Terrapins Recruiting Nuggets: Basketball Updates

Following articles concerning possible transfers and Maryland’s basketball recruiting big board, TerrapinStationMD has some updates regarding basketball transfers and 2014 recruits:

Transfers:

It looks like it’s going to be Antonio Barton or nothing for the 2013 class. Eli Carter is off to Gainesville while Vertrail Vaughns is going home to North Texas. It’s probably time for Terps fans to cross Josh Davis off their transfer list as well. He’s still listing Maryland, but it looks like San Diego State is the favorite. Therefore, Antonio Barton remains the only target left on Turgeon’s wish list for the 2013 season.

Barton has come out with a short list of Maryland, Texas A&M, Kansas State and Syracuse. I’m a little surprised by both Syracuse’s involvement, and Barton reciprocating that interest. Barton has made it clear that he will choose a school where starting minutes are available. I question if those minutes are really available at Syracuse. Incoming freshman sensation Tyler Ennis will undoubtedly be the starter, meaning only backup minutes will be on deck for Barton. If Barton wants to make it to the show, he will have to do it while playing a limited role at Syracuse.

Then there’s Texas A&M. The Aggies are losing two of their top 3 scorers, so they’re clearly looking to add Barton from a scoring/production standpoint. However, there is a little uncertainty regarding available minutes in College Station. Leading scorer Elston Turner will be gone, but the Aggies return senior (and second leading scorer) PG Fabyon Harris. Along with Harris, Texas A&M also returns sophomore (and former 2012 four-star) PG J’Mychal Reese, who averaged around 26 minutes per game. Barton would obviously get playing time at Texas A&M, but with Harris & Reese running the show at point, just how many minutes will be up for grabs? Would Barton be ok coming to Texas A&M playing in a combo/interchangeable guard rotation? Barton is scheduled to visit College Station this week, so we’ll know more about where the Aggies stand.

Kansas State’s involvement makes more sense for both Barton and KSU. Their starting PG Angel Rodriguez recently transferred, leaving a rather huge hole to fill. Shane Souothwell returns, but he’s strickly a SG; Will Spradling can play the point, but he only averaged 7.4 PPG last season. After losing leading scorer (and former local stud) Rodney McGruder, the Wildcats clearly need someone who can both shoot and run coach Weber’s offense. With Rodriguez now in Coral Gables, KSU can offer the starting minutes that Barton wants.

And finally there’s Maryland. I do like Maryland’s chances, and it’s already been stated ad nauseam the Terps need for an experienced true PG since senior PG Pe’Shon Howard’s departure. Not to mention the numerous ties between Barton and Maryland. He is still scheduled to visit College Park within the next couple weeks and a decision looks to be made near the end of May, possibly early June.

2014:

Former KSU PG Angel Rodriguez has officially landed in Miami (TerrapinStationMD called that one), but it’s now clear that it will not hinder their pursuit in SG Dion Wiley. Although the Terps are still in great position, Miami, along with Cincinnati and Georgetown, are turning up the heat. Wiley is priority #1 for Turgeon, but the Canes and Bearcats are making a strong push for Wiley’s services. The longer this recruitment goes on, the less optimistic I feel about Maryland’s chances landing Wiley.

Some in PG Tre Campbell‘s circle are starting to wonder if Maryland is a good fit for Campbell. With Nick Faust, Seth Allen, Roddy Peters, and commit Romelo Trimble already on board, some wonder if Campbell will get serious playing time early in his college career. It’s a legitimate concern, but Turgeon clearly wants a true pass-first PG, which in my opinion, the Terps do not have. Peters has the best chance to become the pass-first PG that Turgeon desires, but as a freshman coming off an injury, you just never know. Peters has only been running the point for a little over a year now, so he is still learning the in’s and out’s of the position.

You can scratch SG Phil Booth off the Terps list for possible 2014 recruits. It’s very clear that Booth has moved on, and the Terps aren’t exactly making a huge push either. The favorites at this time look to be Georgetown and Villanova.

Mark Turgeon and staff seem to be turning up the heat on SG Jared Nickens. If there’s one part Nickens excels at, it’s outside shooting. Nickens can drain 3’s, but what’s gotten the attention of college coaches is his new found ability to score off the dribble. And at 6’6″, he has great size for a SG. There’s no doubt that Nickens would be a welcome addition to College Park with the Terps need for shooters, and scorers in general. He still doesn’t list any favorites, but he has expressed interest in the Terps. Unfortunately, his recruitment could drag as he continues to add more offers. FSU, Miami, Oklahoma and St. John’s round out a list that’s only going to get stronger. Nickens will most likely decide by the fall before his high school season.

You don’t have to scratch Goodluck Okonoboh off your list, but at this point, it’s best not to get your hopes up. Maryland is still in there battling, but the competition might be too steep for the Terps to have a legitimate chance at landing Okonoboh. Schools like Syracuse, Gonzaga and Connecticut are pushing hard, while more schools are getting involved.