I was at the Terps v Miami basketball game on Saturday night. I was a firsthand witness to the teamwork that has developed between the football staff and basketball program.
I saw Coach Sollazzo (head recruiter football and the defensive line coach) talking at great length with Lance Stephenson (aka Born Ready). Born Ready is the top uncommiteed basketball recruit in America. Think a younger LaBron James here. Maryland is in Lance’s top 3 selections.
On Wednesday night I had an oppourtunity to visit with Coach Sollazzo. I mentioned that how ‘great it is to see you helping out with basketball recruiting’. Coach responded that, “hey, we are one big Maryland family here”.
In response to ‘how did you get that gig?’ (sic why were you helping recruit that articular basketball player?); coach Sollazzo had a great answer.
Sollazzo then added, “I know him.” As though everyone, including me, would know why the defensive line coach at Maryland would just ‘know’ the best basketball player in high school.
“You know Lansford Watson?” Coach asked. I said ‘yes, he is a tight end on the team’. Coach then went on, “he went to the same high school in Brooklyn that Stepehson goes to. So I am up there all the time. I have known him (Lance Stehpenson) for about 4 years.”
So it makes perfect sense and Dave Sollazzo is a great recruiter. Lets hope that in addition to the top 25 recruiting class for football he helps make the basketball class top 10.