Checking in for today’s edition of “Five questions” is Dan Painter, TerrapinTimes.com’s basketball recruiting analyst.

Painter got his start in scouting with All-Star Sports Scouting Service, balancing that gig with his full-time job with the federal government for more than 10 years. Painter’s primary scouting area was the Washington, DC/Maryland/Northern Virginia corridor.

Painter (who answered questions via e-mail) also covers UM men's and women’s basketball recruiting for Terrapin Times Magazine.

1.) Has Maryland secured any verbal commitments for the 2008 class?

The Lady Terps currently have one verbal commitment for 2008 -- Lynetta Kizer, a 6-foot-3 post player from Potomac High School in Dumfries, Va. Kizer is generally regarded as one of the top 10 players in the class.

Since Coach Brenda Frese is graduating Crystal Langhorne, Laura Harper and Jade Perry, she has to reload the frontcourt and Kizer is a great start. She will have to play immediately. Kizer is big enough to pound down low but also runs well and can step outside and hit the mid-range jumper. She picked Maryland over Duke and Virginia.

I expect the Terps will also likely get a verbal from Dee Liles, a 6-foot-1 forward originally from Riverdale Baptist in Upper Marlboro, who now attends Gulf Coast Community College in Florida. She originally committed to Maryland over a year ago, but went the JUCO route to shore up her academics. Liles is an excellent power forward prospect.

2.) How does the 2008 class fill Maryland's needs? Which recruits do you expect
to make a major impact as freshmen?

The 2008 class is critical. In addition to losing Langhorne, Harper and Perry from the frontcourt, seniors Ashleigh Newman and Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood will also graduate, so five of your top seven players in the rotation will be gone after this season.

In addition to Kizer and hopefully Liles, the Terps would like to land another inside performer. Two possibilities are Cierra Bravard, a 6-foot-5 post player from Sandusky, Ohio, and Chelsey Lee, a 6-foot-2 athletic forward from Miramar, Fla. Both are expected to visit Maryland in the next three weeks.

Lastly, Coach Frese would like to add another multi-dimensional player at the 2/3 slot. One possibility is April Sykes, 5 feet 11, from Crawford, Miss. (the same hometown as Jerry Rice), considered a bonafide super prospect and regarded by one scouting service as the No. 2 rated prospect in the country.

3.) How is the 2009 class shaping up? Who are some recruits worth watching?

The 2009 class appears to be a strong one at this point. One player the Terps have targeted is Kelsey Bone, 6 feet 3, another inside power player from Texas, who some regard as THE premier recruit in the '09 class.

Other possible recruits of interest are Monique Oliver, 6 feet 2 (California); Mariah Chandler, 6 feet 2 (Georgia); Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, 5 feet 10 (Virginia); Antishia Wright, 5 feet 11 (Florida); and super quick point guard Dara Taylor, 5 feet 5 (Delaware).

4.) How will Maryland shift its recruiting as Frese's pregnancy progresses?

Coach Frese's pregnancy should have little effect on her recruiting. All potential recruits have already been notified of her pregnancy, and the lines of communication will not be interrupted. Her staff is extremely active on the road, and all have major recruiting responsibilities.

Brenda, in all likelihood, WILL be back for the NCAAs. She is due March 11, and with twins, they usually arrive early. The Dance does not start until March 23. She is expecting to coach during the tournament.

I would expect Frese to be back on the road next July when the open period for recruiting kicks back in full gear.

5.) How beneficial was the 2006 championship for recruiting purposes? Do recruits still point to that as a deciding factor in their recruitments?

Maryland's visibility in 2006 was definitely a huge boost for their recruiting efforts. A number of recruits have pointed out to me their style of play, their team chemistry, and Coach Frese's outgoing personality and energy as reasons for being interested in the Terp program.

That championship got Maryland into homes they would not have gotten into otherwise. The title made the elite recruits of the nation take notice. As the list of '09 recruits shows, Maryland now is a national recruiting program, with players from California, Texas, Florida and Georgia all considering the Terps.