Recapping Maryland’s Commits & Targets At Peach Jam

Potomac guard Dion Wiley is a huge addition for Maryland but more top talent could join him in College Park for the 2014 season. (Photo Credit: Bill Ryan/The Gazette)

With Sunday being the final day of Nike Peach Jam, it seems like the perfect time to take a look at how Maryland commits and targets performed down in South Carolina.

The Commits:

Dion Wiley, Team Takeover

Team Takeover guard Dion Wiley has seen his stock slide a bit in recent months due to injury. However, Wiley is clearly one of the top players in the 2014 class and proved it this past weekend at Peach Jam. Over five games in South Carolina, the Maryland commit averaged 14.2 points-per-game, four assists-per-game, three rebounds-per-game, and 1.4 steals-per-game.

It’s been known for quite some time that Mark Turgeon and his staff were getting a high-profile player in Wiley. But the Potomac guard is proving it now. Wiley is a guy who can stretch a defense better than most. The Takeover guard has the ability to drive to the basket but can also be deadly from beyond the arc. During Peach Jam, Wiley shot a remarkable 18-for-35 (51.4 percent) from beyond the three-point line. The future Terrapin made at least three three-pointers in each of his five games and made four long-range shots in three of the contests.

Team Takeover didn’t make it to the EYBL Finals on Sunday as they were defeated on Saturday by Each 1 Tech 1 (Terps target Trayvon Reed’s AAU squad). However, Wiley had a great week and showed that he is going to be a force in the B1G when he suits up for Maryland. He brings pure athleticism and a strong shooting ability from beyond the arc, which the Terps have lacked in recent years. With Logan Aronhalt having graduated, the Terps will be looking for a three-point threat and they certainly will have that in 2014 with Wiley.

The Targets:

Trayvon Reed (F, E1T1)

Next to Mass Rivals’ forward Goodluck Okonoboh, Georgia native Trayvon Reed is arguably one of the top big men in the 2014 recruiting class. Reed is a top 60 big man that has an NBA body while being only a junior in high school. He did not have a stellar four days at Peach Jam offensively, but did cement his place on the defensive end by rebounding the basketball and altering shots.

With guards Romelo Trimble, Wiley, and Jared Nickens already in the fold for 2014, it’s no secret that Maryland is looking for a big man. Turgeon has had success recruiting in Georgia early in his tenure. Charles Mitchell was a solid four-star power forward out of the Atlanta area and looks to be a great find for the Terps. Reed hails from the Peach State and is very high on Maryland. On the offensive end of the floor, Reed is very raw and didn’t exactly light the world on fire at Peach Jam this past weekend. The Shiloh High School standout averaged 4.4 points-per-game to go along with 6.3 rebounds-per-game and 2.1 blocks-per-game. Reed never reached double digits in points in any of the eight contests that he played for Each 1 Teach 1. The Georgia native is very lanky forward that commands a large amount of space in the low post. He towers over opposing players which makes him an extremely effective rebounder. He’s a dominating presence that alters shots on nearly every possession.

Each 1 Teach 1 ended up winning the title at Peach Jam, so Reed is clearly playing with some top notch talent. In limited minutes at times, Reed was very impressive on the glass as he secured a ton of rebounds and had his fair share of blocks. He is extremely high on Auburn and Georgia so Maryland will have to beat out the local schools for his services. However, I think that Reed is a little more of a realistic get than Okonoboh. Reed definitely has the tools to be a key piece for the Terps if they were to acquire his services.

Martin Geben (F, Team Takeover)

When discussing potential post player recruits for Maryland, it’s usually all about Goodluck Okonoboh and Trayvon Reed. However, St. Maria Goretti star Martin Geben is a very underrated prospect that has plenty of experience to help out the Terps in a few years. Geben is fresh off winning a bronze medal in the under-19 Lithuanian national team in the FIBA world championships. The Hagerstown native gained some valuable experience as he played against some of the best young basketball players in the world.

Maryland has offers out to several big men in the 2014 class and Geben is another recruit that could continue that local pipeline if he were to commit to the Terps. Geben is a little bit of a different big man than the likes of Okonoboh and Reed. The Lithuanian native is a very dangerous shooter and isn’t afraid to step out beyond the three-point line. Geben also is a strong finisher, even when encountering contact in the low post. He is also a very good passer and has a high basketball IQ. The St. Maria Goretti forward is a versatile post player that would fill a variety of needs for the Terps. During Peach Jam, Geben averaged 8.4 points-per-game, 5.4 rebounds-per-game, and 1.4 blocks-per-game while shooting 68 percent from the floor. He is also a good shot-blocker and is very athletic for a big man. He can run the floor and finish, which is very important in the collegiate game.

Geben is a prospect that I like a great deal. The Terps do have plenty of company in the battle for his services. Notre Dame, Temple, and Xavier are a few of the teams that have been very active in their pursuit of Geben. Temple and Xavier offered back in March before Maryland did. But I would imagine that Turgeon and company have made Geben a top priority. By the time Geben is a senior, I believe he will be a top 100 player in all major recruiting services. He simply has a tremendous amount of talent on both ends of the floor and would be a huge get for Maryland.

Gary Clark (F, CP3 All Stars)

Clark is a guy that many basketball fans may not be familiar with. The North Carolina native is a talented swingman that has a knack for finishing at the basket. Clark boasts offers from a slew of schools such as N.C. State, Miami, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh. Clark is listed as a small forward on some recruiting services but is an extremely gifted rebounder and will likely be a power forward at the next level if he puts on a few pounds.

Clark is a very gifted scorer and showcased that very talent during Peach Jam last weekend. After scoring just 33 points in the first five games of the tournament, the Clayton High School standout averaged 21.3 points-per-game and 13.3 rebounds-per-game during the final three games. He also blocked seven shots in those final three contests. Over the course of the tournament, Clark averaged 12.1 points-per-game, 8.9 rebounds-per-game, and 1.4 blocks-per-game. Clark is a tremendously skilled athlete that can finish with the best of them. He reminds me of a bigger Dez Wells based on his rim-rattling dunks and pure athleticism. Clark can run the floor very well and doesn’t shy away from contact in the low post. He takes the ball up strong and can alter his fair share of shots on the defensive end. Maryland just offered Clark on Tuesday and it’s clear why watching studying film on this kid. He isn’t a household name but is a solid three-star recruit that could definitely be a solid bench piece at the very least.

As has been the theme of this post and all Terps recruiting talk over the past month, one more big man will fill out a very talented class for Mark Turgeon and his staff. Clark is a guy that many don’t know about. However, he is a phenomenal athlete and does a lot of things extremely well. Clark is one of those glue guys that can help take a team over the top. His stock should continue to rise since he plays for a very talented AAU squad in CP3 All Stars. His stock should continue to rise and it’s great to see Maryland getting involved with a top-notch prospect.