4-star PF Silvio De Sousa commits to Kansas: Maryland basketball misses on a top 2018 target

Mark Turgeon has to cross a name off his 2018 recruiting board, after KU Sports announced four-star power forward Silvio De Sousa committed to the Jayhawks over the weekend.

The Terps had long been considered the front-runners for De Sousa, the No. 30 overall player and No. 8 power forward in his class in the 247Sports Composite rankings, but an official visit to Kansas last weekend convinced him to end his recruitment.

De Sousa is a close friend of incoming Terps forward Bruno Fernando, having played together at IMG Academy and internationally for Angola. But De Sousa told the Journal-World Wednesday he found what he was looking for in Lawrence and does not plan to schedule any further visits.

Though a surprise, this isn’t the biggest blow to the Terps’ recruiting hopes. Maryland already has the nation’s No. 8 recruiting class with a commitment from power forward Jalen Smith, No. 6 at the position and No. 23 in the class, as well as another top-50 commit in wing Aaron Wiggins.

Turgeon and staff still has some high profile targets on their radar, as well. Four-star wing Keldon Johnson will take an official visit to College Park on Sept. 23, followed by five-star center Moses Brown, who has his official scheduled for Sept. 28. With De Sousa off the board, Brown becomes priority No. 1 in the frontcourt.