2024-25 Terps Basketball: Likes And Current Questions

Kevin Willard’s 2nd year as the University of Maryland’s Head Coach ended March 14th, in the 2nd round of the Big Ten Tournament when the Terrapins suffered an embarrassing 29 point loss to the Wisconsin Badgers.

The Terps finished 16-17 overall, 7-13 in Big Ten play.

Since that point, MD’s roster has undergone a significant transformation, and expectations for the coming ’24-’25 season are growing.

Jahmir Young, Donta Scott, Jamie Kaiser, Noah Batchelor, Caelum Swanton-Rodger, and Mady Traore are gone.
Julian Reese, DeShawn Harris-Smith, Jordan Geronimo, are Braden Pierce are back.

Chance Stephens after missing last year to injury will be available.
Jahari Long can return, but after his knee injury in March, I’m not sure what a realistic time table is for him.

Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Rodney Rice, Selton Miguel, and Tafara Gapare have joined MD as transfers.
Derik Queen, and Malachi Palmer are MD’s two man 2024 Recruiting Class.

This has MD’s roster currently looking like:

Guards: Gillespie, Rice, Stephens, Palmer
Wings: Miguel, Harris-Smith
Bigs: Reese, Queen, Gapare, Geronimo, Pierce

1 scholarship available.

Gillespie – All Missouri Valley Conference 2nd team, and All Defensive Team.  17.2 ppg last year at Belmont, shooting 56% from the floor, including 39% from 3 on 4.2 attempts per game. Also 83% from the line, on 2.8 attempts per. Offensively, he should give MD a lot of of the production they are losing with Young graduating.

Rice – Before heading to Virginia Tech, he was a 4 Star, Top 50 overall recruit at DeMatha. He played in 8 games as a Freshman, dealing with various injuries. He didn’t play at all this past year. You would think there is some rust to shake off, but he does have the benefit of having been in college. He should be stronger than he was coming out of HS.  He should have a better understanding of what’s necessary to play in a high major D1 conference. He’s back home in familiar territory. Given the roster composition, there should be regular minutes available to him.

Miguel – He’s had 2 years at Kansas State, and 2 years at South Florida. He comes to MD having played in 118 college games, and having started 52.  While he started just 5 games this past year for USF, he was playing 28.5 minutes per game. He averaged 14.7 ppg, shooting 39% from 3 on 5.5 attempts per game. He also made 80% of his FT’s. He was the AAC 6th Man of the Year, and the league’s Most Improved Player. He was also 2nd team All AAC. Right now, I’d project him to start at the 3. But clearly he’s comfortable coming off the bench, and even if that happens, he’s going to get a lot of time this year.

Gapare – Spent his Freshman year at UMass, and this past year at Georgia Tech. I think this was an important under-the-radar addition. He gives the MD Front-court additional depth, size, and athleticism. He had a 20 point, 8 rebound game vs. Penn State this past year for the Yellow Jackets.  In his last 7 games, he averaged 7.7 points, and 6 boards. He’s going to play, and be a valuable piece.

Queen – 5 Star recruit, 12th overall Nationally according to 247 Sports. 6’10, 240 lbs. A Center that actually wants to play like a traditional Center. Already familiar with Reese’s game based on their HS history. Allows Reese to be at his more natural PF position. Gives MD a PF / Center combination that will be an advantage most nights.

Palmer – 3 Star, Top 150 overall Nationally. Supposed to be strong physically. Probably not in the regular rotation this year.

Things I Like: 

• MD was in a lot of games last year, because they were willing to play defense (14th overall Adjusted Defense, in the KenPom rankings). MD lost a lot of games last year, because they could not shoot. Their shooting woes further amplified by not getting enough attempts up. The talent of the roster has been upgraded, and the offense should be significantly improved.
• MD should have multiple ways to attack opponents.  The twin-towers inside should create open opportunities outside.
• Boosters stepped up with cash and improved the talent. Willard’s Year 3 can be graded more accurately accordingly.  I think there was enough talent on the ’23-’24 roster to be better than they were, but there wasn’t enough talent on the roster to be good. This ’24-’25 roster is good enough to expect results. My feeling is that annually, MD should be a Top 25 team, with Sweet 16 aspirations. This specific roster definitely has that capability, and it’s on Willard to make it work. If he does, great. If he doesn’t, I like that we as MD fans won’t be able to say, “Well, he didn’t have enough talent.” 

Current Questions:

• What exactly is MD going to get from Rice and Harris-Smith? Like Rice, Harris-Smith was a 4 Star prospect (26th Nationally). He played hard, and his defense improved during the year, but the shooting was abysmal. Most players develop the most between their Freshman and Sophomore years. Both Rice and DHS are going to play a lot. I think these two represent the most variance in how good MD can be. Meaning, I think you generally have an idea of what to expect from Reese, Gillespie, and Miguel. Also think you can anticipate production from Queen. If MD becomes a strong team, you can expect that Rice and DHS are consistently producing. If MD underperforms, I would anticipate these two not stepping up would be one of the larger reasons why. It would have been easy for DHS to move on. I like that he decided to come back.
• Before missing last year due to injury, Chance Stephens made 37% of his 3 point attempts as a Freshman for Loyola Marymount. Will he be ready to be a 3 point specialist for MD this year? Does he have additional elements to his game?
• I said I think you can anticipate production from Queen. Is it reasonable to think he could match what MD got from a Freshman Diamond Stone nearly a decade ago? Like Queen, Stone was a 5 Star 6’10, 240 lb+ Center. Ranked 8th overall in the Class of 2015, Stone averaged 23.1 minutes per game, 12.5 points per game (57% from the floor, 8.4 Field Goal Attempts per game), 5.4 boards, and 1.8 blocks.  It’s a lazy comp from me here admittedly. Different Head Coaches, different systems.  Different players, just two talented, similar bodied type players, who both decided to be Terps. But checking the highlights, you can see similar physicality. If you told me Queen was going to match Stone’s Freshman production, I’d gladly take that.
• Reese has been an All Big Ten Honorable Mention player the last two years. Is he ready for a true star turn? Can he be more accurate at the line? Can he avoid silly fouls? There were a lot of times this past year you could see him lock in, and influence the game on both sides of the court.  There were also numerous times he would go significant minutes where he was a complete non-factor. One aspect of a star-turn for him, would be bring high-level intensity each game. Another aspect would be him emerging as a leader.  He’s talented and experienced enough that his teammates will be looking to him lead. Is that a natural part of his disposition? As with DHS, he could have jumped, and gone somewhere. Also as with DHS, I’m glad he’s back. I also think he made a good decision. He’s going to be a Pro somewhere. For him to get NBA consideration after this coming season, he’s going to need to show 4 man skills. That’s available to him with Queen on-board.