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MM 9.10: Bruno Fernando honored in Maryland’s Hall of Legends

This is the Maryland Minute, a short story followed by a roundup of Terps-related news.

By Cody Wilcox
@the_angolan_bf / Instagram

Although former Maryland basketball standout Bruno Fernando left College Park after being taken as the 34th pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, his legacy will always last in Maryland’s Xfinity Center.

On Monday, Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon revealed a plaque in Heise Hallway that honored Fernando for his first team All-Big Ten honors as a Terp.

The Angolan native will now grace the walls of Heise Hallway, which was named after avid Terp-supporter Jack Heise, leading into the team’s locker room. Fernando joins other former Terps with their own plaques, including Greivis Vaques, Dez Wells, Melo Trimble and many more, in the Legends of the Court, which recognizes Maryland players that have been named as an All-American or first team all-conference.

Along with his first team honors, Fernando received Honorable Mention All-American honors by Sporting News and was named to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team.

Fernando took to Instagram Monday evening to express what the moment meant for him.

“Today I’m sitting here as I write this as one of the University of Maryland Basketball Greats,” Fernando wrote. “Mannnn this is incredible. I don’t know if you understand that, but Man I CAME FROM LUANDA’ ANGOLA. Where I’m from they don’t expect you to do stuff like this. ‘We ain’t supposed to Make it this far’ This means way more to me than anything I ever done playing basketball.”

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I remember vividly coming to this university not knowing exactly what to expect for myself. Thought about no particular goals for myself, but to simply work Hard, Stay out of trouble, try to bring joy and be a light for others everyday, win a championship and one day making it to the NBA That’s all. However, I let GOD take control of my life, dreams, goals and aspirations, asked him to guide me the right way and allow me to only have the things that I truly deserve to have. I remember freshman ended and I had so many questions about myself as a basketball player. Crazy thing is, I didn’t know the answer to these question. Never one time I thought about myself being on a wall somewhere. Honestly, I just thought that I wasn’t enough for that. Always thought that you need to be the most talented guy in the room in order to accomplish that, which I’ve never been in my career. I JUST WORK EXTREMELY HARD EVERYDAY thats all I knew. Today I’m sitting here as I write this as one of the University Of Maryland Basketball Greats. I DID THIS IN TWO YEARS . Mannnn this is incredible. I don’t know if you understand that, but Man I CAME FROM LUANDA’ ANGOLA. Where I’m from they don’t expect you to do stuff like this. “We ain’t supposed to Make it this far” This means way more to me than anything I ever done playing basketball. Im beyond blessed and for each and every single one of the blessings I receive daily, I Thank the Man Above, my family and everyone else I come across every day of my life. Thank you so Much Maryland and Coach Turgeon for ever giving me an opportunity. You could’ve went and gotten any kid you wanted, but you believed in Me. You changed my Life forever and I’m sure you gave a Whole Nation in Angola another reason to dream and keep faith that one day they’ll become a reality. I’ll never take anything for granted, and imma forever cherish everything Because I earned It. I was never Given. It hits different when you EARN IT. ❤️ THIS IS FOREVER. #MARYLANDBASKETBALLEGEND #CHOICESWEMAKE

A post shared by BRUNO FERNANDO (@the_angolan_bf) on

Fernando completed his career with 770 points, 558 rebounds and 101 blocks. In his two years at Maryland, Fernando finished second in career field goal percentage (.595), tied for second in single-season double-doubles (22 in 2018-19) and tenth in career rebounding average (8.7). He was also one of five finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, which goes to the nation’s best center.

Fernando will begin his rookie year with the Atlanta Hawks alongside former Terps Kevin Huerter and Alex Len this October.

In other news

The latest SB Nation FanPulse is in after Week 2, and the Terps were ranked as No. 21 from Testudo Times readers

We’re back with our Big Ten football weekend review for Week 2

Maryland softball has found its replacement for former softball head coach Julie Wright in Mike Montgomery.

Wes broke down what worked for Maryland on Saturday against No. 21 Syracuse

Maryland linebacker Keandre Jones broke down his big day against No. 21 Syracuse.

Keandre Jones was also named Maryland’s Defensive Player of the Week. Running backs Anthony McFarland Jr. and Jake Funk were also honored by the team.

A few Maryland football players are putting up some serious numbers through two games.

As for the Maryland team as a whole, its ranked in the top-10 in a few different categories.

WNBA All Star Alyssa Thomas filled in for Maryland women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese on Monday.

Former Maryland lacrosse player Connor Kelly will be playing with the U.S. Men’s National Team.

Maryland baseball’s incoming class was ranked No. 21 by Baseball America.

Maryland volleyball’s Erika Pritchard, Katie Myers and Sam Snyder are off to a hot start for the Terps, leading the conference in three different individual categories.

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