Weekly recruiting roundup
While Mark Turgeon deals with a 2011 recruiting class in flux, the new Maryland men's basketball coach also has his eyes on 2012.
The Washington Post's Josh Barr reported Thursday that Turgeon will play host to an unofficial junior visitor this weekend.
Seth Allen, a 6-foot-1 junior guard from Fredericksburg Christian, is scheduled to visit College Park with his family and high school coach on Saturday. Turgeon had offered Allen – who is friends with Montrose Christian forward Justin Anderson, a junior who committed to Maryland in March - a scholarship to Texas A&M before making the move to Maryland.
InsideNoVa.com caught up with Allen for his reaction to Maryland's sudden interest.
“I’m going to go in and be myself and meet with the coaches,” Allen said. “If [Turgeon] offers, I would make my decision sometime soon.”
• Adam Zagoria reported Friday morning that Terps forward signee Martin Breunig has not been granted his release from Maryland yet.
• Daily Press (Va.) columnist David Teel wrote this week about how Turgeon at Maryland might affect recruiting for Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Forward Jerami Grant and point guard James Robinson are among the nation’s most acclaimed rising seniors, and DeMatha coach Mike Jones told the Washington Post’s Josh Barr that Turgeon was pursuing both for Texas A&M. Turgeon guided the Aggies to four NCAA tournaments in as many seasons before accepting the Maryland job Monday.
• NBE Basketball Report filed a notebook from last weekend's Nike Baltimore Elite Invitational, including an update on Terps center target Shaquille Cleare, who didn't make the trip with his Houston Defenders team.
Now with Gary Williams announcing his retirement the list seems to be expanding with Kentucky having interest (although they have yet to see him play) and Kansas, Arizona, Baylor, Texas, Texas Tech, Maryland, Miami, Florida State, Kansas State, and Baylor have offered per Aaron Williams, Head Coach of Houston Defenders.
• MyCentralJersey.com conducted a Q&A with Rutgers commitment and former Maryland target Wally Judge.
Q. How surprised were you that Gary Williams retired and how did that impact your decision?
A. I was actually kind of shocked. I was there a couple of days earlier and everything seemed fine. The thought process was I didn’t want to make a quick decision right then. I wanted to make sure his retirement didn’t influence me. That’s why I waited a couple of days.
• Charis Prep (N.C.) forward Jared Guest signed this week with VCU.
Guest made an official visit to Oklahoma State earlier in the week. He had also planned to visit Minnesota this week but did not make that trip. He also drew interest from Georgia and Maryland.
Football recruiting
• Maryland commitment and Good Counsel offensive lineman Mike Madaras fared well at a recent Under Armour Combine event in Baltimore.
He's 6-foot-5, a little under 290 pounds and he has room to still grow and add more size and muscle. He tested well, posting competitive scores for a tackle. When asked about his strengths as a player, he mentioned he liked to hit and flashed some of that physicality during one-on-ones. He displayed the ability to get set quickly and moved his feet well. He was able to deliver a good punch and mirror and finish his opponent.
Madaras was nominated this week for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
• Terps linebacker signee Cole Farrand set a Sussex County (N.J.) record in the shotput with a throw of 55 feet, 4.25 inches last weekend.
Farrand surpassed former Lions' thrower Brandon Perez, who had a heave of 55-2 in 2004, to beat out Syosett's (N.Y.) Evan Kappatos and Brian Sheng, respectively. Farrand also won the discus and javelin for the Lions, who had six first-place finishes.
Comments
It is disappointing that two of the three 2011 Maryland recruits have been released from their LOI's (with Breunig's status unclear), but it is not unprecedented when there is a coaching change. It is also not the end of Terp's basketball, just a new beginning. Coach Turgeon made it clear during his introduction at Comcast this week that he is building the program the right way for long term success. I believe in coach T's message, and I think he is going to build on what G-Dub accomplished during his run as the Terps coach. Coach T did the honorable thing by releasing the players. However, they need do the honorable thing as well, and decide if they believe in coach T's vision and have a true desire to represent the Terps. If they don't, lets save the scholly's for 2012 kids who really want to be a part of the Terps program. Justin Anderson seems to have that type of competitive passion that I would love to see in a Terps uniform. Firm up his commitment. Additionally, Seth Allen is visiting this weekend, an athletic guard who can knock it down from the three point line. Offer him.
As Ty Webb so eloquently stated in Caddyshack.
"See your future, be your future."
Posted by: Peat Moss | May 13, 2011 1:29 PM
matt--
any word on goff? which coach was recruiting him?
space: Goff signed with Marshall. Not sure which coach was recruiting him. -- Matt
Posted by: space | May 13, 2011 8:56 PM
I think the Faust,and Gibbs family needs to stop for a moment and watch the new UMD coach move at record speed, to put his program together as fast as possible to put the school, the old players and All new recruits at ease. It not easy for him to pickup and move half way across country and start from nothing. He's pickup one future player in five day he has more in store for us. So sit back and watch him work you might like what you see. AS A MARYLAND FAN IN north carolina I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HIM IN ACTION.
Posted by: Vinnie D. | May 14, 2011 10:24 PM