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):