Despite the horrible lost to Morgan St last night, this year is far from over for MD.
They have a realistic path to 8 or 9 ACC wins, and entry to the NCAAT.
What is interesting to think about, is next year… especially if Vasquez returns to school.
If Vasquez returns, MD can bring back 11 players, along with two front-court recruits that will address their most glaring need.
Perhaps the 2009-10 Terps team will look like:
1 Hayes (Senior)
2 Bowie (Jr), Mosley (Soph)
3 Vasquez (Senior), Tucker (Jr), Kim (Soph)
4 Milbourne (Senior), Gregory (Jr), Padgett (Frosh), Burney (Jr)
5 Williams (Frosh), Dupree (Jr), Goins (Soph)
That is a lot to look forward to, in my opinion… here are some articles on the incoming Terp freshman:
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/spor…_williams.html
Meet Jordan Williams
Jordan Williams was looking for a school with a fervent and supportive fan base in college, much like the one he’s grown accustomed to at Torrington (Conn.) High School.Williams found what he was looking for during a September visit to College Park.
“I was with Sean Mosley and Landon Milbourne,” Williams said. “[No. 2] Maryland played [No. 1] Wake Forest in a soccer game and the whole fan base was just crazy. I couldn’t believe it. It was awesome; the support [Maryland had at the] soccer game. It was pouring rain outside and the place was packed, so I can only imagine what it’s like indoors [for basketball games].”It wasn’t until this summer that Williams emerged as a legitimate high-major prospect.
Several standout performances with the New England Playaz AAU team opened the eyes of coaches across the country. Williams still can’t believe how quickly his basketball fortunes changed.
“It’s a dream come true for me. … I didn’t think in the beginning of the summer I’d be in this situation,” Williams said. “People were telling me I had what it takes, but it still hasn’t hit me that I’m signing Thursday. I have worked hard and it’s a great opportunity. … It’s really not hit me at all. I’m still waiting for someone to wake me up.”
Height: 6-9
Weight: 240
Position: Power forward
Rankings: Scout.com — Four stars, No. 16 center. Rivals.com — Three stars, No. 25 power forward, No. 102 player nationally.
High School: Torrington (Conn.) High School
Junior statistics: 28 points, 16 rebounds Runner-up: St. John’s
Other schools considered: Indiana, Xavier, Villanova, Florida State, Arizona, California, Marquette
Why Maryland? “Because of the basketball, obviously, the Comcast Center is unbelievable and playing in the ACC. But also without a basketball in my hand, criminal justice, which is what I’ll major in, is the No. 1 program in the country. So that just topped it off right there.”
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/spor…s_padgett.html
Meet James Padgett
When Brooklyn, N.Y., power forward James Padgett committed to Maryland in September, the reaction to his choice was surprisingly mixed.
“Some people congratulated me, but there were also haters saying it wasn’t a good idea,” Padgett said. “The ACC is probably the best conference and the ACC is a big-man conference. That’s every night. So they said I probably wouldn’t be able to handle that.”
Padgett, who picked the Terps over offers from Pittsburgh, Providence, St. John’s and West Virginia, said those who doubt his ability to make an impact in College Park just serve as motivation.“People are going to criticize you no matter how far you go,” Padgett said. “You just have to take it. Even pros get criticized. … It’s motivation to prove people wrong.”
Height: 6-8
Weight: 220
Position: Power forward
High School: Lincoln (N.Y.) High School
Junior statistics: Approximately 11 points, 10 rebounds per game, according to Lincoln coach Dwayne “Tiny” Morton
Rankings: Scout.com — Four stars, No. 21 center. Rivals.com — Three stars. Runner-up: Pittsburgh
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.