NCAA Basketball: Top 25 college frontcourts for 2018-19
25. Maryland Terrapins
Frontcourt players: Bruno Fernando, Joshua Tomaic, Ivan Bender, Jalen Smith (No. 16 recruit), Trace Ramsey (No. 270 recruit) and Ricky Lindo (No. 476 recruit) (No. 42 recruit Aaron Wiggins not included)
After losing Justin Jackson and a couple of other role players in the frontcourt, Maryland’s depth will be tested next season. However, the Terrapins will have one of the better starting frontcourts in the country with both Fernando and Smith suiting up.
The top-20 incoming freshman is a 6’10 forward who can score in a variety of ways while being capable of guarding multiple positions as well. He’ll be lined up with Fernando, who as a freshman averaged 10.3 ppg and 6.5 rpg last year. Per 40 minutes that turned into 18.4 ppg and 11.7 rpg, while shooting nearly 60% from the field.
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From a pure potential standpoint, both Fernando and Smith arguably should bump Maryland up to the top-15. They’re each considered to be first-round picks and possibly up to the lottery. But the issue for the team will be what happens if either gets hurt or deals with foul trouble?
As of now, rising senior Bender is the projected backup big man for the Terrapins. Up until now, he hasn’t gotten many opportunities to play and it’s possible that head coach Mark Turgeon might play both starters 30+ minutes each for 2018-19. The big drop in talent from the starters to the bench is why they have to settle for No. 25.