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Maryland Basketball: Terps front depth gets better with Chol Marial addition

ByAnthony Brown|
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 21: Head coach Mark Turgeon of the Maryland Terrapins gives instructions to his players during a game against the Michigan State Spartans in the first half at Breslin Center on January 21, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 21: Head coach Mark Turgeon of the Maryland Terrapins gives instructions to his players during a game against the Michigan State Spartans in the first half at Breslin Center on January 21, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

Maryland Basketball fans, coaches and players rejoice with the announcement that class of 2019 big man Chol Marial is a Terp.

Maryland Basketball keeps getting bigger and better in the frontcourt. Chol Marial is more evidence of that.

He committed to the Terps Monday morning via Twitter and Mark Turgeon gained another frontcourt piece to replace Bruno Fernando who announced he is staying in the NBA Draft. Marial chose the Terps over Arizona State, Florida State, Georgetown, Iowa, Rutgers and more.

Chol Marial hails from South Sudan and came to the United States when he was 14 years old. On the basketball court, he was a journeyman of sorts having played for Cheshire Academy (CT), IMG Academy (FL) and Compass Prep Acadamy in Chandler, AZ.

He is a three-star recruit in the 2019 class. The 7’2. 230 pound, center ranks as the 26th best player at that position and the sixth best player in Arizona. With his commitment, he is the fifth player to join the Terps 2019 class and the third center to do so along with Makhi and Makhel Mitchell. Maryland basketball now has the 22nd best recruiting class nationally and second best in the Big Ten.

Looking at Chol Marial on film, the first thing that sticks out is his size and length. He’s a rim protector who will have the Terps opponents wary of attacking the paint. Offensively, he doesn’t have any problems catching the ball in the paint and going to work after that. He backs down his defender, can use the hook shot or simply dunk on people in his way.

Oregon’s Bol Bol, not only had the size to go along with his playmaking ability, he could shoot the ball as well. Marial has a nice jump shot and he would be dangerous if he developed a three-point shot.

Maryland Basketball reaction to the news:

Maryland basketball hit the jackpot when they landed Fernando and Jalen Smith. They have a chance to land more top recruits if they build on the momentum of this commitment. It’s good to see them invest in size down low. Guard play is important, but I would argue if a team does not have size, they won’t be as successful as they could be with it on the roster.

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