Maryland basketball is picking up momentum on the recruiting trail for the 2016 class and it is due largely to their expectations heading into the 2015 season. Head coach Mark Turgeon is riding the wave and his Terps are on the lists of several big name 2016 recruits. They missed on a local guy in DeMatha star Markelle Fultz (committed to Washington), but they are still in contention for a couple others.

Signing day for 2016 is far away, but the fact that the Terps are in contention for some top tier recruits is an example of how the program has progressed under Turgeon. Racking up a talented roster for 2015 makes it feel more possible that it can happen again by getting big time commitments for 2016.

With guards like Jared Nickens, Dion Wiley, and Jaylen Brantley likely to stay in the 2016-17 season, it appears that most of the top targets for the Terps are forwards. Most of the targets are guys that can get to College Park and have an impact almost right away.

Here is some of the latest recruiting updates and analysis on Terps’ targets.

(Discuss on the BSL board here.)

5-Star PF Josh Jackson

Last week, the 247sports No. 1 and ESPN No. 3 player visited College Park and created a stir amongst the Terps fans. He was quoted as saying he could “definitely envision” playing for the Terps and with the recent recruiting success, those words feel like they have more meaning.

Jackson follows the common build of Detroit native players as he is a tough, hard-nose player and competitor. He’s an athletic 6-foot-7 kid that loves to work hard on the boards and on defense. Jackson is an explosive athlete with the ball in his hands and is a double-double guy at the college level. Scouts love his basketball IQ and have complimented his ability to make plays in pressure situations. With his size and athleticism, he has the ability to guard multiple positions on the defensive end.

One thing that Jackson will need to improve to polish his game at the collegiate level is to add a more consistent shot from behind the arc.  He also needs to improve from the free throw line. If he continues to shoot a poor percentage from the free throw line, it could hurt his ability to stay on the floor late in games.

Last weekend, Jackson showed his athleticism by winning the Under Armour Elite 24 dunk contest in New York. As a top player in the class, he is getting looks by all of the major programs. 247sports’ crystal ball has the Terps with a 14% chance of landing Jackson and Arizona (50%) and Kansas (28%) leading the way.

5-Star PF Wenyen Gabriel

Gabriel is the No. 17 overall player in the 2016 recruiting class according to 247sports and the No. 23 on ESPN. The Terps might be a long shot to land Gabriel and Duke is considered the heavy favorite, but Maryland is certainly a candidate. Being able to swing a player like Gabriel only adds to their chances in getting someone like Jackson and vice versa.

He is a long 6-foot-9 and continuing to grow. Gabriel is a skilled offensive player that can score facing the basket. He can also put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. His ranges extends out behind the three-point line, so he can score from almost anywhere on the floor. As he continues to develop as a rebounder, he is becoming more efficient in scoring around the basket.  His athletic ability also makes him a great weak-side shot blocker.  

As a big man in the paint, he will take a lot of contact and there is a question on whether or not he’ll be able to absorb contact. Gabriel needs to add weight to his upper and lower body so that he can play more physical in the paint. Being long and skinny, there is also fear that he will not be able to remain healthy with all of the minutes and physical play at the collegiate level.  

Duke is the front-runner to get Gabriel’s services and add to their recent recruiting success. For the Terps to gain ground in the race, they will need to blow him away when he visits campus on Sept. 4. The Terps and Blue Devils are joined by Kentucky and Connecticut as candidates for Gabriel. It doesn’t currently appear likely that they will get this 5-star player, but you can’t count them out just yet.

4-Star PF Taurean Thompson

The power forward from New Jersey was also on an unofficial visit to Maryland at the same time as Jackson. Not the same hype surrounds Thompson, but he is an intriguing prospect for the Terps. After an injury during his sophomore season, he is starting to build his own buzz again and drawing interest from several teams in the Northeast region.

At 6-foot-9, Thompson is a developing big man that possesses most of the physical skills needed for his position at the collegiate level. He runs the floor well for a big man and plays well around the rim.  His midrange game is there as he can step out and make some jump shots. Thompson’s post skills even stretch to being able to put the ball on the floor to make moves to the basket.

The downside of Thompson’s game is that he is still very much a project. The upside is clear, but it’s something that will come together over time. He lacks an ability to fit into the offensive flow of a game and be assertive. Part of that reason is that his lack of a post game with his back to the basket. It is difficult for the offense to run through him at this point in his progression because he lacks that ability.

As a whole, Thompson would be a good player for the Terps even if it’s not an immediate impact. He is a player that during his sophomore and junior years could begin to see consistent minutes and be a factor. Thompson is a valuable player that could add depth to the Terps’ 2016 class.

4-Star SG Kevin Heurter

The Terps are considered by 247sports to be the crystal ball favorite to land Heurter in their 2016 recruiting class. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Clifton Park, N.Y. is a deadeye shooter that is a perfect player to stretch the floor. He had an unofficial visit to College Park on Aug. 2 and has an official visit scheduled for Sept. 4.  

The best part about Heurter’s game is his shooting ability. He’s a guy that can get hot at any time and really help open driving lanes for the players around him.  It can be from a set shot or off the dribble, he can fill it up from anywhere. Heurter is also a skilled passer that can create for others as well as himself. He can attack the basket and finish or kick out to others.

If Heurter wants to develop into a premier player at the collegiate level, he will need to bulk up his physical build. With his current build, it is likely that he will struggle to finish with contact at the basket. His ball handling is good, but he can struggle at times under pressure with the ball in his hands. He’ll need to improve on this to be able to help break press or trap situations from opposing defenses. Heurter will also need to work on his defense and being able to better defend his position.

Maryland has a very good shot at landing Heurter and a decision could potentially happen within the next month. The other schools being considered are Notre Dame, Michigan, and Villanova. He has other visits scheduled later in September and a decision could come after those are wrapped up.

4-star SF Mario Kegler

Kegler is a player that the Terps are targeting, but have a couple teams ahead of them in the race.  He is listed as the No. 32 player on ESPN and the No. 33 player on 247sports.  He is another target that plays in the paint and one that would be a significant signing if the Terps could land him. Though he has no visits currently scheduled to Maryland, the Terps are a contender.

On the offensive end, Kegler is very aggressive and a big time scorer that has multiple pieces to his game. At 6-foot-7, he plays at the rim and has the ability to finish with contact. He runs the floor very well and has no trouble finishing in transition. Arguably the best part of his skillset is his midrange game. He can hit the midrange jump shot and find ways to score off the dribble. If fed on a set shot, Kegler can knock down the occasional three point shot as well. Being a small forward, he can be a tough matchup for a lot of players at his position.

The two weaknesses in his game come with his ball handling and consistency. His ball handling is not bad for a player of his size, but it is something scouts would like to see improvement on. Being an aggressive player, Kegler is always in attack mode, but sometimes that doesn’t always result in point on the board. More consistency with his game would go a long way at the next level.

Along with the Terps, Kegler is being recruited by Arizona State, Connecticut, and Mississippi State. It is hard to imagine the Terps landing Kegler at this point since he has not visited the campus yet. If the Terps can reel him in, he would be an immediate impact player for Maryland and be a big time scorer.

Chris Garman
Chris Garman

Chris Garman attended Mount St. Mary’s University where he studied in Communications. He is a native of Steelton, Pa. and has covered Maryland Men’s Basketball and Football for PressBox since 2012. Chris previously covered High School Football for The Patriot News in Harrisburg, Pa. He can be reached by email at: [email protected].

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