Maryland Basketball: Breaking down the 2018 recruiting class

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Mark Turgeon of the Maryland Terrapins reacts against the Richmond Spiders in the first half during the Barclays Center Classic at Barclays Center on November 25, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

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SPOKANE, WA – MARCH 20: A detailed shot of shoes worn. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Eric Ayala – Bradenton, FL

Guard | 6-foot-5 | 180 lbs | No. 75 overall

A combo guard with plenty of size and athleticism, Eric Ayala is the first top-100 recruit on this list. He comes in boasting a ton of leaping ability as a finisher around the hoop and is also a solid playmaker with the ball in his hands. An all-around talent, Ayala projects as a gritty athlete who can fill just about any role. His positional versatility allows him to operate anywhere from 1-through-3, depending on the lineup, and he can serve as a primary scorer, playmaker, or defender.

While playing for WeR1 in the UAA, Ayala was superb, posting averages of 14.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 27.6 minutes per game. However, he did struggle a bit with his shot over the course of those 16 games. He shot 41.5% from the field, 27.3% from three, and 61.2% from the charity stripe. The hope is that he plays more efficiently at the college level. Considering he has had a full year to develop since then, which included a postgraduate season, this seems likely.

Similar to Smith, it seems unlikely that Ayala will hold down a starting spot right away this season. However, that is not altogether a bad thing, either. One of Maryland’s biggest weaknesses last season was depth in the backcourt and that has been solved almost assuredly if these recruits pan out. Ayala should receive plenty of minute as a back-up (or potential starter) on the wing.

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