Mikael Hopkins Cuts List to 10, Keeps Terps

Mikael Hopkins, the 6-9 PF/C from DeMatha in Hyattsville, MD, has been one Maryland's top targets in the 2011 class since the cycle started. He took the next step in his recruitment tonight, narrowing his list down to 10. Maryland, fortunately, made the cut.

No, that's not a very narrow list, especially when compared to Dorian Finney-Smith's 6. But it's progress.

Unfortunately, the list doesn't exactly look great for Maryland fans. It's a who-who of big-name schools. Via Scout, the list includes Georgetown, Kansas, Miami, Ohio State, Pitt, Syracuse, Texas, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia. Miami and VT are the only schools Maryland could have any confidence against in a recruiting dogfight, and even that is very questionable.

Hopkins has repeated several times that he wants to get away for school, but that hasn't stopped Maryland from recruiting him, even showing up in full force for his AAU games. That list is imposing for any school, though, let alone Maryland.

An interesting note, though: once regarded as Maryland's lead big man target and second-highest prospect overall, Hopkins has fallen in the fans' eyes. The Big Board will be released tomorrow, but as a teaser: Hopkins wasn't in the top 5, and had less than half the votes of the new big man favorite, Adjehi Baru. He still had a lot of distance on Desmond Hubert and Greg Lewis, but it's clear that Baru's work ethic and potential have taken the top spot.