastest risers. He‘s raw, but effective around the hoop. The Terps are involved with eight other top 100 prospects to go with the above quintet.

5.) Is Armwood a must-get for the Terps in 2009? Who do you think is UM's most important target?

There will be a lot of pressure on getting Armwood, but nabbing one or two from among Painter, Judge, Johnson, Orton or No. 35 Gregory Echenique or No. 40 Terrell Vinson could fill team needs just as well. I personally think Armwood is their No. 1 target, but because they seem to be in excellent shape with so many top 40 prospects, any combination of two of these prospects will fill their needs.