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After ESPN released their most up-to-date Top 100 rankings, Terps' fans found themselves throwing their arms up in utter disbelief. The reason for the astonishment came as a result of Anthony Cowan being left off the list. Cowan, the lone commit from the class for Maryland, is ranked as the 90th best prospect, according to 247sports.com. Additionally, Rivals rankings has Cowan ranked as the 53rd best player in the nation. With all the fluctuation between these three recruiting services, it is obvious that there are mixed reviews on Cowan's game. However, the Maryland coaching staff feels that Cowan will be an impactful player from the beginning.
Aside from the snub on Cowan, the recruiting rankings from ESPN led to other aspects noted by Terps' fans. Many players who Maryland has offered have made their way on to the list.
Targets in the Top 10
Harry Giles, a long-shot for the Terps, is ranked as the number one prospect; the 6'10" power forward from North Carolina seems poised to land at either Duke, North Carolina, or Wake Forest, per 247sports.com 'Crystal Ball' predictions. Josh Jackson, the number three ranked player in the ESPN Top 100, is a 6'7" wing player that holds an offer from Maryland.
Targets in the Top 25
The number 19 player in the rankings is Udoka Azubuike, an elite center prospect, who Maryland could pursue as another high profile big man to develop in College Park. Frank Jackson, a point guard prospect from Utah, finds himself at number 20 on the list; he holds an offer from Maryland, but has a high level of interest in Duke (according to 247sports.com interest level), who has yet to offer. A big time Terps' target follows Azubuike and Jackson, at number 21. Markelle Fultz, of DeMatha high school, is rated as the 21st best player in the class by ESPN; although he garners high interest from Maryland, his services are highly coveted by many blue-blood programs. V.J. King, a recent Louisville commit, held an offer from Maryland, and is ranked as the 25th best player in the class.
Targets in the Top 50
Mustapha Heron, a 6'5" combo guard, is rated as the 26th ranked prospect in the class who has already committed and decommitted from Pittsburgh. Tyus Battle, a talented shooting guard out of New Jersey, is rated as the 27th best player in the class, and has committed to Michigan. A pair of small forwards who hold offers from Maryland made their way on the list; Vance Jackson and Mario Kegler landed at the number 34 and 36 spots in the rankings.
Remaining Targets in the Top 100
Tony Carr, a guard from Philadelphia, is the 52nd best player in the nation and figures to be heavily pursued as a potential running mate to Cowan. Curtis Jones is another guard who Maryland has pursued, and he lands at number 65. At the number 73 and 74 spots lays two prospects who hold offers from Maryland. At number 73 is Kevin Huerter, a shooting guard from New York, who could also be a player that Turgeon targets to play off the ball. Lamar Stevens, a 6'6" small forward from Philadelphia, could be the Terps' target to help replace Jake Layman, who will leave to graduation following the 2015-16 season. At number 76 is Brandon Robinson, a versatile guard from Georgia, is another player that the coaching staff will look to add in order to provide perimeter scoring and defense. The final Maryland target featured on the list is Wenyen Gabriel, at number 82, a small forward from Massachusetts, who could be the answer to replacing another small forward from Massachusetts in Layman.
While these rankings are heavily sought after by fans around the country trying to track the potential of their recruiting class, the coaches covet players for different reasons. The rankings can either be supported or refuted when the recruits play in games in the 2016-17 season.