Terp Target Maurice Harkless Commits to St. John's
by Ben Broman on Aug 31, 2010 3:22 PM EDT
in Basketball Recruiting
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Well, at least we don't have to worry about figuring out what to do on Maurice Harkless' unofficial visit to Maryland. Harkless, a 6-6 small forward that had been considering the Terps, committed to St. John's today.
(Also, this is what I get for stepping away from the computer after lunch).
All indications were that SJU was the team to beat for Harkless, and Maryland might've been #2 but they clearly weren't nearly as close as we thought they were. A few days ago, there were indications that he wanted to stay home for college, and you can't get any closer to home for Harkless than SJU, located in his own Queens. For the record, he's Steve Lavin's first major catch, and it's pretty fair to expect a few more.
Harkless is the second major wing off the board for UMD in about the past week. Dorian Finney-Smith also cut his list to three and left the Terps off; Maryland was considered to be pretty heavily in the running for both, so grabbing neither is a bit of a disappointment.
The good news is that it's been making more and more sense as of late to go after two big men and one wing instead of the other way around. Guards Jabari Brown and Nick Faust should still be the biggest targets, with big men Johnny O'Bryant and Adjehi Baru closely following. With the exception of Brown, Maryland figures to have a decent chance with all three (not sure on Brown).
Antwan Space, Greg Lewis, and Desmond Hubert are all still on the board, and I think it's safe to say that Maryland's no longer in the position to get picky.
As long as Maryland winds up with just one of their tier one targets, it's still an upgrade from the past few years. Luckily, that's still very possible.
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poop
welp…
time for Space
UMD vs. Gonzaga
we won this race already with GV
hopefully we win again
and Space turns out like GV
perfect
by bloodwatermission on Aug 31, 2010 3:43 PM EDT reply actions
Space
Gonzaga is out of the race. Its between us, Arkansas, Missouri and either FSU or Florida. Theres some confusion as to whether is FSU or UF that is getting his last official but it is one of the two and not both. No excuses here, we should land him.
Updated Wish List...
Faust, O’bryant, Baru, Jabari…again, in that order.
Faust is top priority, and two big men would be awesome. I’d even sub Space for Baru, but really want JOB. Jabari would be icing on the Natty Cake.
that would be the dream
if we land two of those four (faust, JOB, baru, brown), i will be thrilled
by bloodwatermission on Aug 31, 2010 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Realistically speaking we have a shot at :
Faust, Space, Baru, and Lewis
Faust is a decent shot
Space is a decent shot
Baru is a long shot
Lewis is a sure bet if we want him
JOB is not happening… Rarely do kids add a school randomly and end up going there…
Well, it's not entirely random, we were recruiting him
It’s not like he called GW up and said “Hey, I’m listing you guys.” We just didn’t happen to know about it until he released his list.
To me, Baru and JOB are about the same in terms of difficulty of attainment if Baru waits until spring. If Baru waits, it’s no longer an MD-VT dogfight; UNC and a few other big players will get involved once the other, more well-known options are off the board. If he decides within the next few months, we have still have a great chance. The fact that he still hasn’t cut his list (he was supposed to do it in August and then decide shortly after) is troubling.
I still think that unless JOB is dead-set in staying in the south, MD has a chance. MVPe’ apparently knows him and Maryland is the most prominent school on his list.
I would honestly rather get Lewis over Space
help the bmore connection.
But I’m not giving up on the JOB dream. Like the Black-Eyed Peas said “I gotta feeling…”
Reality check
Gibbs, Lewis and two we have not even heard of yet. Just another Terp recruiting year, nothing different so far!
I hate to be pessimistic
but I see no more than 1 of the top guys — but they’ll still finish higher than UVa, Wake, Miami and Nc St because their coaches suck. maybe no UVa — jury still out if he can hack it in the ACC.
I think Faust should be the focus — it would be good to tout the landing of a big b-more recruit.
I knew it
Please just go ahead and get Lewis. I have been saying that for the past month. We aren’t in a position to get all these top 4* / borderline 5* wings. This kid wanted to go somewhere and be the man from day one. Any player we recruit at the G/SF position is most likely not going to get significant playing time year 1. Mosely will be a senior, Parker will be a soph, Stoglin/Howard will be sophmores. There is no way anyone is getting a ton of time in that lineup. Gibbs will sit the bench for quite some time I would imagine. Faust might be a different story because he can shoot and there is always room for shooters. Go get Lewis & Space and call it a class. Both would accept a high major like MD, understanding that they will only be a 6-8th man coming off the bench.
by Charlotte NC Terp on Aug 31, 2010 4:29 PM EDT reply actions
I would be thrilled with
Gibbs, Faust, JOB, Lewis
I really don’t see this as an impossibility. I’m telling you, Gary is on a mission to go out on top. Now that Yow is gone, the man is looking to do big things again.
No!
No no no no no noooooooooooo no
by worldwidewes on Aug 31, 2010 7:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
WTF
i thought this new asst coach was such a fantastic recruiter….we have lost or been taken of their short list by most highly regarded recruits since he has come on board…what gives?
space
did space not say of marylands visit: “ive saved the best for last”? lets get him
jhough813
that limb your climbing,,,getting kinda heavy, hope it doesnt snap on you…. Gibbs, Lewis and we pick up in the spring two we have not heard of.
Is this just pessimism here...
or are some of you negative skeptics just trying to use reverse-psychology to will the terps into landing a dream class? If so, that’s genius!
Kid was a St. John’s lean from the moment he decommitted. We have only been recruiting him for a couple months so its hard to be to upset about this although I thought we had a better chance than we probably did.
For those saying we have no chance at O’Bryant you are wrong. We definitely have a chance. Baru could end up going for quite awhile. Basically in the next 4-6 weeks I imagine we will know the decision on Faust and Space and O’Bryant will be amidst his official visits.
Lewis is still a backup plan, nothing has changed on that front.
Faust Cuts List?
Yo Ben! What’s this about Faust cutting the list down to UMD, Marquette, FSU, & Oregon St.?
If so, can we assume Marquette & UMD are the fore-runners? How do we stand, recruiting-wise, against Marquette?
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