Mark Turgeon’s second season as the Head Coach of the University of Maryland Terrapins has come and gone. To help preview the incoming Class of 2013, and who could possibly join Melo Trimble in the Class of 2014; Baltimore Sports and Life (BSL) has reached out to the Publisher of Hoopniks – Kellon Hassenstab for his thoughts.
BSL thanks Mr. Hassenstab for taking the time to respond.
(You can discuss this Q&A on the BSL Message Board here.)
Baltimore Sports and Life: If Maryland is going to improve this coming year, there is going to have to be a leap in production from the PG position. One of their incoming 2013 recruits is Roddy Peters. The 6’4 combo guard had his Senior season ended with surgery to fix a torn labrum in December. It would be a lot to ask of any Freshman to come in and run the offense, but does he have the skill set to immediately be part of the solution?
Hassenstab: Roddy Peters is a legitimate top 10 point guard nationally, but it is a tough task for a freshman to step in the ACC and play, especially as a primary ballhandler. Peters has been a prospect that has been overlooked at times, and missing his senior season with an injury can bring him into his first season with a chip on his shoulder. Peters is a major talent, but the reality is that there will be speed bumps if he is given the keys to the offense on day one. Ideally, Maryland would land Antonio Barton and ease the transition for Peters.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Memphis transfer (and Baltimore’s own) Antonio Barton is considering Maryland. Expected to graduate this Summer, he would be immediately eligible. Knowing your focus is on recruiting, what did you like about Barton coming out of high-school? With 95 college games played, and 31 career starts; seems like another guy who could help?
Hassenstab: There’s no mistaking Antonio Barton as a star, and he is certainly a known quantity after three similar seasons in Memphis. Barton has always been a good, but not great combo guard, and one that doesn’t have any high-level skills that will shine in the ACC, if he picks Maryland. Should he land at Maryland, his experience will be more valued than any of his on court skills. In truth, his role will be a stop gap until the more talented Peters adjusts to high-major hoops.
Baltimore Sports and Life: 6’9 230lb Maryland Native Damonte Dodd will join Maryland’s post rotation after prepping for a year at Massanutten Military Academy. With Padgett having graduated, and Len to the NBA; significant minutes will be available to Dodd off the bench behind Mitchell and Cleare. Coming off the prep season, is it realistic to think Dodd will be able to match the production Mitchell and Cleare had as Freshman?
Hassenstab: Dodd played in one of the top prep school programs in the country and is more gifted athletically than Mitchell and Cleare. After their respective freshmen seasons, Mitchell and Cleare can’t be considered locks in the frontcourt, and it’s reasonable to expect Dodd will push each significantly for minutes, and average a few points and rebounds per game, similar to how the freshmen duo this year performed.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Maryland’s first commit of the 2014 class is another PG – Melo Trimble. When he committed, Trimble relayed Coach Turgeon’s comments that he believed Trimble and Peters being able to play interchangeably. Thoughts on the Terps future back-court?
Hassenstab: Trimble and Peters teamed together for a very good DC Assault team so they have familiarity with each other. Both are are combo guards through and through, and each will be able to play on and off the ball. That duo can score, and has some explosiveness. With normal progression, one could expect them to be in the upper echelon of Big Ten backcourts in Trimble’s sophomore season.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Like many others, Maryland has been pursuing shot-blocking Center Goodluck Okonoboh. A former AAU teammate of Maryland’s Jake Layman, I know many believe Okonoboh will eventually land at Indiana. Do you see the Terps having a chance here?
Hassenstab: One can assume anything is possible on the recruiting trail, but that would rate as extremely unlikely at this stage. Okonoboh now plays for Mass Rivals, which was the squad incoming Indiana freshman Noah Vonleh plays for, and not BABC, which was Layman’s squad.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Local MD guards Dion Wiley and Phil Booth continue to get a lot of attention from Maryland, and programs across the Country. I’ve seen Wiley described as being the better shooter, with Booth described as having a better all-around game. What do you like about each? Who do you believe would be the better get for the Terps?
Hassenstab: Both would rate as excellent additions to a future Maryland backcourt, particularly with Trimble and Peters. For what it’s worth, Hoopniks.com is of the opinion that Wiley is a superior prospect and all-around player compared with Booth. Wiley has a Big Ten ready frame, and a terrific all-around scoring game. Make no mistake, both are top 10 caliber shooting guards nationally, and would be a major score.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Another big that MD is pursuing is PF Obi Enechionyia. What are his strengths and weaknesses, where do you have him among PF’s Nationally?
Hassenstab: Enechionyia has a long way to go, but his athleticism and length put him in the upper echelon of prospects and give him the potential to be a good college player with additional development. He’s likely among the top 15 power forwards in the country, which is based more on his physical gifts and agility than skill level at this point.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Any other recruits that MD is in on that you think Terps fans should be keeping an eye on?
Hassenstab: Enechionyia’s teammate on their AAU team, Team Takeover, is fellow big man Martin Geben. He is absolutely blowing up this spring and has a major college frame and rapidly developing skills as a post player. His potential school list is likely to get much longer before it gets shorter, but the native of Lithuania plays his high school hoops in Maryland and should be subject to a major push from the Maryland staff as they monitor his aforementioned Team Takeover teammates, which includes Wiley, Booth and Enechionyia.
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