Steve Goins has already gotten a taste of life in College Park.

The Maryland power forward recruit spent four weeks on campus earlier this summer as part of the university’s Scholastic Transitions Educational Program (S.T.E.P.).

Goins took courses in English, math and study skills, while also learning the ins and outs of campus living.

“It was like a [pre-college program to] get you acclimated to how life is going to be,” Goins said. “I met a lot of other athletes, not just basketball, but from lacrosse, baseball, football, every other sport. I think it was [very beneficial]. It helped out a lot.”

Goins will be back in College Park before the end of the month. He’s still waiting to be approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse. Once that approval comes, the once-improbable scenario of Goins as a Terp will finally come to fruition.

“I would’ve never thought I could be playing for Maryland a few years ago when I first started playing basketball,” Goins said. “I wasn’t forced into [playing] -- I always liked basketball, but never actually played. But then I started loving to play and got a scholarship offer from Maryland. ... So I’m just enjoying it and taking everything in.”

Here’s an introduction to Goins.

Name: Steve Goins
Birthdate: 7/29/90
Birthplace: Chicago
Hometown: Chicago
Height: 6’9
Weight: 245
Position: Power forward
High School: Curie High School (senior year), Leo Catholic High School (freshman-junior year)
Senior statistics: 14 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks
Runner-up: South Florida or Illinois-Chicago
Favorite pro basketball player: Carmelo Anthony
Favorite pro basketball team: None
Favorite music: Lil Wayne
Favorite book: The Outsiders by Susan E. Hinton
Favorite movie: Friday
Favorite TV show: The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite high school class: Art
Favorite thing about College Park: “When I visited, it was just big, and there’s all types of people there.”
Hobbies: Drawing
Intended major: Computer graphics
Something that not many people know about you: “Last year, my senior year, was my first full year of playing basketball. I actually started playing basketball my freshman year of high school. Sophomore year I didn’t play much, got hurt in the summer and junior year I played a little bit. So senior year was my first full year.”
Best basketball moment: “My first game [as a senior at Curie] I guess. I almost had a triple-double, like one block off of a triple-double.”
Role model: “My mother and my father because they’re always there for me and always hard working, so I just try to work hard at everything I do.”
Why Maryland? “The town and everything was just great. With all the other schools I was looking in to -- Maryland was at the top being in the ACC. It’s a big school and I’ve got a real good opportunity to get a lot of playing time. Once I looked into the academic side, they were pretty good, too.”

Click here for AAU coach Nick Irvin's take on Goins.