The Maryland men’s basketball team’s roster is nearly finalized, and the college basketball transfer portal has closed.
Head coach Kevin Willard goes into the remainder of the collegiate basketball summer with 12 scholarship players locked in and one open place to deal with, having avoided any last-minute acquisitions through the transfer portal and any unforeseen departures without Jamie Kaiser Jr., the rookie forward.
The four-man transfer class from Maryland, which currently sits sixth in the Big Ten and 20th in the nation, is expected to add a player. Guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie of Belmont, guard Selton Miguel of South Florida, and guard Rodney Rice of Virginia Tech are transfers who add depth to a backcourt that no longer has All-Big Ten first-team point guard Jahmir Young. Tafara Gapare, a Georgia Tech transfer who Maryland recruited straight out of high school, adds depth to the frontcourt.
At least one more transfer is anticipated by the Terps, and a new prospect is scheduled to visit shortly.
On April 17, the two members of the Terps’ freshmen class, three-star guard Malachi Palmer and five-star center Derik Queen, also formally signed their contracts. Queen finished his high school career with a national championship alongside Montverde, co-MVP status at the McDonald’s All-American Game, and a fantastic performance at the Jordan Brand Classic. Queen has had a fantastic spring.
Additionally, it is now clear that DeShawn Harris-Smith and Julian Reese are returning. Reese promptly declared his return to College Park on March 27, despite a lot of rumors that he might transfer at the end of the season. Harris-Smith never made an official announcement about his comeback, but he didn’t seem to need to because he posted footage of himself working out at Maryland on social media and honored the commitments of his future teammates.
The only other member of the 2023โ24 squad who is back and fit is Jordan Geronimo, who started 26 games; Jahari Long is still very much a mystery following his leg injury in the Big Ten Tournament. Braden Pierce and Chance Stephens are also back, despite having redshirted the 2023โ24 campaign.
The following transfers are leaving Maryland: Mady Traore (uncommitted), Caelum Swanton-Rodger (Old Dominion), Noah Batchelor (Buffalo), Kaiser (Butler), and Jonathan Lamothe (North Carolina A&T).
A player has as much time as they need to choose their next destination, provided they entered the portal by the deadline. Watch IMS’s coverage to find out who Maryland’s last scholarship player is. Here’s a peek at the almost full roster for the time being:
- Julian Reese, in his last year of qualification
- Jordan Geronimo, in his last year of qualification
- Selton Miguel, in his last year of qualification
- Jahari Long, possible medical redshirt eligibility for at least a year
- Ja’Kobi Gillespie, qualifying for two years
- Tafara Gapare, qualifying for two years
- DeShawn Harris-Smith is eligible for three years.
- Rodney Rice, qualifying for three years
- Chance Stephens, your eligibility for three years
- Derik Queen, qualifying for four years
- Malachi Palmer, qualifying for four years
- Braden Pierce has four years to qualify.
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