They say that publicity is good. Whether it is good pub or bad, it raises your profile. Think Lindsay Lohan. Maryland basketball’s profile has been raised. All the talk on the radio, ESPN, the Washington ComPost and the internet chat rooms have made the Terps a star again.
Sure it is for the wrong reasons. But if a little failure gets the headlines on ESPN, think what success would bring you. Suddenly, we are a hot recruiting suitor. Lance Stephenson is the headliner. He may or may not chose the Turtles. We certainly need a “Plan B”.
Plan B has shown up. Terrell Vinson is #47 on the top 100 of national recruits. He is the ESPN national player of the week for leading St Frances Academy of Baltimore to the Catholic League Tourny Championship. We are seemingly in the lead for this top recruit to be a Terp for next season.
He had previously committed to Loyola Marymount of CA. The coach left and Terrell (#87 on the Rivals.com top 100) re-opened his recruiting. At 6-6 and 200 lbs, he is between a small forward and a power forward. Think a better version of Landon Milborne. All that have seen him play have said he is as tough as Sean Mosely. So a cross between Sean and Landon is a pretty good player.
The Terps have to figure out which direction to proceed. Do you stick with Lance, knowing that you still have to get him past admissions? He is a program changer. But he has not committed to the Terps as of yet. Terrell might not change the program, but if you are top 100, you have to be pretty good. In my opinion, Terrell is a Gary Williams type player. He is the better, if unspectacular fit.
Further, if you start to successfully recruit in Baltimore the program can have a quick upswing. Maybe we can land both. If so, someone would have to give up a scholarship.
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