Weekly recruiting roundup
The past week saw the Maryland men's basketball program land its first commitment of the 2011 class, and several senior big men with varying degrees of Terps interest go elsewhere.
On Tuesday night, Seton Hall Prep (N.J.) point guard Sterling Gibbs pledged to the Terps.
"Sterling came into my office and started talking about Maryland, asking what I thought about it," [Seton Hall Prep coach Bob] Farrell said. "My exact words were, 'Go home, talk it over with your parents and if you want to go public with it, let me know."’
• Terps power forward target C.J. Leslie on Wednesday committed to North Carolina State.
"It's the best pickup Sidney Lowe has had," [recruiting analyst Bob] Gibbons said. "He's the most highly rated recruit that Sidney has gotten at N.C. State. He's so versatile. He's an immediate impact guy."
• Huntington (W.Va.) Prep center Gorgui Dieng, a onetime Terps target, has committed to Louisville.
Dieng, who came to the U.S. in October, averaged 15 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocked shots during the season at Huntington (W. Va.) Prep School. He was named MVP of last month's Kentucky Derby Festival Classic.
• Princeton Day Academy forward Eric McKnight, who drew some Maryland interest, has signed with Iowa State.
McKnight, a 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward, averaged 11.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.6 blocked shots per game last season at Princeton Day Academy in Lanham, Md.
• UM women's small forward signee Alyssa Thomas was named a USA Today third-team All-American.
Football recruiting
• The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer wrote this week about junior football prospects leaving the state for college, including wide receivers Marcus Leak and Nigel King to Maryland.
King is regarded as one of the state's top receiver prospects. He also had offers from Colorado, ECU, Louisville, LSU, UNC, N.C. State, South Carolina and West Virginia.
• GatorSports.com has updates on several juniors with Maryland offers, including Trip Thurman, an offensive lineman from Dover, Del.
He recently got the Florida offer he was looking for. He’s still pretty open as far as recruiting, but you have to think Florida made up some major ground with its offer. Boston College, Maryland, Penn State, Clemson and Tennessee are schools to watch.
• Phil Kornblut's weekly recruiting update includes notes on a few Terps targets, including Hillcrest (S.C.) linebacker Mike Rose.
[He] has been offered by N.C. State and Maryland and is looking for one soon from Michigan State. Clemson, USC, Alabama and Georgia have shown interest. Rose has visited Clemson and USC and plans to take some out-of-state visits later in the spring. Last season, Rose had 116 tackles, 16 for loss, and 10 sacks.
• Pittsburgh (Pa.) Woodland Hills defensive end Quinton Jefferson recently took a trip to College Park.
“It was the second time I had been to Maryland. Their campus is just as beautiful and their spring game went well. I talked to the coaches again. They’re nice.”
• DeMatha cornerback Jordan Lomax has committed to Virginia, picking the Cavaliers over offers from Maryland, Louisville, New Mexico and Stanford.
Last season, he had 30 tackles, one interception and four pass breakups. On April 15, he took a visit to U.Va., which has had safeties coach and special teams coordinator Anthony Poindexter in charge of recruiting Lomax. Feb. 2 will be the first day recruits can sign a letter of intent.
Categories: Weekly recruiting roundup
Comments
lol. amazing. nc state.
This season, is going to be a very very long season.
GT wins 1 game in the acc 2 seasons ago, then they land the #1 class including Favors.
NC State, is just bad every year more or less and they land a top 5.
Gary, is really doing something wrong when it comes to these bigs. Anyone who doesnt see that, is just plain stupid.
Posted by: ryan | April 30, 2010 12:20 PM
Yeah Ryan, Favors was great for two months of his one season at GT. That recruit really worked out.
And Leslie isnt a big.
Posted by: AreUKidding | April 30, 2010 1:00 PM
I'm not sure that he did anything wrong with J Williams. In fact, one could argue that he did everything right.
This is mere speculation on my part, but I think he's learned a very valuable lesson about "big men" over the past few years. Don't recruit a bunch of them to sit on the bench. If you do, many end up transferring. Recruit and maintain a healthy amount. Spread around the playing time. Heavily recruit versatile guards and a few swingmen here and there. It makes sense to me and it's proven to be a winning formula.
Posted by: Charles | April 30, 2010 2:13 PM
Ryan,
Your point is well taken. Gary should just win one game or from now on lose year after year, so hopefully we can land any future 5 star recruits. Hope this ACC trend continues. By the way, I recommend you as Chuck's replacement on other post. Did you see it? I am holding your opinion in high regard.
Posted by: CHL | April 30, 2010 2:21 PM
Ryan, I think it's been pretty well established who the stupid one on this blog is.
To state that Gary is doing something wrong because a top recruit decides to go play at NC State for a coach that won't be there any longer than said recruit makes absolutely no sense. The logical question to ask is why in the world would a top player want to play at NC State for a coach that doesnt belong coaching a high school team?? Why would he want to play for a team that hasnt been to a tournament in how many yrs? Maybe its because State was so dominant that year they had JJ Hickson. Really, you turn it around to put it on Gary for not being able to recruit "bigs"...Comical
Posted by: Another Ryan | April 30, 2010 3:16 PM
Ryan,you should just get some N.C. State gear and root for them! A year from now check back in and see how the year was for you!Lol
Posted by: rich | April 30, 2010 4:21 PM
Poor Ryan, everyone is down on him. Ryan maybe you can do yourself a favor and everyone on this blog and either transfer blogs or try a new sport.
Posted by: John | April 30, 2010 4:49 PM
This guy kills me. Dude you think you would learn. The sad thing about R...(him) is that he doesn't even get it. Okay, so your upset that MD can't land the big's but your the first one to jump on the band wagon when MD does well. Don't waffle man. People like you aren't needed here. Stick with an opinion and don't waver. From now on your comments are "trash" as far as I'm concerned. Any compliments about the MD basketball team are.......well, like you phony. I believe you were the one that perdicted a MD loss against NCState when the Terps were down by double digits at half. Saying everything negative about a MD team that eventually won the game. I can just picture what you look like dude. The movie "weird science" comes to mind. 16 yrs old, acne all over your face,sitting in you parents basement with a bra on your head. Blogging negatively about the Mens basketball program just to get a rise outta everyone. Heres a thought, Jo Will will be player of the year in the ACC his senior year and be a lottery pick and guess who will jump on the band wagon? You got it! Give it a rest and GOTERPS!
Posted by: wrkouthrd | April 30, 2010 5:34 PM
Hey Ryan,still waiting on those drinks,but you probably aren't old enough to buy root beer.Remember that prediction that Maryland wouldn't win 9 games and then when they won 13 you ended your brief disappearance and jumped back on the bandwagon.You are such a loser.Go find another team to root for,you make me sick.Gary has forgotten more about basketball and recruiting then you will ever know.FACT.
Posted by: Burt from Essex | May 1, 2010 4:20 AM
"The movie "weird science" comes to mind. 16 yrs old, acne all over your face,sitting in you parents basement with a bra on your head." LOL! I can picture him. Classic post!
Posted by: terps | May 3, 2010 7:24 AM