Recently, Baltimore Sports and Life (BSL) reached out to ESPN’s National Director of Recruiting Paul Biancardi to discuss some of the prospects Maryland is chasing in the Class of 2017.
Our thanks Mr. Biancardi for his insight!
(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)
BSL: In the 2017 Class, Maryland has been linked to Centers Ikechukwu Obiagu and Nate Watson (Bishop O’Connell). Obiagu significantly taller, and currently a Top 40 player in the Class. Watson just outside the Top 100, and a local. How do you compare the games of these two? What’s the biggest question for both at the next level?
Biancardi: Two totally different players. Ike one of best shot blockers in the class. His offense game is developing at a steady pace. He needs to become an offensive threat along with his defensive prowess. Watson hits the offensive glass well and plays the angles game inside. Active and fundamentally sound especially with his footwork he has been coached very well Joe Wooten. He is more productive than upside.
BSL: 5 star, 6’10 F Jarren Jackson (Indiana) has regularly been linked to MD. What do you like best about his game, and where do you see him ending up?
Biancardi: Love his three point shooting and long frame. Has an inside game to compliment his outside shot. I believe he will end up with Indiana.
BSL: Syracuse is seen by some as the current leader for both SG M.J. Walker, and SF Jordan Tucker; players MD is highly interested in as well. Do you expect the Orange to land both? Who do you see as having the higher ceiling?
Biancardi: Walker is physically imposing as a guard. Straight line driver with an improved jumper. The Orange are in the lead for Tucker but I believe Maryland and Ohio State are in the lead for Walker.
BSL: The Terrapins are preparing for their 3rd year as a member of the Big Ten. Their recruiting has been trending up significantly during Head Coach Mark Turgeon’s tenure. Do you feel their Conference affiliation has impacted (positively or negatively) their recruiting at all? In-terms of just recruiting, how does the MD staff of Turgeon, Assistant Coaches Bino Ranson, Cliff Warren, Dustin Clark, and Director of Basketball Operations Nima Omidvar rate for you as a group?
Biancardi: Change in conference has not hurt their recruiting, in fact they have done a fantastic job in open new recruiting grounds Wisconsin (Diamond Stone) and being involved with Jarrett Jackson Indiana.
This staff has evaluated and recruited at a high level. Since Mark Turgeon has been hired the recruited at Maryland has been elevated with many top 100 talents. This staff is talented and has showed results in recruiting, player development and highly organized in their approach. Each member of coach Turgeon’s knows their role and performs it with results.
BSL: The primary target for sometime in the ’17 Class has been 5 star PG Trevon Duval, a consensus Top 10 player. That attention has MD in the mix, but UCLA is looked at as the current favorite by some. Where do you see Duval ending up? Is he a 1 & Done type talent?
Biancardi: Too early to tell with Duval although Maryland, UCLA, Villanova, and Seton Hall have been consistently mentioned. Definitely a one and done prospect .
BSL: Maryland has 13 players on scholarship for 2016-17, with the roster looking like:
Guards: Trimble, Cowan, Wiley, Huerter, Brantley
Wing: Jackson, Nickens, Thomas
Bigs: Gill, Dodd, Cekovsky, Bender, Tomaic
Damonte Dodd and L.G. Gill will be finishing up their eligibility, and the current expectation is that Melo Trimble will again at-least test the NBA waters following his Junior season. So, the Terps will have 2 and likely 3 scholarships to play with, with their ’17 Class.
The realistically ideal class for MD would be comprised of who?
Biancardi: Trevon Duvall, Darryl Morsell, and Jarrett Jackson.
BSL: Looking back at the 2016 Class of Cowan, Huerter, Jackson, Thomas, and Tomaic; what are your thoughts on the group as a whole? Who are you looking forward to seeing the most at the Collegiate level? Focusing on Tomaic, what can you tell us about the big?
Biancardi: When you look back in four years this class will have been a solid foundation and should accumulate plenty of wins. Excellent program guys the ones you win with and want to coach. They will be productive and low maintence guys.
BSL: Looking ahead to the 2018 Class, there are number of high end locals. Among them PF Jalen Smith (Mt. St. Joseph, Baltimore), SG Prentiss Hubb (Gonzaga, Washington D.C.), and PG Immanuel Quickley (John Carroll, Bel Air). Who do you like best among that trio? Who do you like better Quickley or Duval?
Biancardi: Smith has huge upside, Hubb is a multi facet guard who is a winner, and Quickly is ultra-talented. I would take Duvall over Quickly.
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