If we are out of the running with Stephenson why haven't we made an offer to Vinson? Is it the scholarship situation or is it possible that these inside reports are incorrect? Or is Vinson not high on MD anymore? Still I have to believe if Stephenson wanted to come to MD he would have committed by now. Or is it a perception thing in which if Gary blinks first and moves on the fan base will blame Gary? I have a feeling that we may end up with a player that is not even on the recruitng report radar right now. MD has always had a tendency to land an obscure player at the last minute, possibly a JuCo player. The one thing predictable about MD recruiting is that is seldom goes to plan and the landscape changes drastically at the last minute. I would imagine out of the 2010 class it would be surprising if one or any of the top 5 current recruits make a commitment to MD.

Matt,

Based on what the Terps need, I think if they could only have one of the two, Jordan Williams is a better fit than Lance Stephenson.

Do you have the sense that Williams is firmly committed to Maryland or might he end up like Gus Gilchrist as one who got away?

If Williams were to bolt at the last moment, the program would find itself in serious trouble, unless a big man could be found in JUCO.

Otherwise, such a defection most likely would spell the Terps' first losing season in over a decade. Let's hope Williams is locked into that commitment.

Matt wouldnt you think that Vinson would be better than Lance? Lance will be gone in a year but when Landon Milbourne leaves Vinson can step right and fill his role.

And are the terps really out of the running with Stephenson or are people saying that because they just dont want him to go to UMD?

I believe Padgett and Williams have already signed letters of intent if I'm not mistaken. They are definitely coming.

Rob -- I think you're probably right about the Terps landing someone that's not on the radar (at least publically). With Vinson, it seems to me that there might not be a ton of mutual interest between parties. He could've committed to UM long ago, even before Loyola Marymount, but didn't. I can't say for sure how hard they're recruiting him. As always, never say never, but I'm thinking UMass.

Ken -- Terplaw is right. Williams is signed. So like you said, he'd have to pull a Gilchrist and asked out of his Letter of Intent if he wanted out, but there's absolutely no chance of that. He's completely solid, as is Padgett. They'll both be in College Park this summer and they'll both contribute immediately.

Mike -- Vinson's certainly a better long-term investment than Stephenson, who's a definite one-and-done. I think Vinson will have a really good college career. Just depends on if he wants to go to a smaller school and be the man right away, or go to a bigger program and bide his time. On Stephenson, I don't think those other sources don't want him at UM. He just doesn't seem that interested -- Kansas was No. 1, and now St. John's could be the fallback. Doesn't make a ton of sense to me, but it is what it is.

Terplaw -- Thanks for weighing in.

Padgett and Williams have signed letter of intent. They just need to qualify now. Stephenson isn't coming and Vinson isn't that good of a player so I doubt MD wants him. Too many good 2010 players out there to waste a ship on Vinson, if Stephenson doesn't come (which he won't) then save the ship for 10 and hope Vasquez stays. I agree with Rob one thing that is certain is nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to recruiting and Maryland.

this is my first post but i'll say this i will take vinson over stephenson any day. vinson has a real aggressive reb. mentality, he has a good 15 to 18 foot jumper, and as for being 6'7" he handles the ball like a guard. stephenson is an all about me player who we do not need at the umd. just my opinion after seeing both of them play this year.

I personally think Vinson is a better fit for us as he is a better investment and could replace Milborn as it seems they have a very similiar game. I think it would be a steal for the Terps - no one is for sure for next year as they have not signed yet but I think the verbal from Terrell Stoglin is a very good thing - I think he will turn out to be a great player - he can score. It would be nice to see them get at least one highly rated player like a Vinson similiar to Mosley as you can see the difference. I don't think Lance Stephenson is serious about MD so I would forget about it - I think he would not fit in with the team but I have no idea as he would be posturing for the NBA ther whole year and break up the chemistry much like John Gilchrist. I would rather have Grieves back for another year and see what the current squad can do with some help from the two new big men along with some improvement in thier own game. I see another 20 plus win season next year.

Matt, how good of a chance to have at landing Will Barton or Tobias Harris? I havent head much about Harris' recruitment.

Enough with this uncertainty regarding Greivis coming back. He tells anybody that will listen that he's gone. I saw him training last week. After I told him we need him back, his response was: "you paying my bills?". I would think if he stays he'd have more money to pay bills. GONE.
I asked him about Lance "there's no I in team" Stephenson. He said "we don't need him" and also said LS never responded to his text messaging after his visit in Jan. That says it ALL.

B Mo...tell Greivis two things next time you see him:

1. We are paying his bills...it's called tuition, room & board, textbooks, meals and a whole slew of extras the normal college kid doesn't get.

2. Tell him to go home and shine Hugo's shoes.

LS isn't coming and Vinson isn't interested, and that's fine. I just don't want Gary to waste another scholarship on a Steve Goins type of guy just to fill out the roster. It looks like there are a ton of solid recruits for 2010, so save your bullet for one of those guys.

I think at this point Lance is just not looking at MD as a first resort but a last resort. If that is the case, and thats what it looks like then target someone that will commit because they want to come here and play. For us to get someone like Will Barton, Roscoe Smith, or Parker Gary Williams will have to personally recruit these guys. It may only take a high level of interest directly from the head man to lock these guys up. It has been said before that these kids talk to the assistant coaches and name them when they mention the schools that are recruiting them so MD should recruit these top players with there head man to show there determination to have these guys attend MD.

This love affiar with Vinson is amusing to me. "why haven't we made an offer"? Are u kidding me. The Terps offered that kid a long time ago...yet he never would take an official visit to UMD and instead signed a LOI with Loyola Marymount???? Then their coach gets sick and he asks out of his LOI...is granted a release reopens his recruitment and lists mid-majors like Charlotte and UMass along with Cincy and UMD??? C'mon peeps wake up please. If Vinson WANTED to be a Terp he could have committed and singed in 2008. He's a good player but not a program changer at the high-major D1 level. Plus right now the Terps don't have an available scholarship. Won't have one until someone announces they're transferring, going pro, or unless someone physically is unable to play again.

ChillumTerp is dead on. Maryland showed him interest. He completely ignored us and signed at LOYOLA MARYMOUNT. Seriously people, if he was THAT good, why would he sign there? Think about it. Now, on the top of his list are mid major schools because we do not want him anymore. If you were as talented as he thinks he is, would you want to go to an ACC school or UMASS?

2 fr, 3soph, 6jr, and 3sr. one leaves I say sign a juco who can bang inside or a pure thug pg, we need lock down guard like a Strawberry or McCray, or the long line of defensive minded guards we've had that disrupt the other team chemistry. On the other hand i would love to see us find a way to balance that class of 6jr to maybe getting 3fr. To me that solves the i won't play so why try option goins and dupree should be dropped if they aren't willing to try. It is college if you don't make the effort you're to blame.
Oh and Rob K about your 2nd comment, you must be on David Duke's laundry detail.

Terps34,
lets be honest here, i love the terps and i hope the win a title every year, but, they are terrible at recruiting. Who goes to back to back final 4s and win the title. then a year after that class is gone wins the ACC tourny, goes to 11 straight ncaa's and can't keep 1, 1, one, ONE, blue chip, local, player. Or, draw an interest from others?
Gary is another bull-headed stubborn guy, like Billick, who is not going to be told what to do. He does not meet with the AAU coaches, which is a MUST, now a days if you want those players.
The problem is, there really is no better option to coach. The smart move would be to bring in a top flight guy like a Roy Williams or Calipari, Tubby Smith type, but that is not gonna happen. The reigns will be handed over to Little Lefty and that is that.
The fact that a top 100 recruit would rather go to UMass instead of MD is a sign of how crappy the school appeals to local players. Not, that the player is bad.
I would be willing to bet right now, as you have seen all of their 2010 targets commit other places( Epps, Buie,etc) that Barton, Smith, Harris, and any other top guy, ends up some place beside MD. ANd that my friends is a crying shame.

Deshawn Painter has decommitted from Florida in a mutual decision. Painter is from Norfolk, VA, only three hours from College Park, and currently attends Hargrave Military Academy. Why hasn't the coaching staff tried to get this young man on the team? He's 6'9", athletic, loves to play up-tempo basketball, excels at defense, and is ranked in the Top 100 nationally. Let's get this guy on our team!

Will someone please post a youtube video or something of Deshawn Painter doing something besides unimpressive little layups?. I want to see how athletic this guy supposedly is...thus far I remain rather unimpressed with him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSolnPjalYQ

ESPN just said Deshawn Painter is eyeing Maryland after his decommitment to Florida.

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/school?schoolId=120&page=briefingroom&season=2009&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncb%2frecruiting%2ftracker%2fschool%3fschoolId%3d120%26page%3dbriefingroom%26season%3d2009

Hmm...not impressed....a 200 lb power forward...what need does he exactly address?