COLLEGE PARK, MD – Maryland men's basketball head coach Buzz Williams announced today the addition of Jelani Spain and CJ Wilcher to his staff. The duo will serve as graduate assistants.
 
Spain was a four-year student manager at Texas A&M under Williams and spent the 2024-25 season as a graduate assistant. In his current role, he will be responsible for scouting reports on teams and player personnel, film breakdown for the coaching staff, leading on-court workouts with players, and assisting with overall equipment needs of the program. During his five year overall at Texas A&M, Spain helped the Aggies reach three NCAA Tournaments, one NIT Championship game appearance, and two trips to the SEC Tournament Championship game.
 
"Jelani was a manager for us for four years at Texas A&M and did the first year of his Graduate Assistantship before joining us in College Park. His growth and maturation across that time frame was unparalleled," said Williams. "He consistently found ways to add value— in the gym, in the locker room, and behind the scenes. Players trust him because they know he genuinely cares and wants to help them — both on and off the court. He'll be a key piece of our player development program and continue taking on more responsibility operationally and in the office. His future in coaching is undeniably bright."
 
Wilcher played for Williams last season at Texas A&M after three seasons at Nebraska and beginning his career at Xavier. Overall in his five-year career, the native of Plainfield, NJ, played in 146 career games averaging 6.6 points and 1.7 rebounds. In 2024-25, he helped Texas A&M reach its third consecutive NCAA Tournament where he played in 34 games averaging 4.3 points and shot 40.6 percent from three-point range. In his time at Nebraska, Wilcher averaged 7.9 points per game for the Huskers. He finished his collegiate career with 965 points, 242 rebounds, and 114 assists.
 
"CJ has the kind of presence you can't teach. He connects with players in a way that feels effortless and leads with a rare mix of humility and charisma. His ability to coach the game—and care for people—sets him apart," said Williams. "I have no doubt he's going to thrive in this profession for a long time. It was an absolute joy to coach him for a year, and I'm so thankful he's chosen to begin his coaching career with us."
 
Maryland is coming off a 27-9 campaign in 2024-25 which saw the Terps reach the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2016.
 
Season tickets for the 2025-26 season are now on sale starting as low as $199. Fans can purchase tickets at www.UMTerps.com, by calling the XFINITY Center Ticket Office (301-314-7060), or visiting the Ticket Office on Monday through Friday between 9 AM and 4 PM.