NCAA Basketball: Way-too-early top-25 power rankings for 2021-22 season

The Terrapins are a perfect example of how good and bad the transfer portal can be for a program. Last year, they couldn’t land a big despite offering anyone with a power conference pulse to replace Jalen Smith.

But just a month into the portal heating up, Maryland already landed a pair of talented starters. Fatts Russell averaged over 14.0 ppg and 4.0 apg in the past three years at Rhode Island, while Qudus Wahab was one of the top available free agent centers. He put up over 12 ppg and six boards a game at Georgetown.

Russell will be the replacement for Darryl Morsell, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and starting point guard. This will be an offensive upgrade but a defensive downgrade for sure. Wahab, however, is a massive upgrade at the center spot and fits well with the Big Ten. He’ll be paired with Donta Scott in the frontcourt and Scott’s ability to spread the floor will benefit the overall offense.

This will only matter if both Aaron Wiggins and Eric Ayaya come back. The duo combined to produce 29.6 ppg, 11.1 rpg, and 4.7 apg. Hakim Hart has the potential to replace either off the bench, while top-100 freshmen Ike Cornish and Julian Reese will provide needed depth.

If everything works out for Maryland, they’ll have a starting lineup filled with upperclassmen, which is huge in NCAA Basketball. The potential is there and so will be the expectations.