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Maryland Basketball: Analyzing the Terrapins rotation for 2018-19

By Anthony Brown

SPOKANE, WA - MARCH 18: The Maryland Terrapins pep band performs during the Terrapins and South Dakota State Jackrabbits game during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on March 18, 2016 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WA - MARCH 18: The Maryland Terrapins pep band performs during the Terrapins and South Dakota State Jackrabbits game during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on March 18, 2016 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 28: Jalen Smith #31 of Mount Saint Joseph High School drives against Keldon Johnson #23 of Oak Hill Academy during the 2018 McDonald’s All American Game at Philips Arena on March 28, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 28: Jalen Smith #31 of Mount Saint Joseph High School drives against Keldon Johnson #23 of Oak Hill Academy during the 2018 McDonald’s All American Game at Philips Arena on March 28, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

F Jalen Smith (FR)

Jalen Smith came to College Park as their only five-star recruit in the 2018 class out of Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore, Maryland.  He was the teammate of Darryl Morsell in high school and they will be teammates once again. This pairing could not only be beneficial for both of them but for Maryland and Bruno Fernando.

Smith’s many accolades were as follows:

  • Baltimore Sun All-Metro Co-Player of the Year
  • 2016-17 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year
  • Baltimore Catholic League Player of the Year
  • Defensive Player of the Year
  • Averaged 17 PPG, 9 rebounds/game, 3 blocks/game at Mount Saint Joseph’s
  • Honor Roll student
  • Averaged 64% shooting pct

Maryland Basketball has a highly ranked McDonald’s All-American on their roster. He shouldn’t start on that alone. Smith brings a lot of what Fernando brings on the court. Smith is aggressive on the boards. He doesn’t give up on either end. He can drive and put the ball on the floor or back his man down to score.

Another thing he has that would be crucial to Maryland’s offense is he can shoot the ball as a big man. That could pose a problem for opposing defenses especially if Turgeon decides to utilize that skill set.

I see Smith and Fernando doing damage for Maryland on both ends.

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