Where do they go from here? The post championship world of UK (Part I)

We've read the seemingly logical rationales.  

We've heard all the partly rational, partly irrational chest-humping comments from the supposedly greatest  NBA-ready player factory university ever known to mankind as to why "they" are crazy not to take a seat at their beloved big, fat, Cal arranged basketball wedding, and join the Kentucky "family."  Still, the Harrisons may not choose the almighty Cats.

Sure, as a basketball player at the University of Kentucky, they'll recognize you out on the street, because there essentially won't be anyone like you on the street.  And if you snub them, they'll turn their post 2009-onward entitled chins up at you and move on to their next quarry.  If you don't think so, ask Rick Pitino.  They excoriated ol' Ricky right after he left for the Celtics, even before he moved back in state to the hated Louisville Cardinals (in Lexington, at least).  Never mind that Rick felt he had something to prove, some extra glory to possibly attain in the NBA with a lot of "his" guys.  He was bad, "foul," and was sworn to eternal basketball coaching damnation by the loyal fanatical Kentucky basketball "family."

Kentucky's administration was leery of Cal the first go round after Tubby left, so they took a seemingly safe choice that didn't have the lingering stench of players who crossed the wrong side of the NCAA (or "2A" as Tark liked to mockingly call them) rules.  Cal was recognized by many as having performed a nice "reach around" on the rules with the beautifully orchestrated Laurinburg Prep recruit funneling scam.  Little did they know, the charismatic, lock-down recruiter in Billy Gillespie, who like Cal, had a penchant for bringing in top talent, was a functional (soon to be dysfunctional) alcoholic who would derail his fast rising coaching career quick enough.

So in the aftermath of the crash of the BG Express, and with pressure growing from the fan base by the day, they took the plunge.  The next coach had to be able to right the ship, get their guys winning again - fast.  They threw caution to the wind, knowing full well he would immediately inject a group of top recruits he had already secured into his 1st year's squad.  It was now worth the risk.

It played out oh so brilliantly.  This charismatic leader worked the alumni, the fans, the students, like no other coach had - including Rick.  The instant rush of success energized the fan base.  NOW this was their team, a team that was winning.  The disappointments of the past 10 seasons would soon wash away.  He was cleansing the stain of losing.  He now could do things the "right' way, using the drawing power of a school's basketball history to be his leading line when wooing potential "clients."  He could sell anything, regardless of whether or not he previously sold his coaching soul by looking the other way for the many years up until this magical moment of recruiting nirvana.

Forget the statistics, the UNC and Duke dominated top-10 recruiting landscape of the past 30 years.  It was different now, and like a mighty comet, he shined brightly, deftly maneuvering his way through the runners, through the "representatives," through the power brokers who, in the eyes and words of one top recruit, made the recruit feel like they "owned" him.  The recruiting world was Cal's oyster, Cal slurping up every last bit of the gold recruiting juice along the way.  He felt unstoppable, as if nobody could prevent his undeniable recruiting inertia.  The basketball world, including the hardwood, would soon be his to dominate.

All cylinders hummed along, recruiting operating at a peak these last four years like no other school had done since UCLA in the 1960s.  In 2012, it finally arrived.  His long awaited national championship trophy.  It was all worth it.  The grinding at UMass, toiling away to build up the little red fire engine that could; the out of control, paranoid days of trying to manage his dysfunctional organizational set up with the New Jersey Nets; the gamely Laurinburg Prep recruiting approach, building up Memphis to its former Final Four glory during the Keith Lee era.  Yes, it was now all worth it - Cal finally was "king of the (basketball) world."  No one could dispute this fact any more.  The detractors could all now officially stuff it.

The next phase has begun.  How will the recruits respond this year, in ensuing years?  Will they still have the perception and belief that Cal's "system" will get them to their NBA destination, or that playing with other top talent gets them to the pros by a law of increasing returns?  Currently, many say yes, this is the sure way, the guaranteed way to the top of the draft board.  Little do some realize, the fanatical beast is still hungry, wanting to engorge itself on Cal's next recruiting meal.  The family has become greedy, needing to sit at the table for feast after feast, year after year - it is expected.  All is good in their world right now. The late 1990s through 2008 are a distant memory.  But at some point in time, the recruits are going to see it, feel it.  While the coach loves many, the fanatics have conditional love, one based upon winning, and winning alone.  They, like us, are human.  We all want to win badly - it's ingrained in us from a very young age.  At what point will the fan base cross the Rubicon to yearly unrealistic expectations, with the only thought that their "family members" better play beyond good.  What happens when Cal, after seemingly accomplished as much as he possibly feels he can, bolts five years from now to follow Rick's footsteps to wipe the big blemish from his coaching transcript?

Next:  The Up and Comers Try to Spoil the Recruit Entitlement Party



  

9 years ago today, a super Terps alum passed away

He was a father of two terrific boys ... a great husband, then boyfriend ... an engineer ... the friend everyone wanted to hang around because we just knew we were going to have a great time when he was there ... a Terps alum, and above all, a die hard, all-sports, all-the-time Terps enthusiast.

Mark was originally a scholarship soccer player at William and Mary, got hurt, then saw the Terps Light and entered the Engineering program at Maryland.  He was in school during the heady days of Buck Williams and Boomer - it was a great time to be a Terps fanatic.

Mark carried his love of all things UMD until the day he passed nine years ago today.  I attended the many games and all those fun tailgates and parties thanks to our mutual good friends Noel & Carla, who also coordinated our season tickets.  We avidly watched all through Gary's tenure as the Terps made the Rise Back Up (cue in The Roots' Rising Up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WbJ9Yc0whc - I still wish for The Roots performing at midnight madness, with Wale making a guest appearance ;). I will cherish the 14 years I knew Mark for the rest of my life.  Mark embraced life, and the only thing that could slightly deter Mark was the fact that doctors could not diagnose his rare blood disease, amyloidosis, quickly enough.  It was discovered too late, and this world lost a terrific person, even if in body only.

Some of you that attended Terps games may remember Mark at Cole Field House or Byrd Stadium - he was the crazy guy cheering the Terps on good or bad ...  the guy dressing as Jerry Garcia around Halloween at Cole if the mood hit him that particular year.

Here's to you Mark, may your Terps spirit live on forever...

Great News - Kansas Ups and Extends Bill Self's Contract

It will probably register a small blip on the national basketball scene, but for many "worry wart" Terps basketball fans who have an almost fully bloomed deep affection for Coach Turgeon, this is really big news.

The worries appear to be over - Bill Self just had his contract extended through 2021-2022 (and 3.8 Mil per season + incentives) with Kansas University.  A heavy sigh of relief is being heard from every Terps fan that has speculated that the only way our beloved Turge would leave the Terps perch is if Self were to jump to the NBA.

Judging from Self's comments in today's CBS article, he is not going anywhere anytime soon.  Which suits us Terps fans just fine. Congratulations Coach Self - you may have just preserved what we consider our #TerpNation DMV National treasure!

Photo: TheShiver.com

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/20397356/kansas-signs-hoops-coach-self-to-38m-contract

Sad News - Former Terp Baller Earl Badu passes away at age 33

The Washington Post's Alex Prewitt reports that former Terps Basketball Walk-On Earl Badu has passed away at age 33.

Reflecting back on Earl's years on the Terps squad, I fondly recollect calling for Earl to get in the game along with about 14,500 other Terps fans filling Cole Field House during the magical 2002 National Championship season. "We want Earl, We Want Earl," would be Terps fans' siren song to Gary Williams, in the hops Gary would get Earl at least a couple of minutes during some secure Terps contests.

Rest In Peace Earl.  I am reminded to enjoy every day, every game I can play in or spectate.

http://www.umterps.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/badu_earl00.html

Last Game at Cole Field House - Earl Badu Enters the Game - YouTube








http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/terrapins-insider/wp/2012/09/28/former-maryland-walk-on-earl-badu-dead-at-33/

Randy Edsall Interview with ABC College Football All-Access

So, Randy Edsall did an interview with ABC College Football All-Access tonight, and overall....Eh.  I was eager to see a) what he had to say and b) if his dismal PR skills improved.  Lets just say, I was under impressed.  I didn't expect too much out of the interview to be honest, but I could of figured all that came out the interview without watching.

More Bad News: Andre Monroe out for the year

According to Inside Maryland Sports, Andre Monroe has injured his knee and will miss the entire 2013 season with surgery scheduled for Thursday.  To further the problem, his backup Issiah Ross is out for at least 2-3 weeks as well with his own injury.

And it doesn't stop there, another star defensive player was injured as well.  More on that after the break.

Terps Notebook

[4:13 p.m.] UPDATE:

On Wednesday, The Diamondback reported that starting safety Matt Robinson injured his shoulder in the morning drills. The Washington Post announced today that he will have to sit out three weeks and miss the opening game of the season against William & Mary.

Robinson's replacement is a local-known product in freshmen Sean Davis of Maret (D.C.). Davis jumped onto a few teams radar after a strong showing at camps at Maryland and North Carolina.

He committed to the Terps over offers from North Carolina, Connecticut, Boston College, Towson, James Madison, Ohio and Marshall.

As it stands, Maryland is set to have three freshmen play key roles in the home-opener against W&M.

                                                                                                             

It has been an eventful week for the Terps football and men's basketball team.

There have been many exciting highs, and a few devastating lows.

Since the good outweighs the bad, I’ll start with the bad news:

On Wednesday afternoon, the BaltimoreSun interviewed Terps’ coach Randy Edsall after he announced earlier that starting QB C.J. Brown would miss this season after suffering a torn ACL during the afternoon two-minute drills of practice.

“I'm very devastated for C.J. as I watched him put in all this hard work to be the starting quarterback at the University of Maryland, to see it go away with one cut is just heartbreaking," Edsall said to the Sun.

From the ruins, three things have been made clear by Edsall, however: true-freshman Perry Hills is the new starting QB, this team is built on strong character and lastly that the offense will not change as a result of the QB change.

Edsall said in the same press conference that Hills of Central Catholic in Pittsburgh will take over as the No. 1 QB moving ahead.

“As much as I'm devastated for C.J. and upset about it for him, I'm also excited about it for Perry and Caleb; that was one of the reasons why we recruited them to come here," Edsall said to the Sun.

Secondly, Devin Burns, who was recruited to play QB for the Terps by former coach Ralph Friedgen and then converted to the WR position last season, will now take snaps with the third-team offense.

“Devin Burns came in to see me and he said, 'Coach, I really think I can help the team at quarterback' and that was before I got the result of the MRI that C.J. had," Edsall said to the Sun. “After we got the results, I brought Devin back in and said, 'You'll come in and work with the 3s. It showed that guys were concerned about how they could help the team.”

And last but not least, even though neither Hills nor fellow freshman Caleb Rowe has taken a collegiate snap, Edsall explained that both players have taken the same kind and amount of reps that Brown was taking, and that he has the utmost faith in Hills’ ability to lead the offense.

"We felt that they were outstanding football players that would have the opportunity at some point in their career to help the University of Maryland win football games,' Edsall said to the Sun. "It just so happens that that opportunity is going to come this year in their freshman year.”

Now since I hate to be the bearer of bad news, let’s get to the good news shall we?

Meet Your New Quarterback: Perry Hills

Via the Baltimore Sun:

*Hills checks in at 6 feet 2, 205 pounds, and in his senior season threw for over 2,000 yards, 13 touchdowns and two interceptions.

*He was an all-star for not only the football team, but also a standout wrestler in the state. Hills’ high school is also fairly notably as it has produced talents such as Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino and former Rams-great Marc Bulger.

* Hills was ranked 29th in the country for quarterbacks by Scout.com. A three-star recruit, he picked Maryland over West Virginia, Temple and Kent State.

In a Sun article published today, Hills’ high school coach Trent Totten had this to say about the Terps’ starting QB:

“He can make all the throws," Totten said to the Sun. “He's not prone to [interceptions]. And I tell you another thing, the kid can run. The kid is a weapon as a runner.

“He's a leader, he's tough, he will be in command of the huddle," Totten said to the Sun. "I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised by how he leads the football team. He's got a ton of potential and nobody will outwork him.”

Now of course one has to take this with a grain of salt because Hills has yet to play in an actual game, but if a coach who has played with one of the all-time best quarterbacks in history says he’s prepared, one has to feel good about the kid. 

Meet Your Starting Running Back: Brandon Ross

The Diamondback reported this morning that coach Edsall has named the team’s starting running back for the season:

“If we had to start today, Brandon would be the starter,” Edsall said Tuesday to the Diamondback. “There are just some things that he’s done. He’s been very consistent.”

Of course, that hardly means the Terps aren’t still planning to regularly use several running backs this season. Ross and Pickett are both working with the first string in practice, and Brown and Reid are each seeing plenty of opportunities with the second unit.”

After stellar performances during the spring the redshirt freshman is now in line to start for the Terps in their first game of the season against William & Mary.

Surprise, Not Surprise: 

In the same Diamondback article, Edsall announced that freshman Stefon Diggs looks to be the top-return man for the team.

“He’s shown he can do things,” Edsall said to the Diamondback. “He’s a quick learner, and I’ve been very pleased with his poise in terms of catching the ball and understanding everything I’m looking for in a return guy.”

In Football Recruiting News: 

The Washington Post reports McDonough’s Na’Ty Rodgers, a four-star recruit on Rivals.com, has narrowed his list to five schools that he intends take official visits to this fall — Arkansas, Maryland, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Washington.

The highest-ranked uncommitted player left in the state, receiving a commitment from Rodgers would be a huge statement for Terps’ the recent in-state movement.

His father, Tyrone, was a defensive lineman for both OU and Washington, and has urged his son to pick the school he feels is the best fit and most comfortable for him.

Rodgers' commitment timetable:

“[Rodgers] plans to make his oral commitment after making all five visits, which he said will give him plenty of time to make the right decision.

Over time, “schools really show their true colors,” Rodgers, who hopes to major in architectural engineering or business management, said to the Post. “It’s easy to recruit a kid for a week and a half or send him a letter every two weeks, but if they stay on your for your entire high school career that shows you something right there.”

Architectural engineering or business management? Well Terps if for no other reason than academics, Maryland’s academic prowess in those two majors should make them hard to beat in comparison to the other schools.

I mean, Maryland is a Public Ivy, which is something those other schools can’t brag about on an official tour.

In Basketball Recruiting News: 

The Sun caught up with Terps’ target Roddy Peters after his unofficial visit to the school. After receiving an offer from Mark Turgeon on his 18^th birthday, Peters said Turgeon and crew have been making a serious push on him.

The Suitland-standout has ascended up recruiting boards after a terrific summer with local AAU powerhouse, D.C. Assault, and now ranks No. 42 in his class and No. 2 in the state behind DeMatha C BeeJay Anya.

Peters currently holds offers from Georgetown, Maryland, Memphis, Rugters, Seton Hall, UCLA and Xavier.

Here’s what Peter had to say on the visit:

“It went really good. I liked it,” Peters, whose rapid summer ascent landed him at No. 16 overall in the most recent update of the 247Sports rankings, said to the Sun. "They took me around to see everything, I got to see the dorms, talked to a couple of the players [Nick Faust and Pe’Shon Howard], met the trainers … They just said that they really want me at Maryland. That’s what [my mom] liked. Coach Turgeon told me he really wanted me. She likes them."

“[Turgeon] told me how I can come in and be a point guard, how he thinks I fit the style,” he continued to the Sun. “Of course, they were all saying that I should commit, but I still want to weigh my options.”

On his impending commitment:

“At first everyone thought I would commit [when Maryland offered], but I have all types of schools now. It’s really all about where I’m most comfortable,” he said to the Sun. “I’ve got some thinking to do. I think I’ll commit during basketball season.”

For the last two weeks, Peters has maintained that he would not only mind playing with the Harrison twins, but that he actually welcomes the possibility because he wants to win. Though neither side has talked, having a 2013 class composed of three top-50 players would do nothing but good for the Terps moving forward.

Scout posts update for Top 75 2014 recruits

Scout just released their updated list.  Scout's doing a solid job of recruit placement so far:

http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=9&c=4&cfg=bb&pid=88&yr=2014

Notables (with my current predictions for commitment choice):

#5 - Noah Vonleh (MD fell off his list a while ago - UK)
#11 - Chris McCullough (Prep then St. John's)
#14 - SF Dwayne Morgan (MD)
#16 - Rashad Vaughan (Texas)
#17 - Joel Berry (Florida)
#18 - Justin Jackson (MD was a late comer - Texas)
#45 - Dion Wiley (Indiana)
#47 - Trayvon Reed (Georgia Tech)
#48 - Therence Mayimba (VT)
#53 - JaQuel Richmond (NC St)
#56 - PF Obi Enechionyia (MD) (growing into PF slot)
#59 - PG Romelo Trimble (MD) (Yes, Trimble will wind up a PG in D1...)

#62 - Kaleb Joseph (UConn)
#63 - SG Phil Booth (MD)

Not in top 75 - Malik-Abdul Abu

My 2014 Recruit to improve standing for 2013 HS/AAU season - Jordan Abdur Ra'oof, Gonzaga

Author Note: I know the scholarship chart all too well.  I am accounting for the Twins choosing MD.

Terps Friday Football - A week of Practice (Almost) in the Books

It's a sight for what most was our sore eyes last season (except of course for the thrilling Miami victory).

It feels great watching the guys go through their drills to close out a first week of practice on the brand spankin' new FieldTurf at Byrd Stadium.

Here's some photos of the practice currently going on. Don't worry, I'm not revealing a trick play or funky formation...

Coaches working with different groups

Closer look at what hopefully will be a Terp occupied Pride Zone

Terps offer two 2014 Forwards

Adam Zagoria just posted that Turge offered 2014 forwards Abdul Malik-Abu and Alec Brennan after watching them at the Live AC tournament. We are beginning to see signs of how the 2014 recruiting class will shape up.

I will try to take a look at all the positions shortly, but it is clear to me that Turge has the pedal to the metal and the staff will relentlessly pursue top talent.  I'm guessing Scott Spinelli and Bino Ranson have been tracking them through their New England connections. 

I hope to catch them on campus shortly, estimated for the week after Aug 16th.  Of additional interest to me is Expressions Elite's mission statement. Their SAT/ACT prep, helping to insure student-athletes in the program are academically qualified for 2A play, seems like Expressions truly cares and watches over players chosen for their teams.  I enjoyed reading the info on their site.

http://www.expressionselite.com/about-2/

Here's two video interviews via New England Recruiting Report:

https://twitter.com/AdamZagoria/status/230691269276495873

Maryland, Temple Offer 2014 Forward Abu zagsblog.com/2012/08/01/mar…
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) August 1, 2012

FieldTurf of Dreams

"Install it, and they will come."

I cannot fully describe it.  She beckons me as I stroll across campus, her siren song luring me back for another look, another photo.

She seduces me, entices me to sneak in and get a closer look, a closer photo, a better angle to show off her beautiful colors.   I am drawn to her, like a supermassive black, red, white and gold hole whose gravitational force I surely cannot overcome.

Her white borders now shimmer clean and crisp, the tastefully done dark and light green turf giving me the urge to ramble across it.  I wonder how it will feel for our first Terp to cross into the Pride Zone, waving up to the students and alums as they roar their approval.

I take photos of her, again and again and again.  I do not tire as I attempt to cover every one of her angles, her sharp lines, the "pop" of the pride colors in her fine hair.

Soon, I will need to be out at the place we simply call Byrd. I will need to share her majesty with my fellow Terp loyalists I've sat with since the tough days of the early 90s.  I cannot shake her image in my mind.

Since I was able to hold a ball in my hand, I've been immersed in sports.  Playing, watching, talking about stats, players, coaches, fans - I've enjoyed every moment.

On Saturday, Sept 1st, at 3 PM, our Terps will provide me what I need.

And she will be my FieldTurf of Dreams.

Gossett Field House side Pride Zone

Update - Yard Markers Set - 1 Pride Zone Complete

The first "Pride Zone" is complete.

The yard markers have been set.

The Maryland block letters are assembled at midfield.

The focus shifts to completing the Gossett Field House Pride Zone.  Things are moving faster than it appeared to me just yesterday.

Today seems like a far cry from sitting in Byrd Stadium last season for the difficult to watch Terps/UVa different quarterback per series debacle.

For a few reasons, some apparent, some not so apparent, I'm feeling the urge to get out in the stands and root our Terps football team on.  It is a fresh start - new top notch recruits, new field, "new" unis...

Here's my latest two from this morning (the lines were set yesterday afternoon):

The Pride Zone

Peach Jam - Quick Summary - Terps Targets + more

With the just concluded Peach Jam tourney in our rear view mirrors, I am delivering on my promise to provide some commentary from a guest analyst who's been attending the entire Peach Jam for the past decade.

He's known as "MJDinkins" on the St. John's basketball boards, but I know him better as a Peach Jam regular down in north Augusta, SC, and a trusted eye for evaluating the skill sets and high Div. 1 potential of many Big East and ACC prospects through the years.

I will share MJ's comments/observations about current Terps targets.  One Caveat - there were not too many Terps recruits at the Peach Jam this year, and MJ's focus was mainly on SJ's targets.  

Additionally, for us Terps fanatics, I tried to get MJ to take a look at Jordan Strawberry (yep, DJ's brother - no, not Inside the Shell's "DJ" :); however, MJ wound up missing more games this year than previous years (it is pretty grueling for coaches, never mind avid fans, to sit through all the games).  Thus, he did not catch any of Jordan's games.

The Terps targets that Dinkins reviewed (unless noted) were:

BMore Elite
- Kam Williams
- Daxter Miles

Team Takeover (DC)
- Jairus Lyles

CIA Bounce
- RJ Currington (DNP)
- Tyler Ennis

California Supreme
- Jordan Strawberry (did not see Jordan play - see above)

1.  Kam Williams

H/T to Testudo Times & Ben Goldstein for his writeup on Kam after the Baltimore Elite/Houston Defenders tilt last week:  http://www.testudotimes.com/2012/7/17/3166275/recapping-harrison-twins-vs-nike-baltimore-elite

MJ's take on Kam - "Kam was finding ways to get buckets .... Whether, it was shooting it from deep; midrange, or getting layups, I came away believing this kid is a solid shooter."  [Ed. Note: Kam shot 52% from 3 point range]

2.  Daxter Miles

I didn't get to see enough of Miles to judge his game.  My comments: I'm not sure MJ wanted to see much of Daxter in the half of a game he watched.  Baltimore Elite finished 0-5 at the Peach Jam, and Daxter shot 32 FG% (16-50) and 17% (4-23) from behind the arc - ouch.

Baltimore Elite notable - DaQuien McNeil shot 61% from 2 point range while averaging 13 ppg.

3.  Jairus Lyles

"Stan Robinson and Will Ferguson stood out much more than Jairus Lyles during the game. Robinson has a sneaky game, where he slices his way to the basket for layups (hit a couple of tough, contested shots, as well). It seemed he and Ferguson were feeding off one another."   

4.   Tyler Ennis

Tyler hasn't been too prominent in Terps recruiting news lately for good reason, so he's already off the grid for the Terps.  But I'd still like to share MJ's thoughts: "Tyler Ennis, as we all know is a heckuva player. He is surrounded by solid talent, and the best player in the country, in Andrew Wiggins (this kid has incredible body control). Ennis seemed to be in two-guard mold, as he was looking for his short more so than facilitating when I watched. Nevertheless, he was AND can facilitate when need be. He showed the propensity to set up his teammates."

Update Tuesday, July 24th, 9:45 AM [1:40 PM] [11:15 AM]: Countdown Begins until Unveiling of "Pride Zone"

UPDATE #2: Tuesday, July 24, 9:45 AM => I took another shot this morning (see top photo).  The Gossett FH End Zone has begun to take shape.  The process of laying out the turf panels is much more difficult than I anticipated.  I now would estimate the end zones being completed early next week.

1:40 PM => I gained access inside of Byrd Stadium and just added two more photos - enjoy!

Well, the time has finally arrived.  With every white interlocking panel that is placed on the field, the "Pride Zone" end zones are slowly becoming a reality.

As you can see from the photos, the West End Zone, or my obviously dubbed "Pride Zone," is taking shape.

It appears that by close of business Wednesday or Thursday, both end zones will be complete in all their Maryland glory.  I'm sure hoping the news outlets receive some footage from the Terps' Athletic Department.  I've done my part and submitted my Pride Zone moniker just in case no one over in athletics has bandied it about just yet (highly unlikely, but stranger whiffs have happened than missing the Pride Zone).

For geeks like myself, I've attached the patent that FieldTurf obtained for their method of laying down the surface, including the interlocking panels: Pat 7,722,288 - Method of Installing a Synthetic Grass System (US Pat 7,722,288):

Remaining July Evaluation/Tourney Period Schedule

For any that have not seen it yet, or want some additional news from me, here's the remaining July evaluation/tourney schedule:


July 18-21   Peach Jam   17U    Augusta, S.C. 
July 18-22   Big Foot Hoops Las Vegas Live    9U-17U    Las Vegas, Nev. 
July 18-22   Double Pump's Best of Summer   12U-17U    Anaheim, Calif. 
July 18-22   Under Armour Summer Jam        Milwaukee, Wisc.
 July 19-22   Best Buy Summer Classic   15U-17U   Bloomington, Minn. 
July 19-22   Fullcourt Press Cream of the Crop Challenge   15U-17U   Long Beach, Calif.
July 25-29   Big Foot Hoops Las Vegas Classic   9U-17U    Las Vegas, Nev. 
July 25-29   Double Pump Pump n' Run   12U-17U   Anaheim, Calif.
July 25-29   adidas Super 64   14U-17U    Las Vegas, Nev. 
July 26-29   Las Vegas Fab 48   15U-17U   Las Vegas, Nev.
July 28-31   Las Vegas Fab 48   11U-14U   Las Vegas, Nev.


Two local teams in the Final 24 pool are Baltimore Elite and Team Takeover.


As I previously mentioned in some of my earlier comments on this site, I have in fact landed a guest evaluator who will be at the entirety of the Peach Jam to provide his evaluation of the performances (especially from a skill set point of view) of Terp targets playing at the Peach Jam.  I am ironing out some details with him, but I will be sure to have him send his opinions of who is making waves during the 4 day Peach Jam extravaganza...more to come.


Here's what has transpired since the start of the month:
July 11-12   Fullcourt Press All-West Showcase   High School   Long Beach, Calif.
July 11-15   Eddie Ford's Summer Classic   11U-17U    Louisville, Ky. 
July 11-15   adidas Invitational    14U-17U   Indianapolis, Ind.
July 11-15   NY2LA Sports Next Level Invitational   14U-17U    Milwaukee, Wisc. 
July 11-15   Nike Skills School   High School   Washington, D.C.
July 12-15   Nike Global Challenge   International   Washington, D.C.
 July 13-15   Hall of Fame National Invitational   15U-17U   Springfield, Mass. 
July 13-15   Reebok Showdown Series Finals   16U-17U   Philadelphia, Pa.
July 13-15   Pangos Summer Sweet 16   17U   Long Beach, Calif.

Update: Terps Ground Crew Continues Laying Out Turf - 9:45 AM

Well, the new turf at Byrd Stadium continues to be laid down and is currently at about the 50 yard line or so.  The new End Zone is not ready for unveiling just yet.


Some other nuggets you may not see any where else but here deep Inside the Shell (@InsidetheShell1):


1)  Due to line of sight issues with some of the boxes in Tyser Tower, the field was actually moved 6 inches towards Gossett Team House.  This may create a slight problem resulting in the Testudo statue now located too close to the rear of the end zone.


2)  The Cannon shall now fire at the Visitor's side of the field after any Terps score. Seems like a great idea to let the visitors get concussed from the canon blasts.


3)  The turf itself accounts for the cooling effect of 15 degrees less at the surface than competitors' turf.


4)  The field is running slightly above cost due to the need to address some further potential drainage accommodations.  I'd rather it be done now than have a player suffer later with a bad injury.  The orange "tubes" Coach Edsall posted on Twitter while ago were actually a good sized diameter French drain network.


Here are some extra current shots:


Here's Fieldturf Tarkett Corp's link to show the different layered turf technology they employ:


http://www.fieldturf.us/artificial-turf-how-fieldturf-works/

Harrison Twins Don't Disappoint in Baltimore Debut

BALTIMORE --- In front of their extended family’s hometown, Aaron and Andrew Harrison amazed all those who came to see the two five-star recruits play against Nike’s Baltimore Elite yesterday night.

The duo lived up to every ounce of hype surrounding them in front of the jam-packed crowd at Baltimore City Community College, and the 100 or so Terps fans adorning Maryland pride jerseys, basketball jerseys or Under Armour gear associated with the school.

Yesterday night was about making a point and the Harrison twins did so with an exclamation mark. From the tip-off to the final whistle, the game was played at a dizzying fast pace. Spectators who didn’t turn their heads fast enough were sure to miss a highlight-reel play from either the twins or one of their teammates.

In the end, the Houston Defenders, an Under Armour sponsored team, walked out of the gym with their heads held high as they beat Baltimore Elite, 79-66.

One of the twins’ main connections to the city is their father, Aaron Harrison Sr., a Baltimore-native who played for Patterson High School in his playing days. Aaron Sr. coaches the Houston Defenders and oversees his sons’ recruitment, which as of recently has added a fifth school to their short list.

The twins are listing Baylor, Kentucky, Maryland, SMU and Villanova as being contenders for their services for the 2013 season:

Though they have kept which school is leading in their recruitment close to the vest, Baltimore Sun writer Connor Letourneau believes it’s really a two-horse race at this point:

"The Harrisons maintain they’re currently considering four or five colleges. Aaron consistently lists Kentucky, Maryland, Baylor and Villanova, while Andrew tacks on Southern Methodist.

 However, I couldn’t help but notice that both Aaron and Andrew listed Kentucky and Maryland first when asked to name their potential destinations Monday. They’ve followed this pattern in every other interview I’ve seen from them on the Internet.

 Am I overthinking this? Maybe. But I have a strong feeling this is a two-dog race.

 Kentucky makes sense for the twins for all the obvious reasons. It is a virtual factory for one-and-done prospects — which Andrew and Aaron both are — and would easily be a top contender for a national title with the Harrisons in Lexington.

 Maryland, on the other hand, has several strong connections with the Harrisons that could tip the scales in their favor. Their father and AAU coach, Aaron Harrison, Sr., is from Baltimore and is close friends with assistant coach Bino Ranson. The twins still have a considerable amount of extended family in the Baltimore area, and their friend and former Defenders teammate Shaquille Cleare figures to be an impact player on the Terps as a freshman this year.

 “It’s great,” said Aaron Harrison, who will make a joint college announcement with his brother on Oct. 28 (their 18th birthday). “My family’s down here, Shaquille Cleare, he played on my team last year, he’s down there.”" - Connor Letourneau

Though coaches were unable to attend the event per NCAA rules, Maryland fans received a small sample of what coach Mark Turgeon has been seeing since he was the coach of Texas A&M and the twins were ninth-graders in high school.

Aaron, the shooter, led all scorers with 35 points. When he wanted to get into the paint, he muscled his way into the paint. If he was looking to get a foul, he forced a number of players on the other team to foul him. And when he decided he didn’t want to do either of the former options, he stepped back and showed off his NBA shooting range, hitting shots from way behind the arc.


Andrew, on the other hand, had a modest game scoring wise, accumulating 14 points. Considered the better facilitator of the two, he displayed his ability to find the open man with a variety of tough and entertaining passes. He set up teammates with touch, no-look, behind-the-back, alley oop and even one between-the-legs passes resulting in a game-high seven assists.

Needless to say, the Harrison twin definitely lived up to the mounting hype surrounding them these days. What they also lived up to was the negative persona many have criticized them for as they have steadily ascended up the rankings.

The tension in the the gym was so palpable that any of the spectators at the game could have taken a knife and cut through it. From start to finish, the trash talking, fouls and verbal confrontations escalated.


If a player from Baltimore Elite said anything remotely insulting to the twins, they would rarely forego the opportunity to say something in retaliation. In fact one time, Daxter Miles shoved Aaron, and Aaron looked as though he was going to peg Miles with the ball until he reined it back in.


Another time, Andrew and Baltimore Elite coach Carlton Carrington exchanged some words as Aaron was shooting free throws. Andrew also yelled expletives after a number of missed free throws, and the twins spent more time criticizing than encouraging their teammates throughout the game.


While their talent and ability to give one of the five teams they’re considering a top five recruiting class is unquestionable, there are some negatives the pair brings to the table. Whether they’ll be worked out once they reach the collegiate level is yet to be seen.


That being said, the Harrison twins would still bring more pros than cons to Turgeon if he can convince them to come to College Park and play for the Terps. And if their father says he believes that coach Turgeon will help his boys become NBA-ready players, why shouldn’t Terpnation?

The Twins Return to Charm City

After participating in the Reebok Challenge in Philadelphia just four days ago, five-star guards Andrew and Aaron Harrison return to Baltimore, their father, Aaron Harrison Sr.’s hometown, for the city’s top AAU basketball event of the summer.

The Houston Defenders (Texas) will face off against Nike Baltimore Elite at Baltimore City Community College tonight at 7 p.m. Fans will be able to see ESPN’s 2013 top-ranked point guard in Andrew Harrison, and second-ranked shooting guard in Aaron Harrison.

Andrew, the unanimous No. 1 point guard nationally, and Aaron, Scout’s top-ranked shooting guard, are the priority for Maryland’s 2013 class and will be the main focus of tonight’s game. The Terps just reined in six recruits for the 2012 class, so coach Mark Turgeon and crew will have more energy to devote to a class many predict to be much smaller in 2013.

The Terps are not the only team courting the Harrison twins, however. The pair is also considering offers from Baylor, Kentucky, SMU and Villanova.

At the Rebook Challenge, Rival’s Eric Bossi explained that each of the five schools competing for the twins’ services had a coach in attendance at the camp: 

"Mark Turgeon of Maryland was there. So were SMU's Larry Brown, Villanova's Jay Wright, Baylor's Scott Drew and Kentucky assistant Kenny Payne to represent each of the twins' five finalists.

 Everybody in the gym saw the same thing, the Harrison brothers were just playing at a different level from anybody else on the floor. Their pace, their understanding of spacing, movement and high-skill levels make them both complete guards who are much more interchangeable than many believe." -Eric Bossi

Nike Baltimore Elite, on the other hand, does not lack for star power either. Led by four guards each holding high-major DI offers, tonight’s match should be a highly competitive affair for both teams. Mount St. Joseph’s (Md.) Kameron Williams, IMG Academy’s (Fla.) Daxter Mile, Vermont Academy’s (Vt.) Jamel Artis and Daquein McNeil all sport scholarships from high-major to mid-major schools, coach Carlton Carrington told the The Baltimore Sun.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m and tickets can be purchased at the door: $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

Meet Terps Target Therence Mayimba

The American Dream is alive and well these days. Maybe harder to achieve, but that isn’t deterring those people who believe hard work, dedication and faith are all they need to get their slice.

In fact, Gabon-native Therence Mayimba said that was one of reasons he was motivated to come to the United States. The land of opportunity, offered him just that: A chance to achieve greatness and make his family proud.

“I came to the United States to take advantage of being in a good school, and basketball comes second,” Mayimba said. “That’s what I love, that’s what I want to do, that’s why I play basketball, but school comes first.”

The second of his parents’ three children, Mayimba said that while it was hard for his family to send him away, the prospect of going to a great school and possibly playing basketball in college and the NBA was enough for them to send him to America.

When he found out that he would be able to study and play in the U.S., he said he thanked God every day for his blessings and for being given an opportunity to show he is ready to do great things.

“I think God responded to me, so I feel like I have to be with him and thank him. God is everything to me,” Mayimba said.

A product of Joe Touomou, Mayimba said that he went to an African tournament with his country when he was approached by popular singer, Serge Maboma.

“He saw me play one day, and he told me what I am, what I play for and what I came from,” Mayimba said. “He told me that if I want to be a great player he can help me, ‘cause he knows some people who can help me to come to America.

“I tell [Touomou and Maboma] what I wanted to do, what was my dream, what was my purpose and [coach Touomou] trusted me. [Touomou] came and saw me play and said ‘Okay I’m going to help you out.’”

The rising junior at Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) said he wanted to make his family proud of him: He wanted to have his degree, to finish school and to then be an athlete.

Mayimba said he would like to major in engineering in college and that his favorite subject is math. He said his dad told him if he can do math, he can do anything and that has fueled his interest in not only math, but subjects that deal with infrastructure.

When he arrived in the United States nine months ago, Mayimba admitted there was a big culture shock. Coming from a country with a little over three million people and where sports are not nearly as celebrated as in the U.S., he said he had some major adjusting to do.

Overcoming the English language and the regions colloquial terms and phrases were some of the biggest challenges he while he transitioned to the American game.

“I was really confused, really confused cause it was weird,” Mayimba said. “I remember a teammate from Montrose Christian, every morning he used to tell me ‘What’s up?’, and I was like ‘What does that mean?’ I didn’t know what ‘what’s up’ meant.

“I have teammate named Kevin Zabo and he speaks French, so he helped me out with English and everything. I use to tell him not to speak too much French with me because I wanted to learn English really quick.”

Once Mayimba learned how to explain himself, everything became a lot easier he said. Practice, which was challenging due to the language barrier, was suddenly much less difficult, and once he picked up the American format of basketball, everything started running smoothly from there.

Well-known for his superb defense and ability to score, experts have frequently compared Mayimba to former Mustang Kevin Durant. Mayimba, a 200 lbs, 6’7 small forward, said his defense is his strength; whether it is help side, talking on defense or blocking an opponent’s shot. He simply loves playing defense.

On a team with six seniors ahead of him, Mayimba was unable to show this and received limited playing time as a sophomore. This year, however, he is an upperclassman, and his command English is leaps and bounds from where it used to be.

“I think I’m going to play a lot this year and explain to myself and prove to everyone that I can be a good player,” Mayimba said. “I know I’m going to start.”

But Mayimba said he doesn’t just want to start, he wants to flourish against Montrose’s nationally-ranked opponents. He said he loves playing against tough teams because it gives him an opportunity to measure his development.

As of now, Mayimba said the main thing he needs to work on is his shot. He said he knows that if he wants to reach the NBA, he will have to develop a more consistent shot and offensive arsenal.

Playing for Nike EYBL powerhouse Team Takeover (D.C.) 16U has helped Mayimba continue to refine his skills against some of the best competition in the country. A league that has produced NBA stars such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki and Tony Parker, is helping Mayimba hone his defensive skills, while steadily improving his offensive repertoire.

Mayimba’s improved play has garnered the Scout 2014 top 60 player attention from a lot of different schools recently. Considered one of the best small forwards in his class, coaches are jumping on him early and trying to keep tabs on the rising junior.

“There are a lot of schools who are interested in me,” Mayimba said. “But I just send them to my coach, because I don’t really want to focus on college right now. I’m only going to 11^th grade, I have to focus on school and working right now.

“I know a couple schools who are interested in me though: Indiana, Miami (Fla.), Villanova, Georgetown, Texas, Harvard, Virginia Tech and Maryland.”

Though he doesn’t have a favorite, Mayimba said he likes Maryland’s campus and has been to the school a few times with friends.

“I like the school,” Mayimba said. “They have a great program, they produce great players over there and I like the academic part the most."

Since he is focusing on school over the next year, Mayimba admitted that he doesn’t know that much about Maryland.

Regardless, he said a school’s basketball reputation will only be one factor in his decision to go there. Mayimba reiterated that a school’s academic prestige will weigh the most in where he decides to go.

“I’m not going to play basketball for my whole life,” Mayimba said. “I will have to stop basketball one day, so I will use my degree to have a good job and to take care of my family.”

Football Recruiting Update

Well, this has been quite a month for football recruiting.  This week we've landed 3 star qb/db Milan Collins, who is a local MD recruit who will play Safety.  Then yesterday Malik Jones, a 3 star (247 sports) OT from Dunbar committed to MD to play DL (most likely NT).  Top that off with the official announcement that Deon Long and Ricardo Young are transferring to MD and it has been a big week so far, and it is only Thursday.