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No. 7 Maryland men’s basketball has been recruiting late in the 2020 cycle to prepare for next season, and head coach Mark Turgeon filled a major spot with point guard Aquan Smart committing to the Terps Sunday night.
Smart, an unranked 6’3, 200-pound Chicago-native is an option step into the inevitable void left by senior Anthony Cowan Jr. as his time leading the hometown Terps draws to a close.
“Since I was young, I’ve always been doubted,” Smart said in his Instagram announcement. “But I kept working and put all my faith in God.”
Maryland hosted Smart and his family for an official visit that included taking in the Feb. 18 contest between the Terps and Northwestern Wildcats.
With a strong frame, Smart is able to use his length, speed and strength to make plays on both ends of the floor.
Smart has a nose for the ball on defense, routinely intercepting passes and poking balls loose — while having great vision in transition and the ability to drive to the basket on offense with ease.
Smart joins local combo guard Marcus Dockery, who is playing his senior season at Brewster Academy (NH), as the two lone commitments in Maryland’s 2020 class, which stands at No. 97 in the nation with just Dockery having been rated by the 247Sports Composite.
Turgeon and his staff were able to add Smart with spots being readily available due to the dismissal of Makhel and Makhi Mitchell, and will likely be active in the transfer market in order to try and replace the void left by Jalen Smith in the front court.