"They're A Great Group"

Maryland men’s basketball finished the 2023-24 season with a losing record. However, 10 of their 17 losses came by two or fewer possessions. 

The year contrasted with head coach Kevin Willard’s inaugural season at the helm, during which the Terps celebrated a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Last season, Willard says the team lacked playmaking and the ability to stretch the floor, creating many close contests that didn’t go their way. 

Addressing Maryland’s shortcomings from last season, Willard retooled his roster by welcoming seven newcomers. The additions consist of five transfers and two incoming freshmen who fill Maryland’s need for offense versatility and 3-point shooting ability. Coach Willard spoke about the upcoming season and how he feels his additions will lead the Terps back to prominence at the 2024 Big Ten Basketball Media Days in Rosemont, Illinois, on Oct. 3. 

“I really like the additions we added,” Willard said in his opening statement. “The biggest thing that we addressed in the portal was obviously we struggled to shoot the basketball last year. So Everyone that came in through the portal and transferred were guys that could make shots, and [I’m] excited about this team. They’re a great group.”

The Terps’ incoming transfers are Tafara Gapare, Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Selton Miguel, Rodney Rice and Jay Young. The headliners of the group are Gillespie and Miguel, who each bring years of production to College Park. 

Jahmir Young, Maryland’s leader from the point guard position each of the last two seasons, is now navigating a career in the NBA. Willard brought in Gillespie to fill the void left by Young. The Belmont transfer boasts a similar athletic profile to Young but can also finish at the rim with either hand and shoot the 3-pointer. Gillespie was named to the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Second Team, All-Defensive Team and Most-Improved Team a season ago.  

Miguel will wrap up his college career as a Terp after becoming the reigning American Athletic Conference (AAC) Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improved Player. He was also selected to the All-AAC Second Team. His shooting ability made him a player Willard targeted in the portal. 

“I needed a guy that wanted to come in and take over that leadership role, take over the minutes role,” Willard said. “Ja'Kobi’s there. We needed another guard. Last year, we were just one guard short. … Selton Miguel for us was a guy from South Florida that can just go get a bucket. You don't have to run a play. … Guys like Selton [and] Ja'Kobi, just give them the ball and get out of the way. Sometimes, as a coach, that's the best feeling you can have.”

For Miguel, coming to College Park was an easy decision. He loved the already-established Maryland basketball culture, the freedom Willard gave his guards and the program’s history of success in the NCAA Tournament. 

“Coming to Maryland was the best option because of the culture,” Miguel said. “I look at coach Willard, he lets the guards play. I just feel like I wanted to win and being somewhere that is used to going to the tournament. I want to be in the tournament for my last year.”

Maryland also welcomed freshmen Malachi Palmer and Derik Queen. Queen is one of three five stars the Terps have landed in the modern recruiting era and will be paired in the front court with two-time All-Big Ten Honorable Mention Julian Reese. 

Queen played three seasons at Montverde Academy in Florida after spending his freshman year at St. Frances Academy playing alongside Reese. Their prior relationship and pairing have sparked a lot of excitement for Terps fans, including Coach Willard. 

“Derik comes from a great family,” Willard said. “He's got a great group of people around him. He's wise beyond his years. I think one of the biggest things was Derik was really excited to play with Julian. … He was excited not only to play with him but to learn from him, and so far in practice, Derik is like a sponge. … They really work well together. We have really high expectations for Derik, and I think Derik has really high expectations for himself.”

The Terps returned several impact players from 2023-24, including Reese, DeShawn Harris-Smith, Jordan Geronimo and Jahari Long. They even get back Chance Stephens, who missed last season due to an injury that ended the season during the offseason. 

Willard said that Reese has taken on an increased leadership role entering his senior season. Reese believes the incoming transfers' years of experience make his role easy.  

“With such older transfers coming in, it's kind of easy,” Reese explained. “Older guys got that veteran role already, like Selton and Ja’Kobi,  just upperclassmen, that makes it kind of easier. Also, with such highly talented guys like Derik being so easily coached and so much of a sponge just makes it easier on me.”

Willard mentioned Harris-Smith as someone who he’s excited for this upcoming season. He enters his sophomore year after earning a Big Ten All-Freshman Team Selection. 

“I'm excited about DeShawn Harris-Smith,” Willard said. “He went through it a little bit as a freshman, but he had a really good freshman year when you look at his numbers and the amount of minutes he played. He's really worked hard on the shooting in the off-season. I think he's going to take a big leap.”

Last season, the Terps were already an elite defensive team. According to Kenpom, they finished the 2023-24 season ranked 14th in adjusted defensive efficiency. They lacked offense, but Maryland’s offseason additions alleviated those offensive struggles. Their years of experience and success at prior schools allow them to be led by battle-tested upperclassmen. 

“We were so young, we had six freshmen on the roster,” Willard said, referring to last season. “With the guys that we had coming back, it was really important for us to get guys that were mature, guys that had been through some things, but also had a great vision for where they wanted to go.”