Forecasting Maryland’s transfer market

Mar 13, 2014; Greensboro, NC, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets forward Robert Carter, Jr. (4) goes up for a rebound against Clemson Tigers guard Damarcus Harrison (21) in the second round of the ACC college basketball tournament at Greensboro Coliseum. Clemson defeated Georgia Tech 69-65 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

With the Maryland men’s basketball program suffering through quite a bit of attrition this offseason, the Terrapins are looking to fill out their roster through the transfer market. There are several intriguing options that Maryland has their eye on. I’ll take a look at a few of the options and discuss what they can bring to the Terps in the future.

 Robert Carter Jr. (F, Georgia Tech)

• Thoughts about his game: Carter Jr. is an extremely talented high-major player that is incredibly athletic. The forward averaged 11.4 points-per-game and 8.4 rebounds-per-game for the Yellow Jackets this past season. Carter is an extremely talented post presence that brings a ton of athleticism to the floor. The Georgia native always takes the ball up strong and possesses a great deal of upper body strength. While the numbers aren’t mind-blowing, Carter has solid range and can shoot from beyond the arc. He shot 26.4 percent (14-of-53) from three-point range during his sophomore campaign at Georgia Tech. In a nutshell, Carter has a similar build to current Maryland forward Charles Mitchell and is just a bit more polished on the offensive end.
• How he could fit in with the Terps: Carter would fit in extremely well with the Terps. Assuming that he has to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules, depth on the 2015-2016 roster is an interesting variable to look at. Forward Evan Smotrycz graduates after the upcoming season, leaving Maryland without a marquee player a the four spot (at the current moment). Of course, the case can be made that big man Damonte Dodd could slide into the power forward role. However, last season was a small sample size of what Dodd brings to the table. The Eastern Shore native doesn’t have a big-time pedigree, but should see extended minutes during the 2014-2015 season. By the time Carter would be eligible to play, we should know just where Dodd stands as far as being a collegiate player. Much like Dodd, incoming freshmen Trayvon Reed and Michal Cekovsky’s minutes will be determined by their development in year one. Even if they both impress, it would make sense that a veteran, like Carter, would occupy a starting spot in the low post. If all three young guys excel this year, Carter may not see as many minutes, but he’ll still be a very productive piece for the Terps.
• Chances he winds up at Maryland: Maryland has a solid chance of landing the Georgia Tech transfer. Carter visited St. John’s a few weeks back and has also expressed interest in South Carolina, Maryland, and Kansas. Carter is supposed to visit South Carolina on Sunday and will come to College Park on Monday. Assistant coach Bino Ranson has had past success recruiting in the south, especially in the state of Georgia. Mitchell and Reed are both from the Peach State, which definitely plays in Maryland’s favor. One of the biggest factors that benefits the Terps is the fact that Carter and Reed played AAU basketball together with the Atlanta Xpress. These pieces could be hige for Maryland. If the Terps can impress Carter while he is on his visit, he may just commit on the spot.

Terry Henderson (G, West Virginia)

• Thoughts about his game: West Virginia feels Maryland’s pain in terms of having players transfer out. Henderson is the latest to depart Morgantown and has already garnered significant interest on the open market. He is an extremely athletic guard who plays above the rim. He is a great finisher in transition and can flat-out score the basketball. The Raleigh native averaged 11.7 points-per-game, 2.9 rebounds-per-game, and 1.1 assists-per-game in big-time minutes for the Mountaineers this past season. An underrated part of Henderson’s game is his ability to shoot from the outside. Henderson connected on 37.6 percent of his long-range attempts during the 2013-2014 season. His size also allows him to excel on the glass.
• How he could fit in with the Terps: Henderson would be a very good fit at Maryland. The former Mountaineer is in the mold of a Dez Wells. He is a great athlete that excels in transition and can make highlight reel plays at the rim. Henderson is a more consistent outside shooter than Wells. He shot 37.6 percent from beyond the arc this past season and a staggering 40 percent in his freshman campaign.
• Chances he winds up at Maryland: Maryland is a serious contender to acquire Henderson’s services. The Raleigh native has set up visits with NC State, UCLA, and Wake Forest in addition to the Terps. Henderson hails from the same area as Wells and football wideout Nigel King. As you may remember, King was instrumental in getting Wells to come to Maryland when the Terps guard transferred from Xavier. Maryland has a few recruiters that they can use to their advantage. Henderson also has family in the area as his father recently moved to Glen Burnie. NC State is likely Maryland’s biggest competition since he stills considers Raleigh home.

Andrew White III (G, Kansas)

• Thoughts about his game: White was a victim of being buried down the depth chart at Kansas, notably because of a certain player that also has the initials “AW.” The Richmond native does have the talent and the pedigree to excel at the collegiate level. First off, White has the perfect build at 6’6 to be a strong wing player. Much like Henderson, he is very dangerous in transition and is a great athlete. While his numbers with the Jayhawks may not back it up (29.9 percent from three), White has outstanding range and can be lethal from the outside. In high school, the transfer guard could launch a long ball from anywhere on the court and connect with absolute precision. Now White did only average 2.4 points-per-game and 1.2 rebounds-per-game this past season, but that was only in about six minutes a contest. He hasn’t had the chance to reach his full potential by stretch and that’s why there’s plenty of high-major interest surrounding the former Jayhawk.
• How he could fit in with the Terps: White fills an immediate need for depth on the wing. Dez Wells only has one year left and the same will be true for Jake Layman by the time the 2015-2016 season rolls around. The wing spot could be mighty thin depending on how incoming freshman Jared Nickens progresses in year one. White has the potential to be what Nick Faust was supposed to be at Maryland: a smart perimeter player that can slash to the rim. The former 60 recruit could be an ideal fit for the Terps.
• Chances he winds up at Maryland: Early signs from White indicate that Maryland, Richmond, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Wake Forest, Miami, and Florida State are showing the most interest in him early on. It doesn’t appear that the Richmond native has any visits set up yet, so his recruitment is wide-open. If he wants to stay close to home, Maryland and Richmond would definitely vault to the top of the list. It’s just too early to tell.