Question: Matt Pilgrim or Save the Scholarship for 2010?

by Ben Broman on Jul 3, 2009 4:25 PM EDT in Basketball Recruiting Comment 8 comments

I believe the answer to this question will be rather one-sided, but I'm interested to see it regardless, but there has to be some debate about it. As you probably know by now, the Terps are hot after Kentucky transfer Matt Pilgrim, and are supposedly looking good. I believe he still needs to visit OK State and possibly Cincinnati, but Maryland has a legit chance with the 6'9" big man.

To learn everything you need to about Pilgrim, check out our previous post here.

Now, I have no doubt the staff already gave him the scholarship offer, so this isn't up for debate - it's a purely hypothetical issue. But, since everyone loves picking a side, it's time to pick now.

First, why take Pilgrim? Well, he's a big body who's ready to contribute right away, for one, which is something Maryland seriously lacks. Sure, the Terps have Jordan Williams and James Padgett coming in, but it's rare for a high 3 star big man to come in and make an impact in the ACC. Pilgrim could provide the perfect amount of buffer for the duo to get acclimated to the ACC. Not to mention, he's actually a very good player who (supposedly) would've started for Kentucky had he not had to sit for his transfer. He could cement Maryland's status as a top 4 ACC team, and vault them from fringe top 25 to securely top 20. Not to mention, he could have a very positive effect on recruiting - tweeners like Terrence Jones and CJ Leslie could see this as confirmation that they won't be stuck in the post the entire time.

Of course, there are negatives: it takes a scholarship away from that stacked 2010 recruiting, in which the Terps are looking pretty good. That may not matter if Steve Goins ends up transferring out again or if Jerome Burney gets hurt again, but it does minimize the impact that class could make. There's also the issue of the possibility that he doesn't get a waiver from the NCAA - he is presumed to get one, because he was forced out of a scholarship - and ends up having to sit out another year, a la Gus Gilchrist, which would be a major downer. Then there's the issue of possibly overrating Pilgrim - he averaged 10 points at Hampton before the Kentucky transfer, where he didn't play a minute due to the sitting-out requirement. Just how good is he, and how much of him is hype?

Choose carefully:

Poll

Which would you rather have: Matt Pilgrim, or another 2010 scholarship?

Take Pilgrim

141 votes

Save the scholarship

58 votes

199 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 8 comments

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Comments

if we got him...

i would take him. we need him, he seems Gist-like. Also I don’t think Burney will be around much longer and if steve goins doesn’t get the time he thinks he deserves he will move on. Leaving 2 scholarships for 2010.

by Terpsfan2189 on Jul 3, 2009 4:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

agreed

i think goins will transfer if we get pilgrim just like he was ready to do if we got painter. and i think this is burney’s last year, unfortunately he has become essentially ineffective, but its good to see he is making something of himself academically.

and I think that will keep us safe with 2 scholarships for 2010, hopefully three if some one else leaves.

by word2bigbird on Jul 3, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe someone else will

i think tucker could be upset like last year but this time he will want to transfer. That would be unfortunate because he is a really good player.

by Terpsfan2189 on Jul 3, 2009 5:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

pilgrim

first williams i don’t think has qualified to get into md. 2nd. no guarantee either padgett or williams plays real well their freshman yr. does the name dupree ring a bell. pilgrim was good enough for ky. to want him before they changed coaches. if he’s good enough for kentucky he should be good enough for maryland

by fkterp on Jul 3, 2009 8:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs