I'm very disappointed in Gary and Debbie. I remember how I felt about Shelden Williams, and he's a saint compared to this thug.

I don't think I'll be able to root for him, and hate to see him take playing time from guys like Eric Hayes, Mosely, Tucker, and Bowie.

Not to mention he's putting the students in danger at UMCP. This kid is a ticking time bomb that will go off soon enough. And if/when it happens at UM, it should cost Gary his job.

This is an excellent post. You are dead on about that hypocrisy of college sports, and I firmly believe that the Terps are letting that rope out for Gary a little quicker these days.

after reading the si.com article, i agree with you Keith. people like the poster Mike Davis have no idea what the word "thug" means, and want to have over-crowded Maryland jails filled with Black men who commit the smallest of crimes. "Hate to see him taking time from Eric Hayes"? Please! Hayes was terrible last year and showed that he's no Steve Blake and doesn't belong in the ACC. Please give me a point guard that can dribble, thank you very much. The other guys you mention didn't get any playing time anyways. "Not to mention he's putting students in danger"...wow. You are ridiculous. I think the students of Maryland can find their mind-altering substances from a myriad of sources...maybe the lax team? Sometimes you gotta take a chance. Go Terps.

Uh, Evans is a ticking time bomb? He's putting students in danger? Don't you think you're overplaying that just a bit?

Great piece. You present a very challenging argument for UMD admitting Evans, one that I couldn't initially understand. My initial opinion of his admittance was that this was either a stroke of genius by Gary or the last act of a desperate, aging coach trying to re-capture the glory. You have to remember the great Bobby Knight won his last NCAA championship after recruiting two JUCO players, Keith Smart and Dean Garrett, to play pivotal roles alongside Steve Alford. The good folks in Bloomington chided him as well.

The difference here is the numerous off-court issues and the repeat violations of the law. College Park is not some rural campus. It's in an urban environment, not to mention an hour or so drive from Evans' Richmond roots. You think some of his old buddies, the same ones he was peddling dope with, might want to hang out with him? Lots of distractions in College Park.

Having played JUCO basketball in the 80's, you quickly find out the players are there for one of two reasons. 1) They simply didn't have the talent to play D-1 coming out of high school and hope that two years in the "minor leagues" will draw interest from a D-1 program or 2) the player had some sort of problem/issue. Call it grades, character, personal issues at home, whatever. Something off the court prevented them from going D-1 out of high school.

I hope this works out well for both Evans and for the University of Maryland. If something drastic happens, this will be the end of the road for Gary Williams. Though I'd prefer to see him retire with great fanafare and admiration, this would put him out to pasture a la Eddie Sutton.

I'm sure the Dukies are already working up the chants-signs-comments for Evans' first trip to Cameron.

The media slays me and the people who post comments obviously have never made mistakes as young people. These are typical statements from people who grew up not having to experience the rough side of life. Mr Mark Davis states Tyree is putting UMCP kids in danger and that he is a ticking time bomb!? Horsecrap! This is how most view African American males with a shaded past. But, last time I checked the last campus (VT) to be in danger had nothing to do with a young Black student athlete. Tyree, go to Maryland and use them for 1 year the same way they are using you. Then go pro and leave this level of hypocrite behind you. (You will have new hypocrites and the next level).

You don't want him taking time from Hayes. I'd have a one armed kid take time from Hayes.

I'm disappointed in Gary, but from reading the SI piece, I get the feeling Debbie Yow was blindsided by this - the basketball program took a hush-hush approach to getting one of those 27 slots for admissions, and never brought up his violent past.

I've been a huge Gary supporter since the day my junior year at UM he was announced as coach. But Maryland doesn't need THIS. Let this kid go to Miami or wherever Bob Huggins is coaching now. I don't want my alma mater to become Thug U.

A second chance is one thing. A kid with multiple arrests and felony charges (albeit not convictions) has used up his second chance and is past chance #5 by this point. Let someone else offer chance #6.

You've certainly rolled out the welcome wagon. I'm sure many schools deal with similar problems every year. As you mentioned, a lot of inner city kids use their athleticism to make a life for themselves. But your point is not limited to them by any means. And as many have commented, Eric Hayes, while a legend in the eyes of his parents, would probably be best suited playing in a less competitive environment.

The media slays me and the people who post comments obviously have never made mistakes as young people

Did I ever body slam a teammate after a game? Nope.

Was I ever connected to a criminal investigation into a sexual assault on a 15 year old? Nope

Was I ever pulled over and found with pot AND a digital scale? Nope.

Have I ever served time in a city jail for any reason? Nope.

I don't see these as impossibly high standards to ask of a potential student-athlete at my state-run alma mater.

I have to say, it's a little scary to read some of the posters comments over at TerpTown.com who are in favor of this signing simply because they want the basketball team to get better:

"If he can shoot the 3 like I've heard, I don't care if he has human heads in his freezer."

"However many women he wants to impregnate is not our business as long as he puts up numbers."

"The whole moral high ground **** is a joke. Being able to say stuff like "at least we dont cheat" or "id rather lose than take a rapist, hehe" was just to ease the pain of LOSING.

Another NIT is way more disastrous than anything Tyree Evans could ever do.

Wow. I can't imagine growing up like Evans did, surrounded by drug dealers and drug users, and I don't think many of can even begin to understand the effect that environment has on a person. That's why I'm in favor of trying to give the kid some stability and structure. But if you just want to barely keep him eligible for 18 months to keep your basketball program afloat, then why even pretend that college sports are anything more than a whorehouse, and Maryland is, at best, the piano player?

Welcome to Rudy Archer part 2. I just hope he doesn't bring down the program like Rudy almost did. This is what Maryland basketball is unfortunately reduced to thanks to all of the "fans" who are screaming bloody murder over Gary's recruiting and the fact that Maryland missed the NCAA's 3 of the last 4 years. Gary Williams has now "sold his soul" and recruited a 1-and-done player who will either raise or poison the program. On talent he alone he can make Maryland a national player again; there's no question of that. The question is at what cost?

I wonder where he thought his brother got the money for his Cadillac in high school with the 21" rims and the three TVs? Gee, could it be from his brother's HEROIN dealing?

Kevin, you are just making excuses for a desperation move by Gary to extend his contract through NCAA tournament invites, Maryland's reputation be damned..

This kid got turned down by Cincinnati and Kansas State. We are now officially off of any moral high ground we ever had.

Two felony charges, 3 arrests, 3 probations, jail time and we make fun of the likes of FSU/Miami/WVa, State Penn/Cincy/etc.

Winning at all costs is not worth it. Gary has hitched himself to this troubled adult and if he screws up, he better take Gary with him

last act of a desperate man. i think debbie is giving gary just enough rope to hang himself on this one.

After reading this and the Richmond article, it is amazing to me that this kid isn't already worse off than he is. I don't think any of the people who are complaining about him would have survived what he's already been through. In fact, from what they've written it seems clear they have no idea that the world isn't exactly the way they imagine it. I've got no problems giving this kid a chance. I'm sure that Gary and the program have laid out what the expectations are in terms of personal behavior. Maybe he will fail, or maybe, he'll continue the progression that is maturation and become productive adult.

"...Not to mention he's putting the students in danger at UMCP."

Get real. UMCP already has REAL issues with security and student safety that go beyond one individual at campus, let alone an individual who will be under more scrutiny than any other student because they are an athlete. The campus already has legit safety problems with the surrounding community, just like a lot of big campus' in densely populated areas throughout the country. To state that Evans will be some kind of danger to students is ridiculous.

Keith,

The only way this kid gets the opportunity to go to Maryland is because he can play basketball. Don't think for a second that there is some altruistic reason. The on-line posts that you reference are what most fans think, but are ashamed to voice it. Did Georgetown fans care about AI's past when he was helping them win games?

Kevin, you are just making excuses for a desperation move by Gary to extend his contract through NCAA tournament invites, Maryland's reputation be damned.

Andy, interestingly enough, I think you're right. I think I am making excuses for Gary because the alternative, while more likely, pretty much exposes big time college sports as a complete joke. I'm saying, do this for philosophical reasons, not for basketball reasons. Otherwise, it's embarrassing. At some point, the hit to your academic credibility becomes so great that no financial windfall can make up for it.

Let me say this, though: Their situations are by no means analogous, but keep in mind that Juan Dixon came a very rough upbringing. Heroin destroyed his immediate family, and if his grandparents, aunts, uncles and brother, Phil, were not there to step in and help raise him, he may very well have fallen into some of the same pitfalls that Evans did. Dixon struggled to qualify academically when he signed with Maryland, and I wonder, sometimes, if people would have been tearing into Williams the way they are now if we followed recruiting as closely then (1997) as we do now. Maybe Evans can blossom under Gary the way Dixon did.

On the other hand, that feels a lot like wishful thinking on my part. Dixon was 18 years old when he came to Maryland, and he was fighter determined to prove himself. Evans is 23. As anyone who has been to college can attest, that a big age gap. It's a lot harder to mold a 23-year-old than it is an 18-year-old. I really do believe that both Gary Williams and Ralph Friedgen have done a lot of good by giving kids a chance when the situation warranted it. But it's interesting to contrast the Evans situation with Melvin Alaeze. Friedgen badly needed a defensive end to help get his football team back to a bowl game, and Alaeze looked like the guy who could help do it. Friedgen still cut ties with Melvin when he couldn't stomach some of the things he was hearing about what he was doing. Six months later, Alaeze was charged with attempted murder, and he's now in prison. Gary and Debbie (regardless of what she said in the SI.com article) are taking a big risk here. And it will be on both of them, not just Gary, if it doesn't go well.

Adam,

Easy does it on the comparison to Rudy Archer. Bob Wade brought down the Maryland program (along with Brian Tribble), not Rudy. Rudy was a heckuva basketball player, a good citizen, but a poor student.

As for the comment about this being the first one and done player, you're forgetting Steve Francis.

I have no problem with Gary recruiting JUCO players as it benefits the program. Steve Francis, Ryan Randle, Jamar Smith, Parrish Brown and Boom Osby did nothing but positive things at College Park. The issue here is the recruitment of someone with a lengthy wrap sheet, period.

Mclean said it best, this could be the easy way of getting rid of Gary if Yow thinks he's losing control of the program. I hope this isn't the case and I sincerely hope Evans and the 2008-2009 team enjoy much success on the court and in the classroom.

We'll find out next week how well we've been doing in the classroom the past 4 years...the NCAA academic progress reports come out.

My one issue is your comment about second chances. He has made more than one serious mistake. That is a problem. It is more like a 4th or more chance.

Rich

That is what happens when you can't recruit you have to take thugs into the scholl no matter what bottom line. He is getting desperate down there in college park. They can't go any lower in graduation rates they are already at the bottom., so you might as well take on the thugs and maybe just maybe you might be able to get a home NIT game this year instead of playing on the road.

Wow - some of the responses to my post were interesting, but not surprising.

Regarding Hayes, I just mentioned his name along with 3 others. All 4 of those guys, plus Vazquez and now plus Tyree need PT. So I'm upset that we're giving some old criminal PT over our kids we already had in the program. And Hayes had a bad ankle last year, who knows if that had a big effect or not. Right now, I see him as a situational 3 pt specialist - but at least he works hard, is a good kid, and I can root for him.

How did that turn into a race issue? If Tyree were white, asian, or sumoan I'd have said the same thing. The guy is trouble. He drove to high school in a ridiculous car and many of his quotes from the Richmond paper show anything but remorse.

In a vacuum, this could be overlooked, but given the direction Gary is going and the fact that he has to resort to JUCO's every year, and now criminal JUCO's; it's just disgusting.

And let me just say that I have a Juan Dixon jersey hanging in my basement. That guy shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Tyree. They are polar opposites as far as I'm concerned.

And people gave me a hard time about saying his a ticking time bomb and a potential threat to the student body. Really? At VT, many football players had been involved in rape incidents. I have a daughter, if Tyree were involved in another incident like his previous one; I'd be suing the crap out of UMCP. It's foreseeable and he's been convicted of a similar incident.

No way would this kid have been accepted had he not had a good jump shot. The sad thing is that Gary, Debbie, and the Admissions felt the need to bend this far for 1-2 years of a criminal.

I'm embarassed to be a Terps fan. Fridge would never have done this. Funny thing is, I'm sure if any other big conference school would've taken him, we would've been outrecruited for him. Too bad.

I'm sick of the pollyannas who act as if big-time programs recruit these kids as citizens first, students second, and athletes third. Get real.

Major college coaches are paid to win and make money for their schools; that's it. They recruit players who they believe will help them achieve those 2 goals, and they get ripped for recruiting the ones who do not.

If the kid also happens to be a good student, that's just a bonus.

That's why Saint Michael of Durham recruited, and Duke admitted, Shelden Williams when he had rape charges pending against him, it's why Tom Izzo signed Zach Randolph, and it's why John Thompson brought in Michael Graham in '84 and signed AI in '94, when he was still in prison.

I don't believe any of those coaches' reputations suffered in the long run, and neither should Gary's for signing Evans (it should suffer if he fails to make the tournament again next year).

Call it altruism; I call it doing what it takes to win. And haven't Terps fans been complaining for the past 5 years that Gary wasn't doing just that?

Lets not pretend like any of us know this kid. Has he made some mistakes? Sure. Does that automatically mean he will make more? Nope! Unlike the rest of us, Gary has 1. something to lose and 2. spoken to the kid. That means its his call. You dont like it? Stop going to the games!

Wow, db, where to start...
Lets not pretend like any of us know this kid. Has he made some mistakes? Sure.
So, a criminal investigation into a sexual assault on a 15 year old, being pulled over with weed and a digital scale, and an assault on a teammate are now considered mistakes? I thought they were evidence of crimes, personally.

Does that automatically mean he will make more? Nope!
Theoretically that is true, but his past experience can certainly be a good guess as to his future behavior. Even AI had only ONE bad incident before Georgetown - the bowling alley brawl, and his role in it is still up for debate to this day.

Unlike the rest of us, Gary has 1. something to lose and 2. spoken to the kid. That means its his call.

Well, if Gary's spoken to the kid, then by all means, the situation is solved! Maybe he can speak to Pac-Man Jones and Chris Henry while he's at it...

You don't like it? Stop going to the games!
So interested alumni are silenced on all matters basketball now? When did that gag order get issued?

I will state my displeasure to my alma mater on this short-sighted decision. And I'm going to say it again - I'm extremely disappointed he made this decision, whether it gets the Terps to a Sweet 16 or not.

Gary Is desperate he will do just about anything not to keep on going too the N.I.T. This young man Is a thug and a hoodlum GOOD LUCK Gary.

Wow! I thought I'd heard it all until I heard what has to be one of the most IGNORANT comments I've ever seen. Tyree Evans has a lil story on SI.com and they reference a Richmond Times Dispatch quote where he got into an altercation with a teamate. Now this man is "putting the students in danger at UMCP" Didn't MJ once get into a fight with Steve Kerr at practice? Or, how often do you see football players fight at practice. We're reading way too much into this.

Listen people, we all know that Richmond is a rough city just as B-More and DC are. For many of our young men that end up in trouble it is a result of associating with the wrong crowd. I believe, while Tyree is no choir boy, he simply hung with people who badly influenced him. I certainly don't condone some of the behavior such as having sex with the 15 yr old (and you know with they way teenagers are built these days she probably told him, then 19, she was 16 ...same thing happened to Marcus Vick.) Many of you could NEVER understand what it's like living in cities like Richmond or DC. I know both very well having been raised in DC, lived in Richmond for a decade following my graduation from UVA and now back home in the District.

Point is, I am familiar with Tyree Evans and in fact have friends that know him. All the feedback I get is that he's matured and focused...a totally different person than when he was a teenager trying to adjust to life beyond Southside Richmond in prep school. I believe he realizes there's more to this world than drugs and rival neighborhoods beefin over land they don't even own...more importantly he realizes he can't blow the chance of a lifetime UMD has given him. I think you all will be pleasantly surprised this fall!

When I was an undergrad at Maryland there were more than a few white students with legal problems. In fact it was the white kids that were drug dealers on campus. Evans placing students in danger is a statement made by a bigot. Why are whites kids always the ones shooting up schools, killing coeds and at San Diego State getting raided by the DEA?

Duke University has not had its usual run at a national championship since Sheldon Williams. In my opinion, this type of recruit adversely effects your university and sports programs. That is, you knowingly recruit and admit someone who does not meet the standards of the university.

Wow, DarNel...amazing.

I love it when someone calls someone a bigot for having issues with a convicted criminal with a history of assault and drugs going to a prestigious school solely based on a jump shot and then that same genius goes on to make absolute statements like "whites kids always the ones shooting up schools, killing coeds and at San Diego State getting raided by the DEA' and 'white kids were the drug dealers."

Don't go around screaming wolf, it makes you look foolish and it compromises how others react the next time people call someone a bigot.

I certainly don't get mad at UMD alumni (having already gone through all the troubles post Bob Wade) for wanting to maintain a clean program. You have certain standards that should be maintained. I know for one UVA probably never even considered going after him when he was at Wythe. Yes he has erred in judgement with the incident involving the girl and of course the marijuana. I know that sounds like something you don't want on your campus but let's all be real...date rape, students dealing and using drugs(weed, cocaine, meth) is an all too common occurence on campus in this day and age. But like I stated earlier the man supposedly has matured a great deal and hopefully will prove to be a great asset to the MD program and story. The one game HS game I went to see in Richmond while there was a matachup where he played against his rival Tyrese Rice(1st Team ALL ACC guard at BC) and they would go at each other but Tyree Evans was much better all around player with better size. Hope for Gary's sake it all works out. I trust their jusgement.

i live here in tullahoma, tn home of the motlow state university bucks. the place mr. evans was a model student, and a excellent basketball player. this community is aware of goings on, and the school has high academic and moral standards. we are home to the largest supersonic wind tunnel in the world. there are over 5,000 engineers employed here, and the school system is one of the top 3 in the state. bible belt, and big crime here is shop lifting, and possession of pot, and a dui now and then. i know the coaches at motlow in all sports. this young man kept his nose clean, and played at dl level. i am glad gary grabbed this guy. you see, i am 72 years of age, and i have seen a bunch of garbage in this world. i retired from the usaf, and was born in washington D.C., live there most of my youth, now retired in beautiful tennessee. i watch college basketball, football, and pro football. i have a passion for them. i am not blind to watch these sports mean to a community, and a fan. i expect this young man to provide a big lift to the terps, and i am all for it. golly with all the nonsense wrong in this country now, how can anyone bring this man down, without a chance in the big time. sure, if he fails then so be it. i want a winner again, and will watch with glee next season. all you people not liking it. guess what you can watch something else.

It is only my opinion, but I think that across all sports student-athletes should have to be able to meet the entrance standards of the particular college they apply to-- not the minimum that the NCAA requires which is a joke.

However, there would also be viable minor leagues for talented players who want to become professional athletes but don't want or need a college education.

Honestly, I doubt one university such as UM taking a stand will make a difference. They will just continue to drop in the ACC standings. It is quite a dilemma-- look what WVU was able to do with their football program!

University presidents and the NCAA would need to change things, which they won't. So i guess Gary and the fans will just have to sweat it out and frankly we've gotten used to that.

"Not to mention he's putting the students in danger at UMCP. This kid is a ticking time bomb that will go off soon enough. And if/when it happens at UM, it should cost Gary his job."

No Mark your statements are amazing. Absolutes? The absolute is that you are a bigot.

No need to use offensive or demeaning language. There are two sides to this argument. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. I don't even think it would be fair to judge this decision based on the results of this year. Gary made a decision for better or for worse. A lot of people in life are given 2nd (and 3rd, and 4th, and 5th) chances. Some of these people fail while some of them succeed. I don't think it's right to use broad generalizations when each and every situation is different. Each situation is unique and should be looked at through an unbiased lens. Sometimes that means giving people a second chance. Sometimes that means saying no.

To me to read the comments about Tyree Evans and his real effect or his possible alleged effect on everything and everyone at UCMP is really funny. The type of athlete with a background similar to Tyree is not new. They have been around for years and years. Does the name Kenny Ambrusko bring back memories(mid 60's). Some of these individuals have turned out to be very good for their schools and more importantly their "2nd chance" turns out good for them as I hope it will for Mr Evans. This is not UMCP first reclamation project, and it will probably not be the last. This is a way of life regarding college athletics and the need for success.

I live in Danville VA, and am exposed to all of the news re: UVA, VT, UNC, Duke, NCST, WFU,... All of these schools have had their share of reclamation projects. If I am not mistaken, UVA's football has lost a few of its' star projects recently, including their starting QB. My point is simply this, yes the odds are against reclamation projects, but it is a way of life. Let's just be calm and wait to see before we say "I told you so".

Well well. Looks like Evans to UMD is not a done deal after all. I suppose all of the negative press and chatter has made D-Yow think twice about letting GW have his way. Nice touch to pin it all on the Admissions Office...let a faceless/nameless board take the hit if they deny his admission.

Seems like GW and D-Yow might be playing their final game of chicken on this one. Gary seems to think this kid, make that a grown man at age 23, can exist peacefully in the digs of College Park. Too too many distractions in my opinion.

Also, how long before Evans and his new roommate and BFF, the always combustible Greivis Vasquez, trade punches over who didn't replace the empty toilet paper roll? They 'ought to have a web cam in that dorm room or a security guard.

I hope he gets admitted so I can see how this all plays out. My heart hopes for the best but my brain tells me something else.

His favorite player is Allen Iverson.
Enough said.

You said second chance...This is NOT a SECOND chance...this is rooughtly a fourth or fifth chance.
Even Tennessee, which is not a team loaded with Saints, passed on this person even though he was playing right in the state of Tennessee.
I first met Tom Konchalski, the person quoted in Don Markus' article today, more than twenty five years ago. The business ofCollege and High School Basketball has very few truly moral upstanding individuals. Tom Konchalski is one of them. He is not only a man of great knowledge on and off the court, but a man of great character.
He said Maryland should NOT have taken him. That should end all debate.

Careful. If the board doesn't let him in, DarNel will be filling a discrimination lawsuit since obviously they must be bigots for not wanting someone with a criminal past at a prestigious university.

You like giving people a second chance? Last I heard he was arrested three times. Apparently Gary Williams can't recruit worth a damn anymore, now he has to recruit from police records. I think it should be a law that any coach who allows someone with a criminal record play for FREE (after all, who counts grades anymore at UofM 'affflettix') and that player gets involved in criminal activity again, the coach should be held responsible too. If society now can charge parents with not watching out for their "children", then the same for a coach and Debbie Yow. Think of all the hard working REAL STUDENTS who can't get a scholarship at Maryland, but a thug with a police record can. The world is upside down.