On Cephas: Fifth-year senior who begins his final campaign at Maryland as a utility forward … a strong rebounder whose game is mostly suited to playing an interior role … began to see more consistent minutes in his junior season and time should increase as a senior … has appeared in 50 career games with an average of 4.3 minutes per contest … has fully recovered from a pair of surgeries during and after his redshirt freshman season … his junior campaign was his first full season at Maryland not impacted by medical issues.
Williams on Cephas: "Ceph finally got to help us last year [after recovering from knee surgery]. He really came on and gave us some valuable miutes in some games at the end the year. LaRon has really good leadership qualities and the other players seem to really enjoy having him on the court. They seem to respond to him very well. Cephas an intelligent guy and is a leader on campus in addition to being one on the basketball court."
1999-00: Played in 14 games and averaged 5.3 minutes … averaged 1.5 points and 1.4 rebounds …. 21 points for the season exactly matched his season output in 1999 … season-high six points in ACC Tournament quarterfinal vs. Florida State … scored five in home win over Georgia Tech … season-best five rebounds in early-season win over Fairleigh Dickinson … most extensive playing time was against FDU when he added three points and a steal in 14 minutes … 11 minutes in FSU tournament game, and the Georgia Tech game at Cole marked the most extensive time against ACC opponents during his career lauded by Coach Williams for six quality minutes against FSU on Jan. 29 in what was then his most lengthy court action in an ACC game … appeared in both NCAA Tournament games, logging 11 minutes combined against Iona and UCLA … Had two rebounds against the Gaels and three against the Bruins.
1998-99: Averaged 1.4 points in 15 games played … did not regain full mobility on his knee until midway through the season … scored his career high of seven points as Maryland defeated NC State in Cole Field House on Jan. 10 … made a career-high three field goals, on three attempts against the Wolfpack … was the Terps' leading scorer off the bench as he played only six minutes in the victory … played his season high of nine minutes against AU Puerto Rico in the first round of the Puerto Rico Shootout … helped Maryland to the victory with three points, one assist and one steal … grabbed one rebound and was credited with one steal as the Terps defeated Pittsburgh to win the championship of the tournament … played in a two NCAA Tournament games, getting action against Valparaiso and St. John's … hit 3-point shots against Hofstra, AU Puerto Rico and NC State.
1997-98: Appeared in 21 games and averaged 4.5 minutes ... was slowed early in the season after he underwent surgery for a hernia on Nov. 19 ... he returned to practice on Dec. 2 after missing two full games ... four points and nine rebounds during a career-high of 22 minutes against UMBC on Dec. 13 … nine points represents his career scoring high ... in an overtime win over top-ranked North Carolina on Jan. 14, played four crucial minutes at the end of the first half in place of All-ACC performer Rodney Elliott with 3:43 remaining in the half and the score tied at 32 ... he finished the half on the court and Maryland went into the locker room with a four-point (41-37) lead ... scored two points and grabbed three rebounds against Arizona in the NCAA Tournament on March 19 ... grabbed three or more rebounds six times during the season ... displaying his rebounding prowess, he was the only player on the team with more rebounds (30) than points scored (7) during the season.
1996-97: Redshirt season … signed with the Terps during the spring semester of 1996 and entered the university for the spring semester in 1997
High School: Graduated in 1996 from The Sanford School in Hockessin, Del. … an all-state first-team selection as a senior ... averaged 23 points, 16 rebounds, five blocked shots and shot 69 percent from the floor his senior year ... scored 19 points in the Delaware State All-Star game following his senior season and was considered to be the top collegiate prospect in the state ... senior season was highlighted by a 31-point, 24-rebound performance in an overtime victory over Dover High School ... scored 1,614 career points, grabbed 1,199 career rebounds and blocked 365 career shots ... led Sanford to four consecutive Independent Conference titles and four consecutive state championship tournaments ... was the Independent Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 1995 ... averaged 17 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks and earned all-state second-team honors as a junior ... coached by Stanley Waterman … played at Tatnal School as a freshman and transferred to Sanford at the beginning of his sophomore season ... played two years of AAU basketball with Laron Profit, who was a three-year starter at Maryland from 1997-99.
Personal: LaRon Arnel Cephas … born Sept. 23, 1977 ... son of Sharon and Ronald T. Ford … he has two sisters, Brittany and Brielle … was voted to have the best smile as a high school senior … major is communications … won election in Spring 2000 to Maryland's Student Government Association, as a representive to the school of arts & humanities.
