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University of Maryland Athletics

Men's Basketball 2020-21 Signing Day Class

Men's Basketball

Turgeon Signs Trio of Future Terps

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Head coach Mark Turgeon and the Maryland men's basketball program welcomed a star-studded signing class as James Graham III (Milwaukee, Wis.), Julian Reese (Baltimore, Md.) and Ike Cornish (Baltimore, Md.) officially signed with the program.

All three players are four-star recruits according to 247sports.com and the class ranks 18th overall nationally. It marks the program's third top-20 class in the last six seasons.

"We're excited about our 2021 signing class and are thrilled to welcome Ike, James and Julian into our family," Turgeon said. "We needed to add great length and size to our program and at 6-6, 6-8 and 6-10, we were able to do just that.

"They are three guys that really like each other and have formed great friendships since committing and they will be a big part of us being successful down the road. We are proud to keep Baltimore natives Ike and Julian in our state and fortunate to add James from Milwaukee. All three are from great families and fit the standards of our program both on and off the court. We can't wait to have them on campus."

IKE CORNISH

Baltimore, Md.
Legacy Early College
6-6 // 185 // Guard

Before Maryland: Consensus Four-star recruit via all major recruiting publications...No. 77 overall player, No. 13 overall shooting guard, No. 3 overall player in the state of MD, according to 247Sports...No. 32 overall shooting guard and No. 5 player in the state of Maryland via ESPN...No. 89 player and No. 22 at his position via Rivals...standout at Dulaney High School in Baltimore before spending the last year at Legacy Early College HS in South Carolina...averaged 15 points per game during his first two years at Dulaney...helped Dulaney reach the state tournament as a sophomore...averaged 13.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game as a junior at Legacy…AAU teammate with fellow signee Julian Reese.
Ike Cornish: "I'm very excited to finally make it official with the University of Maryland and glad to be a step closer to the final goal. I chose Maryland because the basketball program develops you to be the best you can be on the court and in the classroom. Maryland fans can expect me to work hard every day and do whatever it takes for the team to be successful."
Head coach Mark Turgeon: "Ike Cornish is a terrific shooter with great size. He's a guy that's just coming into his own as a player. Ike worked really, really hard to get to this level and will continue to grow. He's a 6-6 wing who can really shoot and handle the ball. He has a great feel for passing and I also think will be a great defender for us down the road."
Patrice Cornish, mother: "This is such a wonderful feeling. I never thought Ike would be back in Maryland, so for me to be able to say I can go and watch my game at every game is an amazing feeling. To get himself to a level where he is competitive and strong enough and focused enough to play at Maryland is really special. Ike really did his research and picked apart every school during his decision process. I was really proud of him. The fanbase at Maryland is wonderful and so many people in the Baltimore area are excited he'll be home. Ike felt very comfortable and confident with the coaching staff. He is extremely focused on what he wants and he always has a positive attitude. He has a great outlook on life."
BJ Jackson, Legacy Early College head coach: "We are thrilled for Ike and his family on signing with the University of Maryland. From day one he has pushed himself on and off the court to become a better scholar-athlete. His countless hours in the gym paid off. We share in their excitement and look forward to seeing him at the next level."
Brian Snow, 247 scout: "Ike is somebody I saw a lot during his junior year in high school and I was really impressed with his shooting ability. He can make shots at a high clip. He has a chance to be a really good defender. In this day in age when being able to spread the court and play multiple positions is so important, Ike can fill those needs. His ability to make 3's should translate immediately for Maryland."
Colby Giacubeno, Inside Maryland Sports: "Cornish presents 'plus' length to go with his 6-foot-6 frame. That length is showcased on his drives to the rim, where he uses a quick first step and long strides to get to the basket in a minimum number of dribbles. Cornish often finishes with craftiness and finesse to avoid shot blockers. While he's a capable catch-and-shoot threat from three, Cornish is more efficient shooting off the dribble. It's rare for players to make shots in that fashion more efficiently than in spot-up situations, but the fact that he has become strong in that aspect leads me to believe that with the necessary reps, he can be a deadly shot-maker off the catch in the future. Cornish is extremely active as a defender. He has heady instincts and good timing on shooting the passing lanes for steals or using his wingspan to harass the ball-handler and cause deflections. His blend of size and length come back into play and make him a versatile option to guard the shooting guard or small forward position."
James Graham

JAMES GRAHAM III

Milwaukee, Wis.
Nicolet HS
6-8 // 205 // Guard/Forward

Before Maryland: Consensus Four-star recruit via all major recruiting publications...No. 52 overall player, No. 11 small forward in the class and No. 2 out of Wisconsin, per 247Sports...No. 22 small forward and No. 4 player in the state of Wisconsin via ESPN...No. 107 overall player and No. 19 at his position via Rivals...averaged 20.3 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game for Nicolet High School in Milwaukee as a junior...helped Nicolet to a 22-2 record while outscoring opponents by an average of 24.2 points over its last nine games last season...was picked by many to repeat as the WIAA Division 2 state champions before the season was cut short.
James Graham III: "I'm so excited to join Maryland and get to play with the program. I'm eager to meet my new teammates and coaches. I chose Maryland because it was the best fit for me academically and athletically. Maryland fans can expect someone who is extremely charismatic and goofy, but also a killer on the court."
Head coach Mark Turgeon: "James Graham is one of the most talented players offensively I think I've ever recruited. James can put the ball in the basket from so many different ways - on the block, 3-point line, midrange, off the dribble to the rim. He's got game. He really worked on his body this summer and just became this really good player."
Monique Graham, mother: "I am so excited for this opportunity for James. When we were looking for the right school, our priority was ensuring our son would thrive as a positive contributor to society. We really stressed academics and community involvement as well as athletics. It became clear that the Maryland coaching staff would provide James with the tools to develop mentally and emotionally, as well as in the classroom and on the court."
James Graham II, father: "By the time I was 14, I was done working toward a dream and began simply working jobs. I am the happiest that my son, at 17, is still working towards his dream of being a pro basketball player and having great success doing so. The offers blew me away. This scholarship blew me away. And it's all due to his hard work. And he is not through! Coach Turgeon, Coach Bino and the whole staff have convinced me that James is in the best place to reach his goal. I believe they will fully support him, and I know James will repay them 10-fold with his work, effort and performance. I can't wait to see my boy on national TV in the NCAA Tournament!"
Duane Wilson, Wisconsin Playground Club Executive Director: "James is the type of player that can score the ball at all four levels. He can also rebound and run the floor. He's a gym rat. He loves being in the gym and doing what it takes to elevate his game. As a person he's a great individual and does great in the classroom. He's a great kid from a great family. James really put the work in over the last couple of years. He did the extra work and got in the weight room to change his body. He really changed his thought process. We always talk about bettering yourself off the court as more than a basketball player and James embraced that."
Brian Snow, 247 scout: "Even in this weird summer, James Graham really blew up . He's 6-9 and can shoot it. He's a good athlete who can handle the ball and can create going to the rim. His best basketball is ahead of him. He got better fast and people saw through his film that his game was going in the right direction. His future is really bright. James has great leadership qualities and is a great kid that people want to be around. There's a lot to like about what he can bring to Maryland."
Colby Giacubeno, Inside Maryland Sports: "Graham's size and skillset are what made him such a coveted prospect. He makes his presence felt from beyond the arc as a shot-maker. The 6-foot-8 Graham also has the ability to put the ball on the floor for one or two dribbles with comfort and make jumpers at an efficient clip from mid-range. I see Graham being utilized often as a pick-and-pop threat. It may take a year, but once he adjusts to the speed of the college game, he can be a legitimate dual threat off the catch and his value will skyrocket. Graham fits the mold to be an extremely versatile defender. His size and length come into play heavily here, as his wingspan allows him to match up against centers for short spurts when being used in small-ball lineups. He has good instincts as a help defender and does many things that may not show up on the box score, but hold great value in winning a game."
Julian Reese

JULIAN REESE

Baltimore, Md.
St. Frances Academy
6-10 // 205 // Forward

Before Maryland: Four-star recruit, No. 73 overall player, No. 12 at his position and No. 3 in the state of Maryland via ESPN...four-star recruit, No. 92 overall player and No. 17 at his position via Rivals...three-star recruit, No. 128 overall player, No. 22 at his position and No. 3 in the state of Maryland via 247 Sports...attended St. Frances Academy in Baltimore… team finished with an overall record of 38-4…won Baltimore Catholic League (BCL) Championship...averaged 10.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game as a junior… received BCL Defensive Player of the Year honors...Honorable Mention All-BCL honors...AAU teammate with fellow signee Ike Cornish.
Julian Reese: "I'm super excited to finally make it official, and can't wait to see what happens in the future at Maryland. I chose Maryland because I felt it was the school that would value me most as a player compared to other programs. The fans can expect me to give 110% as soon as I step foot on campus."
Head coach Mark Turgeon: "Julian Reese out of Baltimore - he goes by "JuJu" - is very talented. He's very young for his class and is a player with tremendous upside. He can score around the basket and beyond the 3-point line. He can handle and pass the ball. He's a tremendous defender and shot blocker. As you've seen over the years, it's really nice to have a shot blocker whether its Bruno Fernando, Jalen Smith, Alex Len, you name it - across the board we've had some pretty good shot blockers here at Maryland, so Julian is going to give us that. He's a local kid and his sister Angel is here this year, so we're excited to have him."
Angel Reese, mother: "I am over the moon with excitement for Julian as he moves on to this next step in his life. I am confident Maryland will help him prepare to be the best student-athlete and young man he can be. I'm happy he's staying home and has the chance to play in front of his family and friends. It's really cool that he'll be joining his sister, Angel, and they will be able to support each other every step of the way. Julian is very laid back and always gets the job done."
Nick Myles, St. Frances head coach: "Julian is a multi-faceted player who can play both inside and out. He's one of the best shot blockers I've ever been around. He's a competitor who can help from day one and he's the kind of forward Maryland has always had in that program. Winning drives him and he wants to win at the highest level. He wants to win every drill and every game he plays. I've been blessed to coach him the last few years."
Brian Snow, 247 scout: "Julian is an intriguing player because of his size and length. He should help with rebounding right away and has a good chance to be a good shot blocker. He's got to work on his range, but has a pretty good touch. He should get better every step of the way and as a local kid, playing for Maryland definitely means something to him and he will contribute a lot."
Colby Giacubeno, Inside Maryland Sports: "The first thing I noticed is that he's added some muscle to his long frame. He used the quarantine period to focus on his body and his overall strength. More than ever, he's finishing above the rim with two hands. Last season, even when opportunities came to throw down a rim-rocking dunk, he would lay the ball in softly. Reese has also progressed as a screener. He's initiating contact with the defender, keeps them on his back as he rolls to the rim and demands the ball when he gets into the paint. The defensive side of the ball has been Reese's calling card. His size and length allow him to alter almost any shot around the rim."
Brian Snow on the class as a whole:
"This is a very solid class for Mark Turgeon and his class. They had to put a lot of work into it and it showed through identifying James Graham early on in the process from a state that's not common for Maryland. All three players are high character kids and it's the type of group that can play together for multiple years and help Maryland win many games in the Big Ten Conference."
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Players Mentioned

Bruno Fernando

#23 Bruno Fernando

F
6' 10"
Sophomore
Jalen Smith

#25 Jalen Smith

F
6' 10"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Bruno Fernando

#23 Bruno Fernando

6' 10"
Sophomore
F
Jalen Smith

#25 Jalen Smith

6' 10"
Sophomore
F