If we can get a big man, we may have a rare opportunity to go after a Jones or Leslie. But, we have to get a big man first. I know we have Jordan and James, but we need a center or power forward or two in every class. No coach can consistently win playing 3-ball.

We may even be able to take a Josh Henderson this year knowing that he will take time to develop. But, once we have that commitment, we can afford to go after a recruit that can bring a new dimension to the program even if have to wait it out until the end. Then, if we don’t get the commitment, we save the scholarship for next year.

I just don’t understand why we MD fans are so negative sometimes…I mean here we land a top fifty recruit in Parker to what will inevitably be the best recruiting class MD has arguably had in the last six years, and yet all the sentiment I see in this article is worry about “how we’re going to get the other guys we are looking at now that we’ve taken up three of the scholarships.” I mean COME ON guys, we landed multiple plus three-star players in one year and all you guys can do is complain and worry about what we don’t have? Rejoice in the now, gentlemen! Couple that class with the two big men we’ve got coming in the class of 2009 and there’s a deep starting roster. So give up the complaining, guys – that is for NC State and UVA fans to worry about.

Actually, that was analysis, not negativity. I think bbroman is dead on. Obviously, a true three is going to be reluctant to come to Maryland with Ross, Parker and Kin on the roster. That is also true for a two, with Mosley, Ross, Parker, Bowie and Tucker around. That only makes sense. And, as he pointed out, the kids are looking over this move and so is Gary. Where do we go from here is a logical conversation.

So we have Williams at center and Padget and Gregory at the PF. We can go small or big in 2010. How do we want to use our remaining two slots?

T. Ross had an enormous impact in the recruiting process. I would have to think we are a frontrunner for Jones, a player I think would fit right in and can play the four. He plays big. And remember, the Terps guards are big and strong. Ross is 6’5", Parker 6’6". Mosely is as tough as they come. Somewhere on the courtt the Terps will have a height advantage.

The four players you mention stand out: Johnson or D. Harris and Jones or Leslie. Add two of those four, and we are looking at another championship banner. On the next level is Ernie Graham’s kid, who by all acounts wants to be a Terp and I think is a real sleeper. If we only get one of the four, Jonathon will do just fine.

My two cents, all the guards you mentioned are looking elsewhere. Roscos Smith is overrated and plays small. You are right, he’s a 3. He ain’t coming to MD. T. Harris goes to a school that pays now that his dad seems to be orchestarting the money game (can anybody say Kentucky or UConn?).

And I agree, Johnson and Jones are the two guys who are saying, hmmmm, that Maryland team might be the place for me.

If we are looking for a championship team (and we are), we are going to need another inside big man beside Jordan…a big guy that can play with his back to basket, has enough size and strength to hold his position, can go up from that position without putting the ball on the floor, and has touch. There are too many times in close games with good teams, especially with away games, when you have to get some points on a possession. Teams are forced to play in their half-court offense and need a high percentage shot where the opposition will have to foul to stop it. The teams that get those points win those games. Some of you that have seen Jordan Williams play said that he can do the job and I have no reason to doubt you. However, he doesn’t have any backup. Gary went out and got Ryan Randle to back up Lonnie for that purpose. Johnson seems to me to be the only one in this group that could be effective in that role but I admit that don’t know enough about the others.