Recruiting Report

Two Terps recruits headed to prep school

2009-07-09T14:45:22Z

Before David Mackall and L.A. Goree join the Maryland football program, they’ll team up at Fork Union Military Academy this fall. Mackall, a defensive end from Edmondson, and Goree, a linebacker from C.H. Flowers, fell short of NCAA qualifying standards and will spend this fall shoring up their academics and playing football for the Virginia prep school. They report to Fork Union next month. Goree said he was disappointed when it became clear he would need to go to prep school, but “it is what it is.” The Maryland coaches pointed Goree in Fork Union’s direction.]]> Dante Jones said the Fork Union staff is “very excited” to have Mackall in the fold for the upcoming season. He and Goree should do well as teammates in Virginia, Jones said. “It’s always good going somewhere where you have someone you know that you’ll be with for a lot of years,” Jones said. “So it’s definitely a good thing.” Maryland defensive linemen Cody Blue (Wilde Lake) and Zach Kerr (Quince Orchard) spent last fall at Fork Union before enrolling at College Park in January. “I’ve been talking to Zach Kerr all the time and he’s been telling me stuff about it,” Goree said. “[I just need to put in] my time and get good grades.” Mackall said he's spoken to Goree a few times and they're both on the same page with regard to what they need to accomplish at Fork Union. “We’ve both got that mindset that we have to help each other out and get this thing done together," Mackall said. "So I’m looking forward to it.” • Click here for a recap of Goree’s senior season and here for a look at Mackall’s final high school campaign.

Updated 2010 basketball rankings

2009-07-08T16:07:15Z

The month of July has been a busy one for basketball recruiting evaluators. Three sets of rankings for the class of 2010 have been updated in the past week. The Rivals 150 and Scout.com Top 100 came out July 3, and the ESPNU 100 was updated today. Here's a quick look at where local players and Maryland targets were ranked.]]> Baltimore natives • Josh Selby (Tennessee), Lake Clifton point guard Rivals: 7 Scout: 10 ESPN: 24 • Will Barton (Memphis), former Lake Clifton shooting guard Rivals: 10 Scout: 9 ESPN: 12 • Roscoe Smith, Oak Hill (Va.) small forward Rivals: 24 Scout: 31 ESPN: 23 • Eric Atkins (Notre Dame), Mount St. Joseph point guard Rivals: 89 Scout: unranked ESPN: unranked • C.J. Fair (Syracuse), City small forward Rivals: 90 Scout: 86 ESPN: 41 • Jordan Latham (Xavier), City center Rivals: 112 Scout: 96 ESPN: 85 • Jonathan Graham, Calvert Hall forward Rivals: 125 Scout: unranked ESPN: 61 Maryland commitments • Terrence Ross, Montrose Christian shooting guard Rivals: 40 Scout: 62 ESPN: 25 • Terrell Stoglin, Tucson, Ariz., point guard Rivals: 140 Scout: unranked ESPN: 71 Maryland targets • Terrence Jones, Portland, Ore., power forward Rivals: 15 Scout: 34 ESPN: 15 • Roscoe Smith, Oak Hill (Va.) small forward Rivals: 24 Scout: 31 ESPN: 23 • Tobias Harris, Glen Head (N.Y.) power forward Rivals: 27 Scout: 29 ESPN: 19 • C.J. Leslie, Holly Springs (N.C.) power forward Rivals: 34 Scout: 13 ESPN: 11 • Justin Coleman, Richmond, Va., small forward Rivals: 42 Scout: 20 ESPN: unranked • James Johnson, San Diego power forward Rivals: 60 Scout: 21 ESPN: unranked • Mychal Parker, Washington, N.C., small forward Rivals: 70 Scout: 55 ESPN: 16 • Damontre Harris, Fayetteville, N.C., forward Rivals: 83 Scout: 65 ESPN: unranked • Alex Kirk, Los Alamos, N.M., center Rivals: 106 Scout: 66 ESPN: 76 • Victor Oladipo, DeMatha shooting guard Rivals: 107 Scout: unranked ESPN: unranked

Suitland DB talks Terps commitment

2009-07-07T14:47:10Z

Five minutes was all it took for Jeremiah Johnson to decide his college future. The Suitland High defensive back was summoned to College Park shortly after participating in Maryland’s summer football camp. On June 30, Johnson and his parents met with the Terps’ staff. “We sat down in the coach’s office and they explained to me that they were offering [a scholarship],” Johnson said. “I guess about five minutes later, I accepted the offer. ... Maryland was actually my first offer. And it’s amazing how one day I wake up with no offers, and then that same night I’m already committed to a school. So it’s very exciting.”]]> Rivals.com ran a story on his commitment hours after it happened. By the next day, all of his teammates had read the story and offered their congratulations. None were surprised with his choice, which was obviously an easy one for him to make. “I guess first off, because it’s the hometown team and I always root for the hometown team,” Johnson said. “I’ve been watching football since I was young, and my dad was a big Maryland fan. He actually lived right across the street from Maryland’s campus. A lot of my family [members are] Maryland fans. And I like Coach Friedgen and the program that he runs.” Suitland coach Ed Shields was surprised Johnson didn’t have other scholarship offers, although he expected they would eventually come. Still, Johnson’s recruitment progressed in a somewhat natural fashion. “I really think he was flying under the radar,” Shields said. “That’s just one where I think Maryland had seen the highlight film, they had seen his results from combines and stuff like that, so it’s just one of those things. And it’s really good, because Maryland should get the ones in their backyard that other people haven’t caught onto yet. That’s the way it ought to work, so it worked out very well.” Johnson, who has started for Suitland since his sophomore year, had another theory for his low-profile recruitment. “Well I think ... as far as the first offer, a lot of colleges might be scared to make that first one,” Johnson said. “They might like what they see, but they say ‘there might be a reason this kid doesn’t have any offers yet.’ But Maryland really liked what they saw in me, and they weren’t scared to take a chance. That’s another reason I really respect Maryland, because they didn’t second-guess me.” Shields was the longtime head coach at Northwestern High in Hyattsville before coming to Suitland four years ago. After Rams coach Nick Lynch was tragically killed in an automobile accident last winter, Shields was tabbed as his replacement. Prior to his elevation to the top spot, Shields was the defensive backs coach. He recalled Johnson’s play as an undersized 10th-grader, noting his discipline and athleticism. From that year on, Shields expected big things from Johnson. “Number one, he’s a fantastic athlete,” Shields said. “But more important, he’s very smart. He played for us in the 10th grade when we won the South region. He was one of the people that was helping us. He picks things up very quickly. And he just seems very mature … and that’s why we’re looking for big things from him next year. He just has this presence about him. He’s a good leader, a good athlete and a very good student as well. Sometimes you don’t get all of those things, but he’s the whole package.” Johnson will spend the rest of this summer adding weight to his 154-pound frame. The UM coaches said they’d like to see him put on 15-20 pounds, so he’s been hitting the weight room on a regular basis. While it’s been a week since Johnson made his commitment to the Terps, the excitement hasn’t subsided. “I’m still very excited,” Johnson said. “It’s a lot to take in. I’m only 16 years old, and just having a full scholarship from a Division I university [is unbelievable]. But I’m so excited. Once I graduate and get ready to go to Maryland, I’ll put in a lot of work and hopefully we can win a national championship.”

Weekend wrap — Pilgrim makes choice

2009-07-06T13:45:31Z

Maryland's whirlwind pursuit of former Hampton power forward Matt Pilgrim ended over the weekend. The Kentucky transfer -- who was told he wouldn’t have a scholarship at UK this season -- visited College Park late last week. But on Saturday, the 6-foot-8, 225-pounder committed to Oklahoma State. So Pilgrim started looking for a new school and had narrowed his choices to Oklahoma State, Maryland, Cincinnati and Memphis before picking the Cowboys Saturday. “I just feel like I jelled with the team and (OSU coach Travis Ford) seems like a real focused coach,” Pilgrim said Saturday. “I really like the style of basketball he plays and I’m just the kind of player he wants. I’m a guy that’s going to give 100 percent and play hard no matter what position I play.” ]]> The Louisville Courier-Journal caught up with Richmond, Va, small forward Justin Coleman, who gave a list of schools under consideration. IU, Xavier, Charlotte, Marquette, Oklahoma, Duke, Central Florida, Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Florida have been in touch. He doesn't have an offer yet, but he's visited Virginia, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth and Maryland. • According to the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, small forward Roscoe Smith is on Tigers coach Josh Pastner’s wish list. The Tigers have already made one successful foray into Baltimore with the Barton Brothers, so why not another? Memphis will certainly be pushing hard to get a visit from Smith, though he recently did not list the Tigers among his top five schools. The 24th-ranked player on Rivals' list is a presence inside and outside.

Weekly recruiting roundup

2009-07-03T14:30:15Z

While the Maryland staff continues to focus its attention on the 2010 recruiting class, there could be a last-minute addition to the 2009-10 UM roster. InsideMDSports.com reported that Matt Pilgrim, a junior power forward from Kentucky, was planning an official visit to College Park this week. Pilgrim, 6 feet 8, spent his first two years of college at Hampton before transferring to Kentucky last year. After sitting out the 2008-09 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Pilgrim would have been eligible to suit up for the Wildcats this coming season. When John Calipari was hired to replace Billy Gillispie in Lexington, Pilgrim -- according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal -- was told there wouldn’t be a scholarship available for him at UK. According to a source close to the situation, Calipari and Josh Pastner are working together to bring Pilgrim to Memphis. Calipari, the source said, will support Pilgrim's case to the NCAA. Though Pilgrim said he probably wouldn't make a commitment until he sits down with his family, he acknowledged the urgency of picking a new school so that he can start the appeal process. Pilgrim has also visited Oklahoma State. ]]> 11 points, five rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists. Check out Testudo Times for more on Pilgrim. • Former Maryland shooting guard target Lance Stephenson has finally found a home. The five-star prospect committed to Cincinnati on Tuesday. "We are very excited about Lance's decision to become a Bearcat," head coach Mick Cronin said. "Lance has terrific talent as a basketball player and is also a fierce competitor on the court. His desire to win will help us compete for a Big East Championship. "As a big guard, Lance brings playmaking ability and versatility to our team, along with his talent for scoring. We look forward to getting Lance here for summer school and building our team for the upcoming season." • Terps point guard commitment Terrell Stoglin has fared well in the Tucson (Ariz.) Summer Pro League, according to league director and former Arizona player Corey Williams. "I don't really follow high school basketball at all," he said. "There's some good, talented kids in town. It's been surprising to me to see these kids come out and play very well against grown men." Over three games, Stoglin has scored 32 points on 56 percent shooting. • Maryland power forward targets C.J. Leslie and Terrence Jones stood out at Nike’s Vince Carter Skills Academy in Orlando last weekend. ESPN.com’s Paul Biancardi listed Leslie as the No. 3 best scorer in camp. Leslie is an explosive, active athlete who is a big-time finisher when he gets in the paint. He has a quick first step to the basket; he stays low on the drive to finish high above the rim. He gets points from finishing dump-off passes from his teammates' penetration along with climbing on the offensive glass. Jones checked in at No. 1 on Biancardi’s best slasher list. This lefty is a physical specimen who drives the ball with explosive strength and overpowers defenders on his way to the basket. A good percentage of his points come from the free throw line because he is so strong and attacks the basket on the drive and from the post. • MaxPreps.com ranked Terps power forward target Tobias Harris No. 8 on its list of New York male athletes of the year. The 6-8 forward missed most of the first half of his junior season with a severe ankle injury but returned with a vengeance to lead the run to a victory over Triche and Jamesville-DeWitt for the Federation Class A crown. Harris averaged 23.5 points and 11.5 rebounds after arriving at Lutheran as a summer transfer. College suitors -- and just about anybody that matters would like to recruit him -- will find Harris back at Half Hollow Hills West, where he averaged 29 points as a sophomore on a 22-2 season; Harris transferred back there during Easter break. Football recruiting • Maryland defensive back recruit Avery Graham has been named The Gazette’s boys track Athlete of the Year. Outstanding at Class 2A state meet, scoring or contributing to 40 of team's 76 points. Captured gold medals in 100, 200, two sprint relays, lifting Clarksburg to first state team title. • The Washington Post’s Recruiting Insider reports that Friendship Collegiate (D.C.) offensive tackle Earl Johnson was offered a scholarship by Maryland last week. While he'll likely need to add plenty of weight to transition to a college tackle, Johnson also plays defensive end for Friendship, which has sent several players to low-level Division I programs the past couple of years, but hasn't been able to attract the attention of larger schools like Maryland. • The Terps lost out on offensive guard Daquan Jones earlier this week when the three-star prospect committed to Penn State. Jones (6-4, 300) is from Johnson City, N.Y. He also had offers from Pitt, Boston College, Syracuse, Maryland, Illinois, Rutgers and Connecticut.

Monroe discusses Maryland pledge

2009-07-02T15:53:53Z

After Maryland wrapped up its 2009 recruiting class, one of the Terps’ first junior scholarship offers went out to St. John’s College (D.C.) defensive tackle Andre Monroe. The 5-foot-11, 290-pounder thought about making an early commitment, but decided to go through the recruiting process for a little while. That ended Tuesday night, when Monroe committed to the Terps. “It feels great knowing that I’m committed and they were at the top of my list the whole time,” Monroe said. “It feels great and I feel relief, getting it out of the way before the season so I can concentrate on my senior year.”]]> Joe Patterson thinks there’s a simple explanation for Monroe’s relatively low-profile recruitment. “[Monroe’s height] was the only thing you ever heard anyone talking about ... as far as any issues he may have had,” Patterson said. “If he had been a couple of inches taller, I’m sure he would’ve been a national recruit.” The Maryland staff first saw Monroe at a summer football camp before his sophomore year. Whenever a Terps coach went to a St. John’s game last season to check out offensive line recruit Pete White, Monroe inevitably played his way into their consciousness. Patterson said Monroe’s junior film led to the early UM offer. “Andre is as productive as anyone I’ve ever had,” Patterson said. “Teams had to scheme around him. ... He reminds me, as far as being a playmaker, of Tony Tucker, who’s a defensive end for Pittsburgh. I think Andre brings a whole different range of skills just because he has such a tremendously low center of gravity and he uses his body so well. And he’s got incredibly strong legs. That package [is tough to come by].” Monroe and White used to car-pool together to St. John’s, and the two are admittedly close. But Monroe said his former and future teammate never put pressure on him to commit to the Terps. “He threw his input in there,” Monroe said. “But he wasn’t trying to do it really hard like all the coaches were. He explained to me that he went through the process, too. He showed me how sometimes the pressure can get to you, and he didn’t want [me to go through] some of the things that happened to him.” When Monroe arrives in College Park in 2010, he’ll have a chance to go up against White in practice again on a daily basis. Monroe said he’s excited to suit up for the program that believed in him from the start. For the rest of the summer, he’s committed to making his senior season a memorable one. “Right now I’ll keep working out and continue to get better, spend more time with my teammates to make sure we’re together to have a successful season and win a championship.”

Atholton's Robinson talks Terps commitment

2009-07-01T13:19:40Z

Kyle Schmitt landed a scholarship offer from the Maryland football program and promptly accepted. Ten years later, Atholton wide receiver-defensive back Matt Robinson found himself in a similar position as Schmitt -- his new coach -- once did. On Monday, Robinson decided to follow in Schmitt’s footsteps and commit to the Terps. “It just feels good to know where I’m going,” Robinson said. “I’ve been following the team for awhile. They’ve always been a big school in my mind that I wanted to go to.” ]]> As a junior, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Robinson was a first-team All-Howard County selection after catching 15 passes for 210 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 74 tackles, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Despite Robinson’s best efforts, Atholton struggled to a 3-7 season. When Atholton decided to make a coaching change last spring, the 27-year-old Schmitt was tabbed for the job, fresh off a two-year stint as a Maryland graduate assistant. While Schmitt’s Maryland ties run deep, the former UM offensive line stalwart stayed impartial throughout Robinson’s recruitment. “I didn’t try to sway him in any way,” Schmitt said. “Me being a Terp player and former coach, I didn’t want that to come into play. Obviously, I’m glad Matt chose Maryland. I think it’s a great program. But I’m happy he’s close to home. His family can see him play, and that’s why I’m thrilled with Matt. He’s ready to do it.” For the past four months, Robinson’s received a free preview of what football might be like in College Park. Schmitt has adopted many of the Terps’ coaching and training methods in his brief tenure with the Raiders. “It’s been really good,” Robinson said. “We’re running all the same stuff Maryland does, really. We’ve got this whole new workout plan. It’s really legit.” It’s likely that Robinson will start his college career as an H-back, though there’s also the potential for him to play safety. Schmitt thinks that versatility is one of Robinson’s greatest strengths. “Right know he’s open to playing anywhere, and I think that’s what Maryland liked about him, and that’s what I love about him,” Schmitt said. “I think he could grow to 230, 240 pounds. He’s one of the top five hardest workers on our team right now. ... I think Matt’s best football is in front of him; it’s not even close. Maryland saw that as well. The unknown with Matt might be his best quality. There’s a lot of potential there that’s untapped right now.” With offers from Fordham, James Madison, Massachusetts, Old Dominion and Stony Brook, it’s safe to say Robinson floated under the radar of most college football recruiters. Schmitt, however, cautions Maryland fans to overlook recruiting rankings when it comes to Robinson’s game. “I told Matt, ‘Maryland knows you better than any school in the country.’ ... The more they saw him, the more they liked him. ... He makes plays, he’s got excellent ball skills for a guy his age and he’s a smart player. Matt’s going to be a productive player. There’s no doubt in my mind.” Robinson’s similarly confident that he’ll live up to the Maryland staff’s expectations. “I work hard and I can bring a lot to the table,” Robinson said. “I never quit.”

Calvert Hall's Jackson headed to Navy

2009-06-30T15:58:26Z

The odds were stacked against Donya Jackson from the start. That the Calvert Hall small forward is still in high school, let alone excelling on the court and off, is an unbelievable achievement. That the 6-foot-4, 200-pound rising senior is going to college, let alone an institution like the Naval Academy, is borderline miraculous. Jackson, who committed to Navy two weekends ago, was born in Baltimore, spent several years in New York and returned before middle school to the Pumphrey section of Anne Arundel County and later South Baltimore. As a seventh grader at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Brooklyn, Jackson said he was skipping school and staying out late. “All the guys in my family have went to jail or sold drugs,” Jackson said. “A lot of women in my family used drugs. ... Right now I should be somewhere dealing drugs or in jail, because that’s the path that was set up for me.” ]]> William Russell, the basketball coach at Benjamin Franklin (now called Masonville Cove Community Academy), saw Jackson in a sparsely attended middle school play. The two met after the show and struck up a friendship. Russell invited the 5-7 Jackson to join his team. “It was the first time he ever played. He couldn’t dribble the ball and he couldn’t shoot,” Russell recalled with a laugh. Jackson bought in to Russell’s philosophy and made his mark early on defense. Off the court, Russell began to discover the harsh realities of Jackson’s upbringing. At the time, Jackson was living in Brooklyn with his aunt. Russell offered to take the 12-year-old Jackson into his home. The arrangement suited both parties well, and Russell adopted Jackson the following year, subsequently changing the course of his life. “It wasn’t that I didn’t want to do right; it was that I didn’t have anyone pushing me, somebody with their foot in my butt,” Jackson said. “When I went with my father, he had a lot of structure. There was no coming home in the wee hours of the night. He had to know where I was, who I was with, when I was there. He had to know everything. ... So going with him helped me a lot. The will to do right was always there. I just needed someone to guide me on the right path.” Jackson spent his freshman year of high school at Northwestern, where he played on the junior varsity team. He transferred to Calvert Hall the following year. As a junior, Jackson averaged 11.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game. He was honored as the Baltimore Catholic League’s Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts. Loyola and St. Francis (Pa.) offered scholarships, while Mount St. Mary’s, UMBC, Quinnipiac, Niagara and several others were interested, according to Russell. Navy, meanwhile, was always involved. At a team camp earlier this summer, Russell said Jackson connected with Midshipmen guards Jordan Sugars and Romeo Garcia. Father and son “fell in love with the style of play,” Russell said. “We were actually at a regional track championship, and Donya said, ‘Pop, I’ve been thinking a lot about Navy. Nobody’s going to offer me what Navy can offer me.’ And I said, ‘You’re exactly right, son.’ He’s going to have a career after basketball, and that’s what has been important to us.” Said Jackson, “At first, I was kind of scared going to Navy because of the war going on right now. I’m really not a military guy, but when I sat back and looked at the whole picture, the education that I will get when I’m there is tops in the country, I’ll graduate an officer in the Navy and I’ll get to choose any field I want to be in. Me and my father sat down and talked about it, and he said ‘you’ll go there, and doors will open.’” From a basketball standpoint, Calvert Hall coach John Bauersfeld thinks Jackson and Navy are a perfect match. Jackson’s improved shooting and defensive intensity make him an ideal player for the frenetic pace of Navy’s system. “It’s a great fit and it’s 100 percent his decision,” Bauersfeld said. “Nobody pressured him in any way to go there. He said it was the right place for him. ... They’re very excited to have a kid with the quality of character and also the talent and tremendous upside Donya has. They’re very excited to have him.” Before middle school Jackson had never played organized basketball. Now he’ll receive a free education because of the sport. Russell said Jackson’s hard work and dedication to the game made this all possible. But Jackson says his father is the one to thank for his good fortune. “He’s just been so happy,” Jackson said. “I actually just got him a card because we had a little argument and I didn’t get my way and I acted like a brat. I wrote him a big apology in the card because I wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for him. All of this is because of him. I look at him and he’s so happy and proud of me because I’m doing the right things. And I have to think about all of that. But he’s definitely extremely happy. I can see it in his face every time he looks at me.”

Weekend wrap — Regan makes his choice

2009-06-29T14:32:59Z

One week after attending the National Basketball Players Association Top 100 camp in Charlottesville, Va., Will Regan decided to make that location his home for the next four years. The Buffalo, N.Y., power forward committed to Virginia this weekend. Regan’s other finalists were Arizona State, Maryland, Providence and Stanford. "The coaching staff made the basketball side a good fit beyond being in the ACC," Regan said. "I was basing my decision first on academics and they have a really good business school, so that's a huge attraction to me."]]> Lance Stephenson could be close to finally picking a school. The Brooklyn (N.Y.) Lincoln shooting guard took a visit to Cincinnati over the weekend, according to Adam Zagoria. “Word is Lance is signing with Cincinnati,” one Big East assistant coach said. “I think he will on Tuesday from what I’m being told.” Stephenson’s legal troubles could be resolved today. The five-star prospect will appear in a Brooklyn court room as part of his sexual assault trial. He and Lincoln teammate Darwin (Buddha) Ellis were charged with groping a 17-year-old female student outside Lincoln High.

Weekly recruiting roundup

2009-06-26T15:58:04Z

Last weekend's National Basketball Players Association Top 100 camp served as an introduction of Richmond, Va., shooting guard Justin Coleman to the college basketball recruiting world. NBE Basketball Report’s Ron Bailey checked in with Coleman, who explained his under-the-radar status. “I just recently got on the map about a month ago” confided Coleman. “I sat out my whole tenth grade year and half my 11th grade year”. That respite from hoops was due to friction with the coach at his previous high school, Louisa. This year, after moving, he transferred to Henrico. • CharlottesvilleNewsPlex.tv conducted a video interview with Maryland small forward target Mychal Parker during last weekend’s NBPA camp. When asked about his interest in the University of Virginia, Parker confirmed that they are on his list of schools that include Maryland, Miami, Virginia Tech, Virginia, and Clemson and that everything, "Is still up in the air." Parker will visit other schools as the summer goes along. • Christchurch, Va., shooting guard Michael Gbinije -- a rising junior who was named Most Promising Player at the NBPA camp -- took a recent trip to College Park. Frank Gbinije, Mike’s dad, shared his son is being recruited by “Georgetown, Texas, UVA, Virginia Tech, and Florida”, most if not all of which called him June 15th, the first day college coaches can call the homes of perspective Class of 2011 recruits, per NCAA guidelines. Mike also unofficially visited Maryland several weeks ago. Other colleges will be evaluated.]]> Quinn Cook led the United States’ U-16 National Team to the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championships in Argentina last weekend. Cook was the 10th-leading scorer in the eight-nation tournament, averaging 15.6 points per game, and he led all players in assists with 25. He also averaged 3.6 rebounds per game. • SLAM Online took a look at Maryland’s 2009 class this week in its ACC recruiting breakdown. (Thanks to Testudo Times for the link) At 6-10 245 pounds, [Jordan] Williams will take up plenty of space in the paint and should be able to establish position fairly well from the early part of the season. He has a fairly polished post game, has a soft touch and rebounds the ball effectively. There is lots of potential for Williams to be a quality player in the ACC, but there have been a few question marks surrounding his conditioning. • On the eve of the NBA draft, Adam Zagoria wrote a story on how the ‘one-and-done’ rule has affected former Terps target Lance Stephenson. "Late lottery," said draft expert Chris Monter of Monter Draft News, referring to where Stephenson would have been picked if he were eligible. "He's talented but he has a lot of baggage and is perceived as a selfish player." • The Washington Post dug up three interesting things about Newark, N.J., shooting guard Laurin Mincy, who committed to the Maryland women’s team this week. 3. She's been a star since she was in elementary school. According to the Newark Star-Ledger, Mincy scored more than 2,800 points "in her grammar school career, and became the first player to have her jersey retired by St. Joseph Elementary School in East Orange." Football recruiting • Last weekend Maryland became the first Football Bowl Subdivision program to offer Atholton athlete Matt Robinson, according to Rivals.com. “I got an offer on Saturday from Maryland,” he said. “They really liked me film and wanted me to come to camp and run well. I did and then did well in one-on-one drills. “That’s when I met with Ralph Friedgen. He just said he really liked my film and they had questions about my speed, but figured them out. They are looking at me as an athlete, with 20-pounds I could be an H-back, if not I can be a special teams guy and a safety.” • Dunbar (D.C.) linebacker Javarie Johnson -- who listed Maryland, Miami, Michigan and Michigan State among his top schools -- has reached a decision. “I feel like I have already come to my decision [and] it’s Miami,” Johnson reported. “I told my coaches this week and they said I couldn’t go wrong with any of my choices, so they were fine with it.” Johnson has not yet made the commitment official with the Miami coaches, but he does not plan to wait much longer to let them know. • Several reports last weekend had Paterson (N.J.) Catholic defensive end and Maryland target T.J. Clemmings committing to Pittsburgh, but according to Adam Zagoria, Clemmings is still on the market. Paterson Catholic defensive lineman Trevor “T.J.” Clemmings is not committed to Pitt, according to PC head coach Benjie Wimberly. “He went out there and made a hasty decision [to commit] without any input from his parents or me,” Wimberly said Monday night. “He’s going to rethink it and continue the recruiting process.” • Pemberton, N.J., wide receiver Corey Reeder told Rivals.com that Maryland and Iowa make up his top two, but he still has to earn an offer from the Terps. “They’re (Maryland) saying I should come out for one session of their camp. I’ll do that and then tour the campus and everything. I always talk to the running backs coach from Maryland.” • Good Counsel safety Frank Tamakloe committed to Wisconsin on Monday, picking the Badgers over offers from Maryland, Northwestern and several others. Tamakloe, 6-foot-2, 172 pounds, has most of the measureables to be a top safety prospect in this year’s high school senior class. He is on the ESPNU 150 Watch List, meaning he is under consideration to be among the top 150 players in the nation, regardless of position. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds. • Thomas Johnson linebacker Nick Forbes sported an early Maryland offer but recently narrowed his list of schools to Cal, Duke, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia. Last weekend Forbes pledged to the Golden Bears. "I had the opportunity to go to the No. 1 public school in the country and compete on a top-10 caliber team. This year, they are rated No. 11 in the country," Forbes said. • Maryland incoming freshman Nick Ferrara helped Long Island to a 31-14 win over New York City in the Empire Challenge on Tuesday. [Miguel Maysonet] bolted 19 yards for a touchdown that gave his team a 13-0 lead after Nick Ferrara's PAT. Ferrara, of St. Anthony's, kicked a 35-yard field goal two seconds before halftime for a 16-0 edge.

Century QB Bordner headed to Boston College

2009-06-25T15:46:28Z

Josh Bordner knew the odds were stacked against him. The Century quarterback was well aware that Carroll County schools were off the radar of most college football recruiters. Bordner planned on hitting the combine circuit this summer, hoping to land a Division I offer before Signing Day in February. “I knew I was going to have to get my name out there,” Bordner said. “They weren’t going to know me.” Last weekend Bordner’s timeline got moved up considerably. After spending four days at Boston College’s camp, the Eagles offered the 6-foot-4, 195-pounder a scholarship, and he promptly accepted.]]> Chris Baucia. Baucia, a former Virginia Tech signal-caller and punter, runs a “quarterback factory” in Southern Maryland. Bordner has studied under Baucia for months, and credits him for increasing his recruiting interest. “He knows everybody,” Bordner said. “I’m pretty sure he originally was the one who talked me up and got [Boston College] more interested. So a lot of credit goes to him. Honestly, if I didn’t run into him through this program, I know that I would not have this [scholarship] right now. A lot of thanks goes out to him.” The Eagles coaches were receptive to Baucia’s sales pitch on Bordner, and extended an invitation for him to attend the Eagles’ camp. Once he arrived in Chestnut Hill, Bordner realized just how many quarterbacks he was competing with to earn an offer. After some time, however, he noticed members of the Eagles’ staff paying him more attention. “They liked my arm strength and the way I put the ball on people,” Bordner said. “They said there’s a lot of potential. But I’m definitely going to have to work on some things. They said I have a lot of raw talent.” On Sunday afternoon, Boston College offered Bordner a scholarship. Later that day, he accepted. Now a summer filled with football camps and baseball showcases has been reduced to an occasional baseball tournament and tons of time in the weight room, preparing for senior year at Century and beyond. “I’m just going to lift and get bigger and faster,” Bordner said. “And hopefully up in Boston, I’ll get better ... [and become a] big-time quarterback.” Baltimore Sun photo of Josh Bordner by Gene Sweeney Jr. / November 7, 2008

Nermin Delic discusses Terps commitment

2009-06-24T15:06:44Z

When Nermin Delic puts his mind to something, the Maryland-bound defensive end-tight end gives nothing less than 100 percent. It’s a quality that has served the 6-foot-5, 240-pounder well throughout his high school career at Northwest Whitfield in Tunnel Hill, Ga. But Delic’s well-known work ethic is also one of the reasons he’s headed to College Park instead of an SEC school. After the Bruins’ 6-4 season last fall, Delic went straight into basketball mode, working out like a maniac in order to improve his quickness and agility. By January, Delic was down to 215 pounds. As Northwest Whitfield’s starting center, Delic averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. While basketball couldn’t have gone much better, the slimmed-down Delic began to think his weight loss limited his recruiting. Marshall, Florida International, Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee State offered scholarships, but most of the SEC and ACC schools -- other than Maryland -- were taking a wait-and-see approach. “When I went to Georgia, they were planning to offer me that day when I went to Junior Day,” Delic said. “I showed up at 215 pounds, and they were like ‘go home.’ But I deserved it. I was pretty mad, but when I got home, my dad told me ‘you look like a receiver or a [defensive back].’ ... That’s when I really decided to get committed to football. So I’ve been hitting the weights hard and eating right.”]]> Mike Falleur said it’s pretty clear Delic’s weight made the difference in his recruitment. “Georgia had him up [earlier this month] and they loved him, but they’re in the race for two of the best [defensive ends] in the country,” Falleur said. “But they told me on the phone Monday, ‘Coach, he can play in the SEC.’ There’s guys out there right now that weigh 250, 260. If he weighed that right now, he’d have offers from [the biggest programs in the country].” As a junior at Northwest Whitfield, Delic recorded approximately 75 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and five sacks. He also caught about six passes for 100 yards and one touchdown, while grading out in the mid-80s on his blocking assignments. Most of the attention Delic received from recruiters was for defensive end, but Falleur noted that he’s a promising tight end prospect as well. Falleur recalled the time Delic squared off against a Georgia-bound defensive lineman last fall. On the first play of the game, Delic, playing tight end, promptly blew the future Bulldog “12 yards off the football. He just manhandled him,” Falleur said. So with that in mind, the Terps’ coaching staff has a decision to make on Delic’s future position. “I think [Maryland’s offensive and defensive coaches] are really fighting over him. I think both sides want him,” Falleur said. “I think wherever they put him, he’s going to be pretty good at either one. I think he has a defensive mentality, but he’s a great blocker and he’s never off his feet. But at the same time, he loves rushing the passer and getting after folks.” Delic was born in Bosnia, but his family fled the war-torn country when he was 6. The Delic family spent their first year in the United States in Seattle, but after a year they relocated to Dalton, Ga., where they’ve been ever since. Delic grew up following Georgia closely, but has been a close of observer of college football in general for the majority of his life. So while Maryland may not get a lot of attention around his hometown, Delic was very familiar with the Terps’ program even before they started recruited him. “I follow college football real well ... and I know what kind of program Maryland is,” Delic said. “They’re trying to get back to where they were in [the early parts of this decade] when they contended in the ACC every year. I knew about guys like Vernon Davis and Shawne Merriman, and how Davis came in and put on 40 pounds in four years, dropped his 40 time by two-tenths of a second and improved his vertical about seven inches. Right away I knew they were doing something right in the strength and conditioning program. So I was real impressed by that. I knew Coach Friedgen had a good reputation of being a man of integrity, so I pretty much knew about the school [before visiting]. But when I went there [last weekend] I was blown away. It was amazing. There wasn’t one thing I didn’t like. Everything was awesome.” Delic’s playing basketball in a summer league with his high school team right now. He’s also spending ample amounts of his time in the weight room, making sure he at least maintains his current weight. Meanwhile, Falleur continues to receive calls from other programs about the future Terp. “Maryland’s getting a dang good football player,” Falleur said. “Don’t think because he didn’t have the big ones offer [that he‘s not a great player], because he can play. I think Clemson was fixin’ to pull the trigger, I think NC State was fixin’ to pull the trigger, and Vanderbilt and Kentucky were right there, too. But when he went up [to Maryland] he said he loved it. ... I’d say [Maryland fans] are going to be very excited when he lines up.”

Terps women land N.J. shooting guard

2009-06-23T14:38:52Z

The first time Laurin Mincy thought basketball might lead her to College Park was during Maryland Madness last October. The Newark, N.J., shooting guard met the team, chatted with other recruits and saw Terps coach Brenda Frese work the Comcast Center crowd into a frenzy. Still, the 6-foot Mincy was deliberate with her recruitment and didn’t want to make a hurried choice. “I wanted to make sure [I was comfortable with] my decision,” Mincy said. “I just wanted to make sure it was right because it’s a lifelong decision.” Eight months later, Mincy followed through on that gut feeling, committing to Maryland on Monday. The New Jersey girls basketball Player of the Year picked the Terps over Georgia and Rutgers. ]]> five-star player according to Rivals.com, averaged 21 points, six rebounds, three assists and two and a half blocks per game as a junior, leading University High to the North Jersey Section 2 quarterfinals. A three-year starter, Mincy has scored 1,843 career points. University head coach Felicia Oliver called Mincy a “go-to player” and leader, but noted that her game goes beyond the box score. “Her strengths are the intangibles that you don’t see,” Oliver said. “Her will to win, her drive, her unselfishness, and her willingness to make players around her better; those attributes make the kid a coach’s dream. She’s not worried about making herself better; she’s worried about making her teammates better. And you don’t find that in every kid, especially those kids that are considered future great players. Oliver first saw Mincy play as an eighth grader. She recalled walking into the gym and seeing four girls draped all over Mincy, who then proceeded to lose the quartet with a crossover dribble, drive just inside the 3-point line and bury a long-range jumper. Oliver has seen more of the same during Mincy's three years at University. “The kid just rises to the occasion," Oliver said. "There’s no quit in her. She can erase a 10-point deficit by herself in a matter of seconds. ... What can you say? She’s like a mini Candace Parker.” Mincy hurt her knee last weekend and is awaiting the MRI results. While the rest of her summer depends largely upon those results, Mincy said she’s excited for her 2010 arrival in College Park, when she’ll try and live up to Frese’s expectations. “She told me that she wants me to come in, potentially start and help them win a national championship,” Mincy said. “We have [point guard] Dara Taylor, that’s coming in now as a freshman. We have all the pieces, so she just told me that she’s putting the pieces together to win a national championship, and I can help them do that.”

Recapping the NBPA Top 100 camp

2009-06-22T11:01:48Z

I wasn't able to make it down to Charlottesville this weekend for the National Basketball Players Association Top 100 camp, but the PR folks at the event were kind enough to orchestrate some phone time with a few participants of interest. Camp director Tim McCormick, who started the NBPA Top 100 camp 17 years ago after the conclusion of his eight-year NBA career, has seen a few notable Baltimore players come through the camp during his tenure. But this year, with seven Baltimore natives in attendance, was unlike any other. “It varies from year to year,” McCormick said. “Obviously the Baltimore area is loaded with great talent this year. And it does vary from year to year, because we are targeting only the best 100 players in the entire nation. We don’t do any favors. For instance, to get the No. 1 player in the country, we’re not going to take the point guard on his AAU team [just to have a chance to land him]. If one player can’t come, we’re going to the next player on the list. [But] Baltimore is really a hotbed of high school basketball. It always has been. It’s one of the best years we’ve seen.”]]> Justin Coleman went from a little-known prospect to one of the hottest players in the country after scoring 23 in his first game of the camp. He also ended on a high note with a 22-point outburst in his team’s final game. McCormick said Coleman, who averaged 10 points per game, came into the camp looking to prove himself. “Well in many ways, to be a top 10, top 15 player in high school basketball is a disadvantage for a lot of kids because they think they’ve made it,” McCormick said. “They expect superstardom to eventually happen. But for a kid like Coleman, he’s a guy that you watch because he comes into the camp with a chip on his shoulder. [He thinks] ‘I know how good I am. I’m going to show everybody else.’ He can’t wait to play against the highest rated players, because he feels like he’s better. So this has been a really good opportunity to showcase his skills. And I think everyone now knows about his ability.” Coleman won the dunk contest and was named the camp’s surprise prospect. • Former Walbrook small forward Roscoe Smith made some waves this weekend when he announced his intention to transfer to Oak Hill Academy in Mount of Wilson, Va., for his senior year. “Me and my parents, we sat down and discussed it,” Smith said. “It was a long thing, but at the end of the day, we made the decision to go to Oak Hill.” Smith averaged 6.4 points in five games this weekend. The five-star prospect isn’t ready to reveal which programs comprise his list of top schools, but playing with the top 100 players in the country helped him focus his criteria. “I had Lenzelle Smith, [who’s] going to Ohio State [on my team],” Smith said. “I liked his game because he’s a point guard that can penetrate and distribute. So, OK, I like that. I could see myself playing [with a point guard like him]. But ... if you’re a wing forward, why would you want to go somewhere with a point guard that’s shoot first, not pass first? But it’s all about having fun here. You’ve just got to really get on your toes, because they’re going to test you. They’re going to push up on you. You just gotta step up and man up.” • Calvert Hall forward Jonathan Graham saved his best for last, scoring 10 in his final game to finish with a 4.2 points per game average. Graham said he’s been limited by his knees -- the 6-foot-9, 218-pounder is laboring through growing pains at the moment. Still, Graham said the camp was very beneficial for his development. “It’s been a great experience, just playing with the best high school players in the country right now in my class,” Graham said. “I feel honored to have been invited here, to be honest.” Graham said the camp directors gave him tips for working on his strength and quickness. As far as his recruitment is concerned, Providence has offered a scholarship while many other high-major schools are monitoring his progress this summer. • Former DeMatha and soon-to-be Lake Clifton point guard Josh Selby (Tennessee) led the camp in scoring at 16.2 points per game. Rivals.com’s Jerry Meyer wrote on Saturday that “no one has been better than Josh Selby.” Selby has gotten into the lane with more regularity than any other guard in camp. His speed, power, skill level and competitive drive make him a terror to defend. And he is not just scoring. His passing and gamesmanship have been equally impressive. • Mount St. Joseph point guard Eric Atkins wasn’t on the initial list of invitees, but the Notre Dame commitment ended up in Charlottesville after others backed out. The three-star prospect averaged 3.8 points per game, scored 10 in his last game and acquitted himself well early according to Jerry Meyer. Atkins isn't going to beat anyone with athleticism, but he has passed the ball at a high level during the first two sessions and has knocked down three-pointers off the catch when open. • Former Lake Clifton shooting guard Will Barton continued his strong summer play at the Top 100 camp. The Memphis commitment finished 19th in scoring at 11 points per game. Barton scored a game-high 22 in his second game. Stats: Maryland targets Tobias Harris, Glen Head, N.Y., power forward: 13.3 points per game Michael Gbinije, Christchurch, Va., shooting guard (2011): 13 points per game Terrence Jones, Portland, Ore., power forward: 9.1 points per game Will Regan, Buffalo, N.Y., power forward: 6.7 points per game C.J. Leslie, Holly Springs, N.C., power forward: 6.0 points per game Mychal Parker, Washington, N.C., small forward: 5.7 points per game Stats: Baltimore players C.J. Fair (Syracuse), City small forward: 5.4 points per game Jordan Latham (Xavier), City center: 4.4 points per game

Reports: Terps land Georgia DE

2009-06-21T01:00:38Z

Multiple media outlets are reporting that defensive end Nermin Delic committed to Maryland today. Delic, a three-star prospect who also plays tight end for Northwest Whitfield in Dalton, Ga., pledged to the Terps at their summer football camp. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder told Rivals.com he could play defensive end or tight end in college. “I don’t have a preference as far as position,” he said. “I’ve played more at defensive end but I will be playing more tight end this season. I picked Maryland for all the other reasons aside from football, life after football and the people I met.” Delic, who was born in Bosnia and came to the United States at age 6, picked Maryland over offers from Marshall, Florida International, Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee State. Check back with Recruiting Report later this week for more on Delic’s commitment.