According to Scout.com (http://maryland.scout.com/a.z?s=174&p=8&c=1&nid=4976574), the University of Maryland has received the verbal of 2012 Center Shaquille Cleare.

Maryland has been pressing hard for Cleare for sometime. It is believed by many that Cleare was on the verge of committing to the Terps the weekend that Coach Gary Williams retired. After Williams retirement, Coach Turgeon and his Staff continued to make Cleare a priority. It helped that Turgeon had already built a relationship with Cleare at Texas A&M, and that Coach Bino Ranson had been retained.

The College Basketball Recruiting Analysts we have spoken to about Cleare, have had positive things to say about the consensus Top 40 Center:

Kellon Hassenstab, Hoopniks.com (http://twitter.com/#!/Hoopniks):
“He’s a large post player from the Bahamas, and plays on the Houston Defenders with Andrew and Aaron Harrison and others. I think Cleare can make an impact as a freshman based on the existing post players at Maryland, and his sheer size. He’s got good hands and feet for his size. With Cleare, additional conditioning will be necessary in order to play extended minutes in college.”

Jeff Borzello, CBS Sports (http://twitter.com/#!/jeffborzello):
“He’s a space-eating big man with good hands who knows how to score around the rim. Cleare hasn’t played basketball for very long, coming to the US only three years ago. He still has growing to do in his game.”

2012-2013 Roster as of Today:
Guards:
Stoglin (Jr), Howard (Jr), Faust (Soph), Allen (Freshman)
SF: Parker (Jr)
Bigs: Padgett (Sr), Pankey (Jr), Cleare (Freshman)

The Terps would have the ability to add as many as 5 additional players to the Class of ’12, but are unlikely use each of those scholarships. With that many scholarships to give, expect many names not currently being mentioned to eventually be on the Terps radar. As of today, many of the names being widely talked about as possibilities (to varying degrees of likely-hood) include Isiah Armwood (who recently left Villanova), Mitch McGary, Jake Layman, Terry Henderson, Robert Carter, Robert Upshaw, Torian Graham, Nate Britt, and Amile Jefferson.

Here is some video of Cleare:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1idb4cTl760&feature=player_embedded

I’m very excited about the Terps landing Cleare, not only because I believe he has a lot of the same attributes as Jordan Williams; but because I think his commitment can be the catalyst towards locking down some others in the ’12, and 2013 classes.

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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