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Terps

Terps’ Wells untaken, Orioles prospect Connaughton selected in NBA draft

Luke Jones

Two prospects of local interest saw mixed results during Thursday’s NBA draft as Maryland forward Dez Wells went unselected while Orioles pitching prospected Pat Connaughton was taken in the second round. Despite going undrafted after a strong senior season in which he averaged 15.1 points per game, Wells is expected to join an NBA summer league team and will be given an opportunity to make a roster. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Wells lacks the ideal size to play forward and will need to continue developing his perimeter ability to make it as a guard at the NBA level, but his athleticism and competitive drive still figure to attract a potential suitor for summer workouts. (Update: Wells has agreed to join the Wizards’ summer league roster, according to Comcast SportsNet.) Connaughton’s story is more intriguing as he was selected by the Brooklyn Nets before his draft rights were sent to the Portland Trailblazers in a deal that also involved former Maryland point guard Steve Blake. After being taken by the Orioles in the fourth round of last year’s MLB amateur draft and reportedly receiving a $428,000 signing bonus, Connaughton appeared set to pursue a career as a top 10 pitching prospect in

Maryland receiving all-too-early hype as top 5 team in 2015-16

Luke Jones

Even as the final tones of “One Shining Moment” were ringing in your head early Tuesday morning, the college basketball world was wasting no time looking ahead to next year. And if the “all-too-early” looks at the 2015-16 season are any indication, the Maryland Terrapins could be entering territory they haven’t seen in more than a decade. With the confirmation that point guard Melo Trimble will return for his sophomore year and the arrival of five-star center Diamond Stone, the Terps are on track to be a consensus top 5 preseason pick in the minds of several experts. The Sporting News’ Mike DeCourcy envisions Maryland as the No. 3 team in the nation, citing less dependence on perimeter shots with Stone and Georgia Tech transfer Robert Carter manning the frontcourt next season. CBS Sports projects the Terps at No. 4 behind two old ACC foes — No. 1 Virginia and No. 2 North Carolina — in the “ridiculously early” preseason top 25. Gary Parrish sees a “Final Four-caliber roster” for head coach Mark Turgeon. Not to be outdone, ESPN’s Eamonn Brennan likes Maryland as his No. 5 squad and the preseason Big Ten favorite “by a wide margin” because of

Five-star recruit Diamond Stone commits to Maryland

Luke Jones

Less than a week after its season came to a disappointing end in the NCAA tournament’s round of 32, the University of Maryland received a commitment that could springboard the Terps into the national title discussion for 2016. Five-star big man Diamond Stone announced his intentions to attend Maryland on Friday night, which suddenly transforms a frontcourt that was the Terps’ biggest weakness this season into a major strength. The 6-foot-10 center out of Dominican High School in Milwaukee will combine with Georgia Tech transfer Robert Carter to form an imposing twosome. Stone took an official visit to Maryland back in October and had narrowed his choices down to the Terps, Wisconsin, Connecticut, and Oklahoma State. His arrival coupled with the return of freshman sensation Melo Trimble will arguably give Maryland its most talented team since the 2002 national championship squad. A McDonald’s All-American this past season, Stone averaged 24.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game. Maryland’s strong ties with Kevin Plank and Under Armour likely helped in his recruitment as the shoe and apparel company sponsored Stone’s AAU team.

Trimble reportedly planning to return to Maryland next year

Luke Jones

After completing one of the best freshman seasons in University of Maryland basketball history, point guard Melo Trimble will apparently stay put next season. According to InsideMDSports.com, Trimble plans to return to College Park for his sophomore season after leading the Terps in scoring with 16.2 points per game. His efforts were a major factor in Maryland making it back to the NCAA tournament for the first time in five years. Most NBA draft experts projected Trimble to be selected no earlier than the end of the first round, making his decision relatively easy despite trepidation from many fans in College Park. At only 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Trimble will need to improve his skills as a pure point guard in order to give himself the best chance to succeed at the next level. Head coach Mark Turgeon has the potential to oversee his best team yet at Maryland next year with Dez Wells being the only significant departure from this year’s squad. The Terps will be adding Georgia Tech transfer Robert Carter and junior college point guard Jaylen Brantley to the mix for the 2015-2016 season while Trimble, Jake Layman, and Jared Nickens — three of Maryland’s top four

Maryland guard Trimble dealing with back, leg issues in recent weeks

Luke Jones

The most significant piece of news revealed in the aftermath of Maryland’s 68-66 win over Indiana Wednesday night was the health of point guard Melo Trimble. The freshman sensation has been dealing with back and leg issues and told reporters that he injured his back in late December and has been feeling the effects at different times since then. The injury eventually began affecting his left leg, but Trimble said he’s feeling much better now. “I don’t want to make excuses for him,” head coach Mark Turgeon said. “Melo was playing hurt [for] about three games. He’s feeling better. We are getting healthy now.” Trimble scored 18 points against the Hoosiers and produced 20 in Sunday’s loss at Iowa, but the 6-foot-2 guard had struggled mightily in the two games before that, going a combined 0-for-13 from the field against Penn State and Ohio State. He’s averaging 15.5 points per game this season. With the Terps all but certain to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2010, Trimble’s health will be a critical factor in determining how far Maryland might advance in March.

Torrey Smith silences critics with breakout performance in Ravens’ win

Luke Jones

The whispers that started in the preseason had grown much louder through the first two weeks of Torrey Smith’s NFL career. A growing number of critics wondered why the Ravens had used a second-round pick on the wide receiver from the University of Maryland. A few even went as far as labeling him a “bust” after two games, no matter how foolish the proclamation sounded after such a short amount of time. He looked confused, overwhelmed, and in over his head against opposing defenses. At one point during the preseason, coach John Harbaugh pleaded with media and fans to “lay off the kid” and to give him time to develop. He had even been razzed in practice by linebacker Terrell Suggs and the Baltimore defense after dropping passes in an effort to toughen him up, according to Harbaugh. Smith had even dropped a pass in the portion of practice open to the media on Friday, not exactly inspiring confidence with Flacco and the coaching staff. With veteran receiver Lee Evans out with an ankle injury, Smith found himself back in the starting lineup with the Ravens needing him to grow up quickly against the St. Louis Rams. Smith showed immediate

Torrey Smith silences critics with breakout performance in Ravens' win

Luke Jones

The whispers that started in the preseason had grown much louder through the first two weeks of Torrey Smith’s NFL career. A growing number of critics wondered why the Ravens had used a second-round pick on the wide receiver from the University of Maryland. A few even went as far as labeling him a “bust” after two games, no matter how foolish the proclamation sounded after such a short amount of time. He looked confused, overwhelmed, and in over his head against opposing defenses. At one point during the preseason, coach John Harbaugh pleaded with media and fans to “lay off the kid” and to give him time to develop. He had even been razzed in practice by linebacker Terrell Suggs and the Baltimore defense after dropping passes in an effort to toughen him up, according to Harbaugh. Smith had even dropped a pass in the portion of practice open to the media on Friday, not exactly inspiring confidence with Flacco and the coaching staff. With veteran receiver Lee Evans out with an ankle injury, Smith found himself back in the starting lineup with the Ravens needing him to grow up quickly against the St. Louis Rams. Smith showed immediate

New York Daily News says Angelos family jerked around Flanagan before suicide

Nestor Aparicio

As I said during my fill-in shift yesterday on WNST-AM 1570, there will be an appropriate time later for more observations regarding why Mike Flanagan took his own life Wednesday with a gun to his head. But with the New York Yankees coming to town and so many of Flanny’s old teammates searching for answers, it hasn’t taken long for the national media to start getting to the heart of the truth of this tragedy that many in the local media are too cowardly to report. Friday’s editions of the New York Daily News contained a well-sourced story by respected, long-time MLB writer Bill Madden, who spent time with Yes broadcaster and longtime Orioles teammate Ken Singleton and former Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli discussing Flanagan’s recent path. Madden is getting the same information many in the Baltimore media are getting regarding the typical treatment that Peter Angelos affords his employees and long-time Orioles legends: “Among the other distressing stories going around Thursday was that Flanagan never got over being jerked around by Angelos and the owner’s son, John, over his broadcasting contract – one that apparently never was consummated – last year. That, too, conceivably contributed to the financial distress

Maryland nabs big 2012 recruit Shaquille Cleare

Luke Jones

While bracing for the reality of only eight scholarship players suiting up on the hardwood this winter, coach Mark Turgeon and the Terrapins have landed a giant recruit in center Shaquille Cleare for next year’s freshman class, according to numerous reports. On Maryland’s radar long before former coach Gary Williams retired in May, the 6-foot-9, 285-pound center from The Village School in Houston has chosen the Terps over Arizona, Texas, Texas A&M, and a number of other schools. Long considered the favorite to land the big man, the hiring of Mark Turgeon presumably kept Maryland high on his list given the former Aggies coach’s familiarity with Cleare and his strong presence in the state of Texas. Regarded as a four-star recruit and the 29th overall player in the class of 2012 by Rivals.com, Cleare’s commitment may open the door for other highly-rated recruits — perhaps a few Houston Defenders AAU teammates — to make their way to College Park in the coming years. Aside from his first name — the “Shaq” references will be plentiful — and massive size, Cleare has soft hands and a nice touch within 10 feet of the basket, according to those who have closely followed

Ravens acquire veteran receiver Lee Evans for 4th round draft pick

Luke Jones

On the heels of a lackluster 13-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Ravens’ preseason opener on Thursday night, general manager Ozzie Newsome apparently saw the same pressing need at wide receiver that everyone else did. The Ravens have traded for Buffalo receiver Lee Evans, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Bills had reportedly been shopping the 30-year-old receiver for a third-round pick, but Baltimore instead sent a 2012 fourth-round selection to acquire the 5-foot-10 receiver. “He’s a quality veteran receiver who stretches the field and gives us a significant downfield presence,” said Newsome to the team’s official website. “He’s the type of person you want on your team. He brings leadership and maturity to the locker room.” Evans spent seven seasons in Buffalo and has caught 43 touchdowns and accumulated 5,934 receiving yards in his NFL career. With draft picks Torrey Smith and Tandon Doss projected as the No. 2 and No. 3 receivers entering the preseason opener, the rookies struggled to gain separation in the first half against Philadelphia. Ravens wide receivers failed to record a catch until the 6:15 mark of the second quarter when Doss caught a 6-yard pass from Tyrod Taylor. Though

Terps football to play games in Baltimore in 2013, 2014

Luke Jones

Following the excitement of 69,348 gathering to watch Maryland defeat Navy in Baltimore last Labor Day, the University of Maryland has agreed to play two more games at M&T Bank Stadium in the coming years. The Terps will welcome rival West Virginia to the Charm City on Sept. 21, 2013 and ACC foe Virginia Tech in 2014. The date for the contest against the Hokies will not be announced until the Atlantic Coast Conference releases its schedule in the early portion of 2014. The announcement is encouraging for the many Maryland supporters clamoring for the Terps’ need to have a stronger presence in Baltimore. “We’ve been successful in our recent games in Baltimore in every aspect,” said Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson to the university website. “The feedback from our players and fans has been overwhelmingly positive. Since our arrivals, [head coach] Randy Edsall and I have traveled throughout Maryland. In those travels, it’s become clear that since our University represents the entire state, we must have a strong presence everywhere, particularly in Baltimore.” Maryland renewed its rivalry with the Mountaineers last season and will host West Virginia at Byrd Stadium this Sept. 17 before traveling to Morgantown in 2012.

Turgeon nabs assistant Hill, keeps top recruit Faust in big day for Terps

Luke Jones

WNST.net’s Glenn Clark and Ryan Chell contributed to this article. Just over a week into the Mark Turgeon era, Tuesday will go down as a signature day for the future of Maryland basketball. Hoping to create strong ties to an area rich in talent, Turgeon has hired high-profile assistant Dalonte Hill from Kansas State to join a coaching staff already boasting Bino Ranson, a holdover from the previous staff with deep Baltimore roots, and Scott Spinelli, an assistant with Turgeon at Texas A&M and Wichita State. Hill has strong connections to the Washington, D.C. area, dating back to his days coaching the D.C. Assault AAU program before being hired as an assistant coach at Charlotte and then Kansas State. His bond with the AAU team allowed Hill to entice several Washington products all the way to Manhattan, Kan., including current Minnesota Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley. For a program criticized in recent years for its inability to attract top local talent and hesitancy to get involved with the AAU basketball landscape, Hill’s hiring and Ranson’s retainment give the Terps strong recruiting faces in both the Washington and Baltimore areas. The biggest prize in Ranson’s first season at Maryland under the now-retired

Garyland no more: Terps coach Williams retires after 22 seasons

Luke Jones

What felt like turbulent waves running through the Maryland basketball program with the official departure of Jordan Williams on Wednesday registered as little more than a drop of a pebble in a pond 24 hours later. After 22 years at the University of Maryland that included the 2002 national championship and 14 NCAA tournament appearances, legendary head coach Gary Williams announced his retirement Thursday afternoon, sending seismic waves through College Park and the landscape of the college basketball world. “It’s the right time,” Williams said in a statement on Thursday. “My entire career has been an unbelievable blessing. I am fiercely proud of the program we have built here. I couldn’t have asked any more from my players, my assistant coaches, the great Maryland fans, and this great university. Together, we did something very special here.” Special, indeed, as Williams returned to his alma mater as head coach in 1989 with the ashes still smoldering from the tragic death of Len Bias in 1986 and Maryland on the verge of being leveled with NCAA sanctions from violations committed under former coach Bob Wade’s tenure. Facing a mountainous climb back to respectability, Williams did that and much more. Largely thanks to

For Ravens’ new Smiths, support is key, but in different ways

Luke Jones

Draft picks have been linked together throughout the history of the NFL, the 16-year existence of the Baltimore Ravens being no exception. Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis in 1996, two future Hall of Famers selected with the first two picks in franchise history. A year later, Peter Boulware and Jamie Sharper were chosen in the first two rounds, completing a linebacker trio that led one of the greatest defenses in league history to the Ravens’ only Super Bowl a few years later. More recently, Joe Flacco and Ray Rice came off the board as the 18th and 55th overall picks in 2008, signifying a transition from a decade of defensive domination to a heightened attempt to create more balance on the offensive side of the football. But no other pair of draft picks in franchise history has perhaps produced as unique a dichotomy in some ways but common threads in others as cornerback Jimmy Smith and wide receiver Torrey Smith in the first two rounds this weekend. As the two top draft picks were introduced to the local media in Owings Mills on Saturday, the two sat between general manager Ozzie Newsome and coach John Harbaugh, the juxtaposition of their

For Ravens' new Smiths, support is key, but in different ways

Luke Jones

Draft picks have been linked together throughout the history of the NFL, the 16-year existence of the Baltimore Ravens being no exception. Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis in 1996, two future Hall of Famers selected with the first two picks in franchise history. A year later, Peter Boulware and Jamie Sharper were chosen in the first two rounds, completing a linebacker trio that led one of the greatest defenses in league history to the Ravens’ only Super Bowl a few years later. More recently, Joe Flacco and Ray Rice came off the board as the 18th and 55th overall picks in 2008, signifying a transition from a decade of defensive domination to a heightened attempt to create more balance on the offensive side of the football. But no other pair of draft picks in franchise history has perhaps produced as unique a dichotomy in some ways but common threads in others as cornerback Jimmy Smith and wide receiver Torrey Smith in the first two rounds this weekend. As the two top draft picks were introduced to the local media in Owings Mills on Saturday, the two sat between general manager Ozzie Newsome and coach John Harbaugh, the juxtaposition of their

Terps land prized Montrose Christian wing Justin Anderson

Luke Jones

Needing uplifting news after a deflating week for the program, the postseason-less Terps landed their highest-rated recruit in eight years. Montrose Christian small forward Justin Anderson announced his intentions to play at the University of Maryland, choosing Gary Williams and the Terps despite serious interest from ACC rivals Virginia and North Carolina. The junior wing is a consensus four-star recruit and top-50 talent who has shown explosive athleticism and defensive tenacity while playing for the distinguished Stu Vetter. Should his current standing hold up or improve, Anderson would be the highest-rated freshman for Maryland since Mike Jones in 2003. “I wanted to get the decision over with,” Anderson said in a televised interview with Comcast SportsNet. “Not in a rush, but I felt as though it was about that time I can start creating a relationship with coach Williams and with his assistants and start working on the game in the way that they want me to to be ready for Maryland when I get there.” Anderson pointed to location and the success of former ACC player of the year Greivis Vasquez, who also attended Montrose Christian, as major factors in his decision to commit to Maryland so early. He

Maryland misery: What happened and what’s next for the Terps?

Luke Jones

As you settled in Tuesday night to embark in this new era of the “First Four” and tried to figure out what channel truTV was on, or if you settled for the ho-hum action of the NIT, the noticeable absence of Maryland basketball leaves many in the area pondering the same question. What’s next for the Terps? After failing to qualify for the NCAA tournament or NIT for the first time since 1993, Maryland finds itself in territory not seen in College Park since the inky shadow of NCAA probation was still lingering. But after a couple days to digest the duel rejection that ended a season of disappointment, are you really that distraught over missing out on the NIT, a tournament nobody wanted to go to anyway? In retrospect, what did you really expect entering the 2010-11 season? Losing three key seniors, including ACC player of the year Greivis Vasquez, not only left a 54.5 percent hole in scoring, but also valuable leadership difficult to replace. Beyond the anticipated improvement of Jordan Williams — who blossomed into the best big man in the ACC as a sophomore — coach Gary Williams would bestow his hopes on three seniors who

Shell-shocked Terps left out of N.I.T. field as season comes to end

Luke Jones

Following their 87-71 loss to Duke in the ACC tournament quarterfinals on Friday, the Terps knew they wouldn’t be playing in the NCAA tournament. Little did they know the NIT would also pass on them, ending their season without even knowing it as they walked off the Greensboro Coliseum floor. For the first time since 1992-93, Maryland (19-14) will not appear in a postseason tournament, snapping the longest active streak in the ACC and ending a disappointing season sooner than expected. “After 19 wins and beating Penn State, Florida State and Clemson, it’s disappointing that we’re not at least in the NIT,” said Gary Williams in a released statement Sunday night. “We played right with Duke for 35 minutes and got a win in the ACC tournament. It’s kind of surprising we weren’t selected.” This year’s National Invitation Tournament includes 14 regular season champions who — by not winning their conference tournaments to qualify for the NCAA field of 68 — received automatic bids under NIT rules. This left only 18 at-large bids for the 32-team tournament, and given Maryland’s unimpressive resume that included only one win against top-50 RPI schools, the Terps (98th in the RPI, according to RealTimeRPI.com)

Late collapse to Duke paints (im)perfect picture of Maryland’s season

Luke Jones

If you’ve been seeking the abridged version of a frustrating season for Maryland, the final 10 minutes of an 87-71 loss to Duke on Friday night revealed everything you needed to know about the Terps. After an impressive performance over the first 30 minutes against the second-seeded Blue Devils in the ACC tournament quarterfinals, the Terps were in position to challenge the No. 5 team in the country, trailing 63-60 after a Dino Gregory layup at the 10:13 mark. All-ACC senior Nolan Smith was ineffective throughout the night and left the game with a toe injury with just under seven minutes left. The normally sharpshooting Blue Devils were a paltry 3-for-15 from beyond the arc. And despite a huge night from  all-conference senior Kyle Singler (29 points for the game), the Maryland defense swarmed the ball on nearly every possession, leaving a perimeter-dependent team with few open looks. Opportunity was sitting right there as Maryland had essentially made it a 10-minute game against one of the best teams in the country. It wasn’t the near-perfect performance they needed to secure the upset, but Duke’s struggles had allowed an energized Maryland team to hang around. And then, like we’ve seen all

Maryland-Duke: Turtle Power live chat at 7:00

Luke Jones

***Join us in the Turtle Power live chat as the Terps take on Duke in the ACC quarterfinals*** After snapping their three-game losing streak with a 75-67 win over N.C. State Thursday night, Maryland (19-13, 7-9 ACC) faces No. 5 Duke (27-4, 13-3 ACC) in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament at 7:00. The Terps will try to beat Mike Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils for the first time this season, falling twice in the regular season. A win would place them in the semifinals (against the winner of Virginia Tech-Florida State) for the first time since 2009 when the seventh-seeded Terrapins defeated a tough Wake Forest squad in the quarterfinals, a feat that essentially punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament. Tonight’s game will be televised locally on WNUV-TV 54 and on ESPN2 (for those outside the ACC Network region). The Turtle Power live chat will be open beginning at 7:00 and remember to follow us on Twitter (@WNST) for the quickest updates and analysis regarding the happenings at the Greensboro Coliseum.

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