Maryland's Super Seniors

When the 2022-23 Maryland men’s basketball season came to a close in the NCAA Tournament Second Round last season, many Terp fans weren’t expecting to see Jahmir Young or Donta Scott in a Maryland uniform ever again—much less both of them.

But that’s just what happened with boy guys opting to use their fifth and final years of eligibility to return to College Park and clean up some unfinished business on the court—both as individuals and within the team as a whole.

The two have very different stories at Maryland. Young is a Maryland native who spent his first three seasons at Charlotte before coming back home in Kevin Willard’s first season and quickly establishing himself as one of the best point guards in not only the Big Ten, but in the entire country. Scott, hailing from Philadelphia, has stuck with the Terps from the beginning through numerous ups and downs and a coaching change and has put himself in a position to hold numerous program records when it’s all said and done.

And though the two journeys vary significantly, one thing remains the same: both guys have developed a deep adoration for Maryland.

“Last year was something that I’d never felt before, being able to play in front of so many people where I’m from,” Young said. “That atmosphere, that feeling, I just wanted to do it one more time. And I feel like we left a little bit on the table last year that we could capitalize on this year. With us being leaders, I feel like we have a good chance to do that.”

“It’s always good to stick to what you know,” Scott said. “I’ve been here for a while, since I was a freshman, and I wanted to stick around. Plus, you gain your diploma, which sounds pretty good to me. I just want to finish what I started and try to get my diploma.”

Young has already started racking up preseason honors, highlighted by being tabbed as a Blue Ribbon Preseason All-American and an All-Big Ten member. 

“Looking at just how far I’ve come, it’s kinda crazy because college flies by,” Young said. “So, being able to go through that and not even realizing what you’re doing, just by going out and playing, it’s special. It’s really a motivator as well. It makes you want to do more and make sure you leave nothing on the table this year.”

Scott comes into the 2023-24 season sitting tied for 15th in career rebounds (704), tied for 17th in career games played (129), 11th in career starts (114), and 13th in career minutes (3,769) in program history. By the time his career is up, he will have a shot at holding the all-time records in games played, starts and minutes played while also having a good shot at finishing top-10 all-time in career rebounds. He has also been a two-time selection to the Karl Malone Watch List.

And while both Scott and Young are appreciative of all they’ve accomplished on an individual level, they care much more deeply about how those accomplishments help the team win.

“The milestones come with winning,” Scott said. “Being able to add to the record books with rebounding and scoring and how many minutes I play, that will all help my team get wins. And that’s the most important thing.”

“We both have a lot that we can accomplish this year that will help us achieve those individual goals, and it starts with winning,” Young added. “We’re just trying to be leaders and really be able to put the team on our backs at times with our will to win.”

With the two fifth-years at the helm and a highly-touted group of freshmen ready to prove themselves, this year’s Maryland men’s basketball team is poised for a big year. According to Young and Scott, it’s up to them as leaders to set the tone early.

“It’s been cool just helping these guys out and seeing them grow,” Scott said. “It’s been different to be more of a vocal leader. Putting guys in the right situations and spots has been more of a key for us, being fifth years.”

Young especially emphasized the importance of creating a positive culture with all the new faces in the locker room.

“If we don’t have a good culture then we’re not going to win games, so that’s something we’re trying to build early. That’s something that Italy helped us with.”

The 10-day foreign tour to Italy where the group visited Rome, Florence, Venice and Lake Como and played three exhibition games was something both guys pointed to as a major advantage for both the team and for them as people.

“I’m just so grateful for that opportunity,” Young said. “Just being able to spend a lot of time with each other, experiencing the different food and the different culture together, and seeing different people, it was amazing.” 

“It was just a good all-around experience,” Scott added. “I think it will help the team a lot. Just understanding that everywhere you go is going to be an adjustment and something that you’ll have to adapt to, to make the environment well-suited to yourself.”

The final message the guys hope to deliver to their younger teammates is to soak up every minute of the journey.

“It flies by,” Young said. “Like older people tell us when we’re younger, embrace it, because it does go by fast. Me and Tae, we’re going into our fifth year, so we’re really trying to embrace the young guys and embracing the whole college atmosphere for one last year.”

And though they may not be the “young guys” on the team anymore, they’re not about to let anyone call them old. 

“You know, everybody says we’re old, but we’re young fifth-years, we’re 22,” Scott said. “Some fifth-years are 24, 25. I’m not letting anyone on the team call us the old guys.”

“We still feel young,” Young laughed. “We have a lot more in the tank and a lot more we can show.”

The two are plenty eager to show it—especially at a place that has become home for both of them.

“Even though Jahmir lives a little bit closer to here than me being from Philly, I’d say this is home,” Scott said. “It’s the legacy. You see all these people before us and what they did for the school, and it’s up to us as the next people to continue that.”

“Maryland’s home,” Young said. ”It’s history. It’s legends. A basketball school where we just play for the state to represent the state. It’s something that we’re proud to be able to play for. It’s really just a blessing to be able to wear Maryland across our chests.”