Bobby Steinburg knew exactly what he was getting when he recruited Tyree Evans to Motlow State (Tenn.) Community College.

Evans, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound shooting guard, had just parted ways with Butler (Kan.) Community College after a season in which he averaged 19 points per game. Thanks to Evans’ well-documented troubled past, more than a few eyebrows were probably raised at Steinburg’s new addition to the Bucks’ roster.

But Steinburg, who had just completed his first season as Motlow’s head coach, was confident that Evans’ troubles were behind him.

“I think that he was confident that all that stuff was behind him and he came in and acted like a grown man,” Steinburg said. “I didn't have any worries about him when I brought him in. ... It wasn't like he was trying to brown-nose to make me believe that he was going to be a good kid.”

Steinburg was also positive that Evans would make a major impact on the court.

“I knew what I was getting and that's exactly what I got -- a guy that can score the ball and lead his team to victory,” Steinburg said. “I knew how good he was so it wasn't like he came in and exceeded expectations.”

Evans, who signed with Maryland last week, averaged 21.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists for Motlow, which finished 28-5. He also shot 45 percent from the field, and 44 percent from three-point range.

“He could've scored 40 (points per game) if he wanted to,” Steinburg said. “We had other guys on this team. We had a lot of double-digit scorers. ... Tyree was obviously our primary scorer, but it wasn't like he had to score 40 points a night. We had other options.”

According to Steinburg, Maryland initially expressed interest in Evans during his freshman season at Butler. When Evans moved on to Motlow, the Terps already had an in -- when Steinburg was an assistant at UC Davis, UM assistant Robert Ehsan was one of his players. Steinburg also had a good relationship with Terps assistant Chuck Driesell.

Steinburg said choosing Maryland wasn’t a tough decision for Evans. With two years of junior college experience and available playing time, Evans is expected to contribute immediately as a junior in College Park. Steinburg thinks he’s ready to “be a scoring threat in the ACC.”

“He’s just a scorer, a big-time shooter with unlimited range,” Steinburg said. “He’s strong, understands the game. He understands how to get to the basket. He’s got a good first step. He just has a unique ability to put the ball in the basket. He’s a good on ball defender as well.”

While Steinburg was confident that Evans’ off-the-court problems were behind him once he enrolled at Motlow, he’s aware that some Maryland fans might have some reservations. Steinburg said he thinks Evans will quickly alleviate those concerns.

“You can't believe everything you read and he's a good kid,” Steinburg said. “He’s got a big heart and I think that the people in the community and administration will enjoy having him there. I know they will.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
                    

Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College point guard Bobby Maze started his lone season at the junior college level with a fairly prominent target on his back.

Having left Oklahoma after his freshman season and resurfacing at Hutch as a sophomore, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Suitland native was well-known among JuCo players, coaches and fans before he ever suited up for the Blue Dragons.

But according to Hutchinson head coach Ryan Swanson, Maze not only embraced that spotlight -- he thrived in it.

“Bobby started the year at an extremely high level,” Swanson said. “He had some 30-point games for us early, he had some 12- and 13-assist games early, and he never got tired. He never fell off. I would say he might’ve gotten a little bit better at deciding when he needed to score and when he needed to get his teammates more involved. Bobby is a pass-first guy, but he knew we needed him to score.

“By the end of the year he got really good at reading what the defense was giving him. Some teams would box-and-one him, or do anything they could to not let him get 30 points, but then he’d get a bunch of assists. So he was a very good teammate in that regard.”

When Maze verbally committed to Maryland in December, his already high profile was elevated to another degree.

“Oh yeah, a lot was made of [Maze’s commitment to Maryland], especially when he had so many good games early,” Swanson said. “After we started out of conference after Christmas -- and that was about the time he committed to Maryland -- that was another bit of bulletin board material for another team. Hutch is one of only three junior colleges in the country with 1,500 wins. There’s a lot of tradition here and a lot of championships. As a team, we’re used to getting everybody’s best shot anyway, just like Bobby was individually getting everybody’s best shot.”

Maze responded to ‘everybody’s best shot’ by averaging 20.7 points, 6.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. He also shot 50.5 percent from the field, leading Hutchinson to a 23-9 record. For his efforts, Maze was named Most Valuable Player for the Jayhawk Conference Western Division.

Swanson said Maze’s play probably helped him immediately ascend to the role of team leader. But beyond that, Maze’s attitude and work ethic was embraced by his teammates and the coaching staff.

“Bobby was clearly our best player, but I think the guys also respected Bobby because he was also our hardest worker,” Swanson said. “He always stayed after practice to work on his game and encouraged others to do the same. So it was an easy transition for him. The thing that I appreciated about Bobby was that he didn’t come in thinking that junior college was beneath him like a lot of guys who transfer from Division I do.”

Swanson thinks Maze’s experience at Oklahoma and Hutchinson will help make his transition to Maryland rather seamless.

“I would think that he would have a lot easier time than most junior college players for two reasons; one is because he’s extremely talented, and two because he’s already been at the high-major level and been productive at that level,” Swanson said. “The talent level of the opponents, even though it’s going to go up drastically, is not something he’s never seen before. This is a kid who guarded [Kansas point guard] Sherron Collins and people like that. By no means will he be intimidated.”

Maze is currently finishing up his associate’s degree requirements. After that task is complete, Maze will enroll at College Park, completing a circuitous path which took him from Suitland to Patterson Prep (N.C.) to Oklahoma to Hutchinson. Swanson thinks Maze is finally ready to return to his home state.

“Right now he’s just focusing on trying to finish up academically strong,” Swanson said. “And he’s excited. It’s a chance to go back to playing in one of the best conferences in the country and a chance to go home to play. I think he’s extremely excited to go home and play.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Maryland women’s basketball commitment Dee Liles will suit up for the Terps next season with an already impressive resume.

During her sophomore season, Liles helped lead Gulf Coast (Fla.) Community College to the National Junior College Athletic Association championship. She earned MVP honors at the NJCAA tournament. And Liles was named Junior College Player of the Year.

Liles, a 6-foot forward, averaged 11.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game during Gulf Coast’s regular season. But according to Commodores head coach Roonie Scovel, those numbers were a little deceiving.

“You would have to look beyond the numbers because she was one of five kids averaging double-figures,” Scovel said. “What made her so special was her presence on the court. We probably wouldn't have been as successful without her. She had to guard so many positions. Her athleticism is what separates her -- that's the bottom line. She's a phenomenal athlete and I don't know if there’s a better athlete than her on the college level.”

Liles saved her best performances of the year for the NJCAA tournament. The Suitland native averaged 12.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals during the four-game tournament. Scovel said those four games were the culmination of her two years at Gulf Coast.

“I thought she was the most consistent that I've seen her in two years -- the most consistent production and effort in two years,” Scovel said. “... She seemed to be real focused on that task at hand.”

There’s been some debate about what Liles’ best position at the next level would be. At 6-foot, maybe 6-foot-1, she’s a touch undersized for forward. But while initially Scovel thought size would be a concern, she’s now changed her tune.

“We were concerned her freshman year that she’d have to improve [her outside game] to play on the perimeter, but I've changed my thoughts on that,” Scovel said. “Even though she's undersized, her athleticism makes her play much bigger. I think she'll be able to work in the post and in the perimeter some. She hit some really nice perimeter shots. All of our [NJCAA tournament] games were close, and she hit baseline jumpers, shots from the free throw line. She's very, very quick, and has an unbelievable ability to jump.”

On the defensive end, Liles’ size shouldn’t be a concern at all, according to Scovel.

“The athleticism, the ability to get rebounds off the rim and defend -- she's such a tremendous defender,” Scovel said. “Taking charges seems to be a lost art, but she's very good at that. She can take away the lane and block shots. She’s a tremendous shot-blocker, and we’re going to miss the athleticism. You don't get players to come along that often that have that type of athleticism.”

Scovel said she’ll miss Liles’ basketball IQ and athleticism next year. But she thinks Liles is ready to take that next step.

“I think she’s going to do fine,” Scovel said. “She trained with Team USA, made it to training camp there, so she's played with the best of the best. She was one of the finalists [to make the team], so she’s obviously shown that she's a top athlete that can play at the next level. She's going to have to consistently do it on a day-to-day basis to keep with the success [Maryland’s] having.

“She's going to a place that's got tremendous basketball players, but she's coming from one well-diversified team and going to another,” Scovel said. “Of course I think they’re losing some of that, so I'm sure they'll expect her to give them quality minutes. She's not going to have to change the things she does, but she’ll step it up to play in the ACC.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
                    

Jin Soo Kim’s junior season at South Kent (Conn.) School was a pretty eventful one.

In October, the 6-foot-8 small forward committed to Maryland, becoming the Terps’ first commitment of the 2009 class.

Then in mid-January, South Kent head coach Raphael Chillious took a job with Nike’s grassroots basketball division. Chillious left South Kent, handing the reigns to the Cardinals program to longtime assistant and school athletic director Owen Finberg.

Those events were two pretty substantial moments for Kim, a native of Korea who came to the United States for school about four years ago. But according to Finberg, Kim handled this year of transition well.

“Jin Soo really took a big step forward this year,” Finberg said. “In the past, he’s had trouble adjusting to the strength and the speed of the game and he caught up with all that this year. He was ready to play on a nightly basis -- he really came in with an attitude that he was going to make a mark on this team every game out. I think the areas that he improved in the most were his rebounding, certainly. That was probably his biggest improvement. And he improved defensively as well. On the defensive side, he still has a long way to go and a lot of that is due to his lack of strength at this point.”

Kim averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and one block per game for South Kent, which finished 17-17.

On a team that featured multiple future Division I players, including Washington-bound point guard Isaiah Thomas and Virginia signee Assane Sene, Kim more than held his own.

“He stepped into the role where he’s more of an impact player, starting 80 or 90 percent of our games,” Finberg said. “He handles that pretty well. Obviously, he’d like to get more shots. Isaiah kind of dominated the offense this year, being our point guard and best offensive player. But [Kim] adjusted well.”

Whether Kim was starting or coming off the bench, Finberg could always count on the future Terp to showcase his shooting ability.

“That’s what he does best. His stroke is pure,” Finberg said. “He shot the ball very well. He can really flat-out shoot. One of the other things he improved upon was his confidence -- being ready to go in and make an impact in the game. When he came with that mindset, he really did a nice job shooting the ball for us.”

Right now Kim’s plans for the summer are “a little bit up in the air,” according to Finberg. While South Kent has just resumed its semester following spring break, Kim remains in Korea, where he’s enrolled in a SAT prep class. He'll be back in Connecticut soon, but according to Finberg, Kim’s exploring his options for next year.

“He’s considering the option of being at Maryland next year if that’s possible to do,” Finberg said. “It’s kind of a long shot, but he’s one of the players that’s had the most trouble with the [coaching] transition [at South Kent]. Coach Chillious brought him in, and I think [Jin Soo] really kind of felt left hanging by the whole deal, even though he didn’t express it that way. So he’s looking at that option to really see what he can do.”

Finberg acknowledged that Maryland’s scholarship situation makes Kim enrolling early at College Park an especially unlikely scenario, but it’s not completely out of the question. Finberg ultimately expects Kim to suit up for the Albany (N.Y.) City Rocks AAU team this summer, and be back for his senior year at South Kent in the fall. In the past, Kim has returned to Korea during the summer, but Finberg expects he’ll stay in Connecticut, play AAU ball and participate in a few camps.

Between now and senior year, Finberg expects Kim to continue putting in long hours at the South Kent weight room and in the gym. But as far as Kim’s development is concerned, Finberg says he’s on the right track.

“Most of all, I’m just happy he’s continued his improvement and maturation,” Finberg said. “If he continues on that pace, he’s certainly got a very good chance to be a pro. I just look for him to continue to improve, and I think Maryland’s going to be a great place for him to do that.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
                    

It wasn’t the ideal ending to Maryland women’s basketball commitment Lynetta Kizer’s career.

Kizer’s Potomac (Va.) squad dropped a 60-41 decision to George Washington-Danville in a Northwest Region semifinal playoff.

Kizer, who contributed 17 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and three assists in the effort, was ejected in the waning minutes of Potomac’s loss after receiving her second technical of the game.

According to Potomac head coach Mike Wilson, who was also ejected from the game, Kizer might have been a bit overzealous in her career finale, but the passion she exhibited was just an example of her competitive nature.

“I’m sure it was a frustrating situation on her part as well as mine,” Wilson said. “… But I think she’s the kind of girl that can get you up for a game. She’s got a lot of energy, a lot of passion for the game and that’s what makes her the player that she is. She loves basketball.”

The 6-foot-3 Kizer, ranked as HoopGurlz.com’s No. 5 player in the country for the class of 2008, averaged 20.6 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks, 2.5 assists and 2 steals per game as a senior. Her play propelled Potomac to a 15-10 record and a postseason appearance in the Virginia Group AAA Northwest Region Tournament.

In Wilson’s three years as head coach of Potomac, he’s seen the team’s play improve as Kizer has matured. The evidence of this can be found in the Panthers’ Cardinal District finishes during Kizer’s final three high school seasons.

“Each year we improved as a team,” Wilson said. “We went from last place [in Kizer’s sophomore year], to third place [her junior year] to second place [this year]. We played in the postseason [this year]. In the past two years, we really didn’t beat any good teams. This year we beat good teams and had the opportunity to play against some of the better teams in the Washington area and it was because of her. She kept us in every game by playing hard and doing the things we asked her to do.”

Potomac held its end-of-the-year banquet this week, celebrating the Panthers’ successes and Kizer’s career. For Wilson, the event was bittersweet because he was saying goodbye to his star player, but the event was an appropriate send-off/celebration that nearly choked him up.

“It’s the same girl I saw when I first entered Potomac -- just very excited,” Wilson said. “She was our most valuable player, so I mentioned all her accolades. Just when I was getting started, the crowd starting to clap. I had goose bumps because it was a situation where I was very proud of her, and just trying to give her her due as one of the top players in the nation.”

Kizer’s played most of her Potomac career with a target placed squarely on her back. Her commitment to Maryland enhanced that, as did her top-five ranking. But according to Wilson, Kizer never let the hype affect her.

“I think she’s real humble,” Wilson said. “And that’s the thing -- we know that she’s one of the top five players in the country, but that rarely comes up in conversations. And when we deal with the team, it rarely comes up. To us, she’s just Lynetta. We don’t really pay attention to all that kind of stuff.”

Wilson and Kizer have, however, paid close attention to Maryland’s on-court successes this season. Kizer has been a frequent Comcast Center visitor as a high school senior. Once Kizer adjusts to the speed of the college game, Wilson expects his star to make a significant impact in College Park.

“Well the first thing I expect her to do is get down there in the summer and work her butt off,” Wilson said. “I expect her to be a big contributor. With [Crystal] Langhorne and [Laura] Harper leaving, she can step in right away and contribute.

“I just hope she goes there and just tears things up just like she did here at Potomac. I hope she has a lot of success because she deserves it. And I hope she gets the accolades she deserves as a player and a person. She is our MVP. I was proud and happy to have her as a player and as a student-athlete at Potomac.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Before this season, Caravel (Del.) Academy girls basketball coach Kristin Caldwell had multiple discussions with junior point guard Dara Taylor about her role on the team.

Caldwell wanted Taylor, who committed to Maryland in December, to take on more of a leadership role. Up until her junior year, Taylor had let her play do the talking, often deferring to her older teammates. That wasn’t the case this year.

“I think she used to be the type of kid as a freshman and a sophomore who’d get really frustrated with her own mistakes to the point where she couldn’t help other players because she was frustrated with herself,” Caldwell said. “But this year, she was perfect as a leader. Even if she made a mistake, she was mature enough to know the team needed her to be more vocal, talk to kids and explain things. Sometimes it’s better for her to explain things to the kids [on the court] rather than me taking the timeout. The kids really respond to her and they really respect her.”

Taylor, 5 feet 6, averaged 16 points, 6.5 assists and 5 steals this season for Caravel, which finished 10-11 playing an exceedingly challenging schedule that included out-of-state matchups with powerhouse programs such as Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro), Germantown Academy (Fort Washington, Pa.) and St. Michael Academy (New York City).

Taylor’s junior year came to an end last Thursday with a 54-52 loss to Middletown in the second round of the Delaware High School Girls Basketball Tournament. Taylor led Caravel with 22 points, eight assists and five steals in the loss.

Despite the disappointing end to Caravel's season, Caldwell was extremely pleased with Taylor’s play. During those preseason sit-downs with Taylor, Caldwell asked her point guard to be more than just a vocal leader. She also asked Taylor to develop into a scoring point guard – something the pass-first Taylor wasn’t accustomed to.

“I think in AAU, her team (the Philadelphia Belles) is loaded,” Caldwell said. “So she was kind of used to being a ball distributor. They had good kids inside, great kids who can shoot it. And even in my program there were always a few other kids -- she could make plays for them. But [this year] we needed her to score … she became our No. 1 scoring option. Probably our last eight games she scored 20 or more points and really did a great job with that role. Her decision making improved a ton. It proved to her that she is a scoring point guard and that’s what she needed to be.”

For the offseason, Taylor will suit up again for the Philadelphia Belles. Last summer she worked on her offensive game and developing into more of a leader. This year, Caldwell’s got a couple more tasks on the player-development agenda.

“I would really like to see her … work really hard in the weight room,” Caldwell said. “I think, anticipating for her after next year when she gets to Maryland, I’d like to see her get stronger. I’d like to see her keep focusing on improving her three-point shot. I think she hit way more threes this year than the last two. Her pull-up game is really good. But if she improves [her outside shooting] she’ll be even more dangerous on offense.”

Taylor and Caldwell have closely followed Maryland’s season, and the future Terp has made a few visits to College Park for games. But Taylor still has her senior year at Caravel ahead of her, which brings a smile to Caldwell’s face.

“That’s the best thing,” Caldwell said. “I have her for a whole ‘nother year.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

As a 6-foot-2, 215-pound sophomore, the odds of Richmond (Va.) Monacan offensive lineman Justin Gilbert becoming a Division I player at that position were essentially nonexistent.

Two years, four inches and 65 pounds later, Gilbert is the happy beneficiary of a startling growth spurt that allowed him to beat those odds.

According to Danny Parsons, Gilbert’s coach at Monacan, the 6-foot-6, 280-pound Terps offensive tackle commitment is still adapting to that unforeseen body transformation.

“I think he’s still getting used to carrying that weight,” Parsons said. “He got so big so fast. Heck, he might even grow another inch. He might even get to 6-7. ... He’s never been a fat kid or muscled up -- just a tall thinner guy who just kept on growing, got bigger and bigger. He’s never been a big overweight guy or anything like that. You look at him and you can tell he’ll be able to, with [Maryland’s] weight program, that he’ll be able to put on an easy 20-25 pounds.”

During his senior season, Gilbert played both ways for Monacan, accumulating 22 tackles, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble, despite missing three and a half games on defense due to an ankle injury.

A Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch All-Metro selection, Gilbert helped guide Monacan to a 6-5 record and the program’s first playoff berth since the 2000 season. According to Parsons, Monacan has had several recent players go from prep school or junior college to the Division I level, but Gilbert -- to Parsons’ knowledge -- is the first direct high school to DI Monacan player.

Parsons said Monacan’s on-field success was due in some part to Gilbert’s individual improvement.

“He’s gotten more aggressive,” Parsons said, “and his technique has gotten so much better. He’s always gone to a lot of camps and always worked on his individual techniques as well as hand placement. He also worked on strength in the weight room and he’s gotten quicker in the feet. That’s what [coaches] really look for. He can run a 5.0 40, so he runs pretty well for a kid that size. He’s got some athletic ability.”

Maryland wasn’t the first school to recognize that athletic ability (and size), but the Terps were one of the biggest. Army, East Carolina, Marshall, Richmond and James Madison were some of the schools recruiting Gilbert, and Virginia Tech also came forward with a grayshirt offer.

According to Parsons, the Terps weren’t all that interested in Gilbert based on his tape. But when he came up to College Park for Maryland’s summer camp, the coaches were sold on his potential. One factor that ultimately sold Gilbert on Maryland over Virginia Tech was the business program.

“I know his grades are very good,” Parsons said. “He’s got a GPA higher than a 3.5. He’s a good kid, well liked by teachers, stuff like that. That’s what I told [Maryland offensive line] coach [Tom] Brattan -- he’s a typical offensive lineman. You never hear about an offensive lineman getting in trouble ... so he’s one of those guys. He’s a little bit of a country type kid -- likes to hunt, stuff like that.”

As for football, Parsons has high expectations for his star left tackle when he arrives in College Park, but notes that Gilbert’s development will take some time.

“I talked to coach Brattan, [and Justin's] going to be a redshirt,” Parsons said. “They’ll beef him up, let him learn the systems. As a redshirt freshman, he’s probably not going to crack the lineup then, but as a redshirt sophomore, he’ll crack the two-deep.

“He’s smart, runs well and has good feet. So he has all that going for him. Now he really looks the part. ... I know [Maryland puts] out some good linemen. He’s got that build and I think he’s got the work ethic. Maybe he can even go to the next level. I don’t know if that’s possible, but hey, there’s always a shot.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Before the high school football season, Surrattsville running back and 2008 Maryland football commitment Davin Meggett was known more for his famous father, former New York Giants running back Dave Meggett, than anything else.

But after a season in which Meggett gained 1,784 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns on 169 carries, while also catching nine passes for 410 yards and six touchdowns, it’s probably safe to say he’s made a name for himself.

While Division I schools – save for Maryland – were slow to recognize Meggett’s potential, Surrattsville head coach Tom Green was unsurprised with his star running back’s breakout senior year.

“I was expecting it,” Green said. “But this summer I saw him in person and saw the times he was running. If they didn’t offer, it was like, ‘well, what are you looking for?’ That’s what I was curious about -- the schools that didn’t offer him. Doing the things he was doing, I was a little baffled. But [his season] was expected for me. I knew the kind of talent he had.”

Green said that Meggett has always been fast, noting that he clocked multiple hand-timed 10.8 times in the 100 over the summer. But for some reason, that undefined ‘football speed’ eluded Meggett, particularly on his junior year film.

For whatever reason, that changed prior to Meggett’s senior year.

“I think the game, just playing more football … the game just slowed down for him,” Green said. “Once you know what’s going on and what’s going to happen, you can read the blocks. He made better decisions and trusted where he should go with the ball.”

With Meggett leading a potent Hornets offense, Surrattsville secured its first playoff berth in school history. The team finished with a 10-2 record, falling in the 1A south regional final against eventual state champion Dunbar.

Green describes Meggett as an every-down power back with great speed that can catch the ball out of the backfield. Meggett, a 3.2 student, impressed Green this year beyond the football field as well.

“A lot of his leadership abilities are doing the right things in school, in the hallways and in the classrooms,” Green said. “Helping kids in study hall, tutoring other kids and helping them bring their grades up. A lot of his leadership abilities off the field were probably just as important as what he did on the field.”

While Meggett’s senior year was much better than most expected, Green thinks that flying under the radar suited the future Terp well.

“I’m kind of happy that he was underrated because that made him work hard,” Green said. “He was okay with it. The fact that he did get the offer from Maryland, he knows his work is being recognized.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Maryland defensive tackle commitment Cody Blue was a marked man all season long.

Word traveled fast throughout the Howard County high school football scene when Blue, a 6-foot-5, 275-pounder at Wilde Lake, committed to the Terps last May.

So when Blue suited up for the Wildecats this fall, high school football observers might have expected to see a dominating force, something that was neither fair or realistic according to Wilde Lake head coach Doug DuVall.

“It’s always hard because [fans] don’t quite realize that often times big linemen signed to Division I schools are signed for their ability growth-wise, strength-wise,” DuVall said. “So you might find better high school players, but because they’re 5’10 and 195, [they might not play DI]. But they may be a better player at this point.

“[People will think], ‘a kid that big, he just ought to take the whole game over by himself.’ Well he takes his section over, but linemen just don’t [take games over]. ... The really good high school linemen [colleges are] looking for, it’s almost like in race horses. [They’re] looking for the pedigree, the build. That’s what they’re looking for in a lineman. Kids that are going to be big, carry 300 pounds and can run.”

In DuVall’s opinion, that description fits Blue perfectly. He’s got the size with the room to add some weight, and he ran a 4.9 40-yard dash at Maryland’s summer football camp.

But all the potential/productivity discussion is not to say that Blue had a down year -- quite the contrary. A co-captain, Blue recorded 38 tackles and 4 sacks on the season, helping Wilde Lake to a 10-3 season and a 3A semifinal appearance.

And perhaps most importantly, Blue got better with each game.

“Against North Harford in our quarterfinal he really had a great game,” DuVall said. “He sacked the quarterback and shut the option down. As the season went on he got better and better. In all the playoff games he played really well.”

DuVall likens Blue’s potential to another former Wilde Lake standout, current Terps offensive lineman Dane Randolph. While they play on different sides of the ball, Blue possesses the same size and strength as Randolph, in addition to having slightly better speed.

Blue, a Maryland fan since middle school, has really been working since that time toward becoming a Terp. Add that desire to his measureables and consistent improvement, and DuVall thinks Maryland is getting a great prospect.

“I think he’ll be fine,” DuVall said. “He’s one of those kids that by the time he’s a senior, he could be an all-ACC player because he’s big and he can run and he’s athletic. ... He’s got great lateral speed, playing up and down the line of scrimmage. He can get to that corner in a hurry and that’s important at the collegiate level because the game's so wide open. That’s a big plus that he can run sideways. ... Cody’s going to be a good player.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The senior season of Maryland defensive tackle commitment Masengo Kabongo was not without its fair share of adversity.

Fairfield (Conn.) Prep was 3-1 heading in to an Oct. 12 date with Cheshire, but the Jesuits suffered a humbling 42-7 loss that day. According to Fairfield Prep head coach Rich Magdon, the entire team played “terrible” -- Kabongo included. But Magdon’s star defensive tackle, a 3.3 student, may have been distracted thanks to an academic issue at school.

“I’ll tell you what; he got in a jam in school that day,” Magdon said. “He had a real big test the last period of the day. He said he wasn’t prepared for it, he went into the teacher’s classroom two periods before and said he didn’t feel good.”

But Kabongo felt just fine, and somehow the teacher got wind of his excuse. That revelation earned Kabongo a trip to the Dean of Students office.

“He got ripped,” Magdon said. “That might have deflated him on that given day.”

That didn’t excuse his poor play that day, said Magdon, but for an academically-conscious kid like Kabongo, it was certainly something that weighed on his mind.

Kabongo and Fairfield regrouped and rallied following the Cheshire loss, winning their last five games to finish the season at 8-2. While it wasn’t enough to earn a playoff berth, Magdon felt the Cheshire loss was a turning point for his team, and Kabongo.

“Well he responded by playing with more enthusiasm and more intensity,” Magdon said. “He had a good season. Against the run he was very, very tough. A lot of teams would try him and then just go the other way. Very few people would run at him with a lot of success and they wouldn’t even try it. They’d test him early and then go away from him. He didn’t have as many sacks as last season, but they ran away from him.”

Kabongo recorded 47 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 8 quarterback knockdowns and 3 forced fumbles on the season.

While his statistics were down from his junior season, Kabongo’s performance and potential has kept other schools to continue courting the future Terp. Magdon still receives mail inquiring about Kabongo from Miami, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue and Virginia, while still fielding the occasional phone call from Boston College, Florida and Illinois.

“People are still bugging him from other places,” Magdon said. “His head’s on right and he’s serious about Maryland and that’s where he really wants to go and I think he’ll do very well.

“There’s no worry in my mind [of Kabongo switching commitments]. He really got along well with the Illinois coaches and thinks they’re going to be a real national power, but I think he’s set with Maryland. He likes [Director of Character of Education] Kevin [Glover] and he likes [defensive line coach] Dave [Sollazzo] and he likes Coach Fridge. And the big thing is he knows Maryland is an excellent academic school. Believe it or not, that means a lot to him.”

Magdon thinks Kabongo will ultimately be a starter for the Terps, noting that Sollazzo sees him as more than a situational player. It’ll be a challenge for the young defensive tackle, but Magdon feels Kabongo will mature and ultimately flourish in College Park.

“He’s a jovial kid,” Magdon said. “He’s a real likeable kid. He’s always in a pretty good mood, he’s very congenial and very jovial. But he’s a kid. Maska hasn’t turned 17 yet -- he’ll turn 17 in May, so he’s still a pup in a lot of ways. Even that day with the exam, you get mad at him, but you shrug it off. He’s like a big Saint Bernard.

“Is it going to be a challenge? Sure it’s going to be a challenge. He’s going from high school to the Atlantic Coast Conference. He’s going to be a small fish in big pond, but if he keeps his head on and doesn’t get distracted he’ll be fine -- both in the classroom and on the football field.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The height and weight dimensions of 6-foot-8, 280-pound R.J. Dill don’t necessarily scream out ‘basketball star,’ but that’s what the Maryland offensive tackle commitment initially envisioned for himself during his early high school years.

Toward the end of his junior season of football, however, the switch flipped for the Camp Hill, Pa. native. Dill began to realize that his athletic potential was on the football field, not the hardwood. According to Trinity head coach Jeff Boger, that realization was the right one in terms of potential. But Dill’s affinity for hoops was still important for his development as an offensive lineman.

“He’s not bad,” Boger said of Dill’s basketball-playing abilities. “For 6’8, 280 he can get up and down the court pretty good. He takes up space. He gives them height when they need it and he can score it at times. He’s not going to set the world on fire, even though he might tell you differently. But I mean he’s a good basketball player and it definitely helps him being a lineman because it just helps him with his feet. If you can move up and down the basketball court, you have the ability to be a good lineman.”

His nimble footwork and a revitalized focus on football – thanks in part to calls from dozens of college recruiters – set the stage for Dill to flourish as a senior. Defensively, he contributed 26 tackles, two forced fumbles and four quarterback hurries.

At the right tackle position, Dill paved the way for a Trinity rushing attack that accumulated 3,244 yards and 37 touchdowns. The Shamrocks averaged 5.7 yards per attempt throughout their 12-1 season, which ended in the district finals.

“I don’t know for sure, but I’d say the majority of those yards came because we were going to the right, which was the side he was on,” Boger said. “And I would say the same for the touchdowns. I would say the majority came from the right side.”

If there’s a knock on Dill’s play, it’s that he didn’t get much of an opportunity to develop his pass blocking skills thanks to Trinity’s Wing-T offense.

Still, Boger feels the potential is there, and when the Shamrocks did drop back, Dill held his own.

“We don’t pass that much,” Boger said, “but for what we did, he did fine. He’s going to see a lot of different stuff in college. But when he went to the combines for the colleges, [pass blocking is] what they really looked at. From my understanding, from the coaches that came through, he really showed some good pass blocking ability. It’s there -- it just needs to be harnessed more.”

Boger, who has coached Dill for three years on the Trinity varsity, cautions that his star offensive tackle is still ‘a young pup.’ In fact, Dill will still be 17 when he enrolls at College Park.

But according to Boger, the Terps are getting a hardworking player on the field, and an entertaining personality off it.

“They’re going to get a kid that is going to work hard and I think they’re going to enjoy him,” Boger said. “He’s silly at times, he has a good sense of humor and he’ll sweat a lot. He’ll do stuff and he sweats up a storm really quickly. It’s actually pretty funny.

“I’m sad to see him go, but four or five years from now, Maryland will be sad to see him go. We all have times when you have to go to the next level. But I look forward to seeing what he can do.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

Teddy Dargan’s senior season got off to a rough start.

The Maryland commitment and Milford Mill defensive tackle broke a bone in his leg in June, putting his final year of high school football in question. But in early September, Dargan got some good news on the injury front.

“He got cleared a week before the first game,” said Milford Mill head coach Reggie White. “He was cleared to practice light ... but he wasn’t completely ready. Teams were double-teaming him and he was very apprehensive about his leg ... I knew he was a tough kid. He was like, ‘I’m going to get through this regardless.’”

As the season progressed, Dargan became more comfortable on his leg. He rebounded from his slow start to record 57 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles.

But during the week of the Franklin game -- the third to last game of the year -- Dargan came down with a nasty flu bug. The illness sidelined Dargan for the rest of year, which included single-digit Milford Mill losses to Franklin and Perry Hall.

“He makes us win [those games],” White said. “We lost one by seven (Franklin) and one by three (Perry Hall). We were on the goal line vs. Perry Hall and we would’ve run behind him because he plays offensive tackle as well.”

While it wasn’t the ideal senior year, White was pleased with Dargan’s ability to play through adversity and grasp some of the nuances of the defensive tackle position.

“He’s got to get faster, stronger, meaner,” White said. “[But] like I said, he’s a fast learner. He learned a lot of stuff real quick and was able to adapt to some of my teaching. He took a lot of stuff to the field. He learned to play at a lower level.”

Following a standout career at North Carolina A&T, White moved on to a five-year NFL career, starting with the San Diego Chargers in 1992. White’s tenure with the Chargers coincided with Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen joining San Diego’s staff.

Having played under Friedgen and developing "a lot of respect for the entire staff" over the years, White believes the Maryland coaches will do their best to keep Dargan motivated and continue his learning curve and overall development.

“Well I’ll tell you what, I think Maryland’s a great fit for him,” White said. “He’s going to be shocked to realize these guys are bigger and faster and stronger than him. He’s going to have to play and use the leverage tools [we’ve worked on]. But he’ll get adjusted. He’ll get his butt whipped, but then he’ll get adjusted. ... Everybody needs a good swift kick some time.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

Statistics don’t always present an accurate portrayal of a player’s talents, but in the case of 2008 Maryland cornerback commit Cameron Chism, the stats probably don’t lie.

During Bishop McNamara’s 6-5 season, Chism registered 81 tackles, five interceptions and returned one fumble recovery for a touchdown. Offensively, the 6-foot-1, 180-pounder caught 41 passes for 750 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 157 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries.

“He played very solid,” said Bishop McNamara head coach Bryce Bevill. “He stepped up in big games, against Gonzaga particularly. He blocked an extra point, scored on a 61-yard touchdown reception, had a pick that set up another score. As a DI player, you look at his stats, and I firmly believe he should be an All-Met (D.C.) guy. He scored touchdowns receiving, rushing and on a recovered fumble.”

In college, Chism is pegged for cornerback (although Bevill believes he’s a DI-caliber receiver, as well). But the two-way versatility Chism showcased during his junior and senior seasons, plus his special teams experience, could translate to early contributions for the Terps.

“I think he has a chance as a freshman to go in and play on the defensive side of the ball and I think that’s what he’s mostly excited about,” Bevill said. “You can use him as a kick returner, punt returner. The unique thing about him is that he’s long snapped for us the past two years. He understands the importance of special teams and that’s the quickest way to get on the field in college.”

Bevill played, and later coached, at DeMatha before taking the Bishop McNamara post in 2004. One notable DeMatha standout that Bevill tutored was former Maryland and current Seattle Seahawks cornerback Josh Wilson.

According to Bevill, there are some definite similarities between Wilson and Chism.

“Honestly, they’re very, very similar,” Bevill said. “[Josh] was a very physical player with great speed. He wasn’t as tall or big as Cameron. ... Josh was also a very quality receiver in high school. They have great speed. The difference between them is the size difference.

“One thing Josh did exceptionally well was he improved every year as a corner at the University of Maryland. I know Cam has that work ethic. ... He’s got what a lot of people are looking for, he has size and speed. He’s a rangy guy with great ball skills.”

Bevill thought Chism met the high expectations set for him during his senior year -- both offensively and defensively. In this case, the statistics back up Chism’s talents.

“He was balanced and consistent in everything he did,” Bevill said. “I’ve always said he could go to the next level and play on either side of the ball, but he has a liking to defense. It was pleasure to coach him for three years. I look forward to seeing him do good things on Saturdays as a Maryland Terrapin.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

It’s no secret that 2008 Terps linebacker commit Demetrius Hartsfield possesses the physical talents required of a DI linebacker prospect. His performance at Maryland’s summer camp proved as much.

But according to Daniel Finn, the head coach at Southeast Raleigh (N.C.) High School, Hartsfield’s senior year showed him to be more than just a physical specimen.

“He knows how to make the adjustments out there,” Finn said. “He gets everybody lined up. It’s basically like having another coach out there. He spent a lot of time learning the signals. He’s very football smart.”

That football intelligence paid off for Hartsfield from a statistical standpoint. During Southeast Raleigh’s 8-4 season, Hartsfield recorded 124 tackles, 10 sacks and two fumble recoveries from the inside linebacker position. At tight end, Hartsfield hauled in four passes, including one touchdown.

Finn wasn’t surprised that Hartsfield had such great success as a senior. But his senior year went beyond the numbers, according to Finn.

“[His performance was] exactly what I expected,” Finn said. “He was a good leader for us. He kind of led our whole team. He played hard and basically shut down the middle of the offense. He forced everything outside. We weren’t worried about people running inside on us. He did really well this year.”

Hartsfield’s individual achievements can be attributed to the labor put in throughout the summer, and really since the end of his junior year. Finn and the SRHS coaching staff worked Hartsfield hard, and he responded in a big way.

“We worked on his speed and flexibility,” Finn said. “We didn’t think we moved very well in space so we concentrated on that. We got his 40 time down to about a 4.67, it used to be 4.8 or 4.9. He got his weight up. He was 205, now he’s weighing about 225. He really put time in the weight room and got physically ready to play.”

Hartsfield plans to enroll at College Park for the winter semester, joining the Terps in time for spring practice. Finn thinks the head start will benefit Hartsfield in learning the defensive system.

“I expect once he learns the system and the terminology that he’ll fit in pretty well,” Finn said. “Our defensive coordinator played college football and he helped [Demetrius] learn his terminology. I think once he starts feeling comfortable with the terminology, he’ll be fine. I think mentally and physically he can handle it.”

Hartsfield committed to the Terps in June, really before his recruiting process took off. In Finn’s opinion, the early commitment was a great move, and ultimately the perfect fit for his star linebacker.

“I know Maryland’s sending linebackers to the NFL and that’s one of the things Demetrius was looking at,” Finn said. “He’s got family up there and I think that’ll help him being away from his mom. It’s not that far a drive from Raleigh. I think Maryland’s getting ready to come back on the upswing. I think they’re going to be really, really good these next couple of years.

“I really think he’s ready to go. I think he’s going to fit right in up there. Once he learns everything he’s going to be fine. He’s got good support from his family. I think he’s going to jump right in and have a heck of a career.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)