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Maryland men’s basketball faces high expectations as the No. 7 team in the country going into the 2019-20 college basketball season.
The hype is real in College Park, and a few players on this year’s roster have caught the eyes of NBA scouts and the media.
With the season starting on Tuesday night, some mock 2020 NBA Drafts are already out, and two Maryland players have been prominently featured on draft boards: sophomore forward Jalen Smith and sophomore guard Aaron Wiggins.
Jalen Smith 2020 NBA Draft Projections
Outlet | Pick | Team | Date released |
---|---|---|---|
Outlet | Pick | Team | Date released |
Stadium | 9 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Oct. 22 |
NBA Draft Room | 12 | Chicago Bulls | Nov. 1 |
Tankathon | 13 | Utah Jazz | Oct. 26 |
NBA Draft .net | 15 | Detroit Pistons | July 27 |
Sports Illustrated | 20 | San Antonio Spurs | Oct. 30 |
Bleacher Report | 26 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Oct. 23 |
Yahoo! Sports | 26 | N/A | June 21 |
Forbes | 27 | Utah Jazz | Oct. 10 |
USA TODAY | 29 | San Antonio Spurs | Oct. 30 |
Smith’s projections are scattered throughout the first round. As shown above, he has lottery pick promise — though whether that comes to fruition all depends on whether he can reach his potential on the court. Stadium, Bleacher Report, USA TODAY and Yahoo! Sports all talked highly of his versatility on the court, being able to “thrive in transition” as Stadium described him.
Three of those four publications have Smith drafted in the 20s, with Stadium the one outlier as a top-10 pick. Smith has that potential, be hasn't turned the corner as Sports Illustrated discussed, talking about his “gangly frame”. There is significant upside and Smith could “one of the more appealing five-men in this class if all goes well.”
Aaron Wiggins 2020 NBA Draft Projections
Outlet | Pick | Team | Date Released |
---|---|---|---|
Outlet | Pick | Team | Date Released |
Yahoo! Sports | 24 | N/A | June 21 |
NBADraft .net | 29 | Toronto Raptors | July 27 |
NBA Draft Room | 51 | San Antonio Spurs | Nov. 1 |
Wiggins has appeared on several draft boards after emerging as Maryland’s go-to outside shooter last season, leading the team with a 41.3 three-point percentage. His projections range from the end of the first round to the end of the second round.
Yahoo! Sports and NBA Draft Room specifically talked about his ability to dominate from beyond the arc, Yahoo! Sports saying that “coming back for another year at Maryland should help him improve his strength and 3-point shot.” Wiggins has also been in the weight room quite a bit this offseason, adding on some muscle.
Aaron Wiggins has added 10-15 pounds of muscle since last season. Looks like an NBA wing physically. Primed to explode for Maryland.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) October 11, 2019
Wiggins isn’t being talked about much, but it’s not the first time a Maryland sharpshooter has gone under-the-radar. Kevin Huerter shot 39.4 percent from three in his two seasons at Maryland, including 41.7 percent his sophomore year. He was drafted 19th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks, so don’t be surprised if Wiggins follows a similar path.
In other news
Maryland men’s basketball team blew out Fayetteville State 76-43 in its sole exhibition game on Friday night. Here are our biggest takeaways.
Maryland football lost its fourth-straight game, a 38-7 homecoming blowout by Michigan on Saturday.
Lila and Cody had a trio of takeaways from the Terps’ blowout loss.
If you’re looking for some more uplifting Maryland football news, Lila wrote a feature on quarterback Tyler DeSue and where he gets his resiliency.
Sarah had some awesome photo content for us this weekend, both at the basketball exhibition and the football game.
After Maryland sports suffered three losses to Michigan this weekend, now seems as good a time as any to remind you that basketball season is upon us.
— Testudo Times (@testudotimes) November 3, 2019
Bring on the No. 7 Terps.
( : @ssopher528) pic.twitter.com/Crr6q3DrOe
We can’t decide which we love more, these uniforms or this photo by @ssopher528 pic.twitter.com/HLMr0iJ6gN
— Testudo Times (@testudotimes) November 2, 2019
Morgan also produced a ton of great multimedia content over the weekend, starting with this video on how some Maryland men’s basketball players are struggling to tell the Mitchell twins apart.
Some Maryland basketball players are still having trouble telling freshmen Makhi and Makhel Mitchell apart.
— Testudo Times (@testudotimes) November 2, 2019
Even we got it wrong at first... pic.twitter.com/yS3WYC4hFP
She also recapped the football game, and on a more positive note did a feature on running back Javon Leake tying Torrey Smith for the most kickoff return touchdowns in program history.
Maryland football lost its fourth consecutive game Saturday, falling to No. 14 Michigan.
— Testudo Times (@testudotimes) November 2, 2019
@morganweaver_ recaps the action. pic.twitter.com/H2kqISKxZB
Running back Javon Leake looked up to all the great Maryland football kickoff return specialists growing up.
— Testudo Times (@testudotimes) November 3, 2019
On Saturday, @ny_king20 tied @TorreySmithWR for most kickoff return touchdowns in program history.
( : @morganweaver_) pic.twitter.com/4XaeFPv5Ir
Maryland women’s basketball added its best recruit in program history, five-star guard Angel Reese, the No. 2 overall player in the class of 2020. We were the first to break the news of any local or national outlet.
No. 17 Maryland men’s soccer was upset by Michigan 4-2 on Sunday in its regular season finale.
Maryland women’s soccer’s best season since joining the Big Ten ended on Sunday, falling 3-0 to the Wolverines in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
The Terps had a rough weekend on the field and the court as I wrote about Maryland volleyball losing in straight sets at Ohio State on Saturday.
Maryland wrestling began its season on Saturday, going 1-1 at the Cavalier Duals in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Lila discovered a crazy Terps basketball coincidence this weekend...think it means anything?
We found a crazy coincidence:
— Testudo Times (@testudotimes) November 3, 2019
Only a few times in NBA history have 3 Terps been on one team, including the ‘01-02 Rockets (W. Williams, S. Francis & rook T. Morris)
Morris was drafted 34th and then immediately traded, just how Bruno Fernando ended up on the Terplanta Hawks.
Jake Layman made an appearance at Friday night’s men’s basketball exhibition game while his Minnesota Timberwolves were in town to play the Washington Wizards.
.@JLayman10 has entered the building, folks. pic.twitter.com/obLEQoFxoV
— Testudo Times (@testudotimes) November 1, 2019
Former men’s basketball standout Joe Smith and football player/Under Armour founder Kevin Plank were at Saturday’s football game.
We welcome HOME two Terp Legends, Joe Smith and Kevin Plank! #UMDHomecoming pic.twitter.com/hMVQJ8PlUD
— Maryland Terrapins (@umterps) November 2, 2019
Maryland football is 44-point underdogs to No. 3 Ohio State... yes, you read that right.
Ohio State has opened as 44-point favorites over Maryland for Saturday's game. pic.twitter.com/ibmXJSYZa2
— Sean Montiel (@SeanMMontiel) November 4, 2019
Former Terp DJ Moore had one great catch and a pretty good Sunday afternoon, finishing with seven receptions for 101 yards.
What a catch by @idjmoore!#HeATerp pic.twitter.com/ltZuXNwXVI
— Testudo Times (@testudotimes) November 3, 2019
Maryland women’s basketball has its second game of the season this upcoming Sunday — a matchup between two top-10 teams.
!
— Maryland Women’s Basketball (@umdwbb) November 3, 2019
#4 . #8 South Carolina
Sunday // 3 pm // ESPN
: https://t.co/0DnZAHgTPb # pic.twitter.com/9IN37GNUdl
It was homecoming in College Park as former Terps returned to campus, including five members of the 2018 national champion men’s soccer team.
Sebastian, Andrew, Dayne, Amar, Donovan
— Maryland Soccer (@MarylandMSoccer) November 3, 2019
Their names forever up in lights
The Champs are BACK! #Excellence pic.twitter.com/GHZsVhnBxL
Maryland men’s lacrosse head coach John Tillman was in the Halloween spirit.
Just a quick reminder that Maryland men’s lacrosse head coach @CoachTillman1 dressed up as @rattmambo AKA Premier Lacrosse League MVP AKA Chef Rambo for Halloween pic.twitter.com/SZGO2YsdGZ
— Cody Wilcox (@Cody_Wilcox15) November 2, 2019
Maryland field hockey head coach Missy Meharg showed off the championship trophy at Saturday’s football game.
The true #BestOfTheBest, @MissyMeharg, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 1999 national championship - her 2nd of 7️⃣ total titles! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/dzWnpjGFZ4
— Maryland Field Hockey (@TerpsFH) November 2, 2019
Maryland women’s soccer ran into someone pretty iconic on its way back from the Big Ten tournament.
Ran into the legend @StevieWonder at the airport!
— Maryland W. Soccer (@TerpsWSoccer) November 4, 2019
Signed, sealed, delivered pic.twitter.com/xIXUgZVIPq