Maryland Basketball: Current state of Terrapins in middle of 2021 offseason

Incoming transfers

Of the last few seasons on the biggest knocks on the Maryland program was that they keep missing out on these big-time transfers. Not only have the Turge Haters been very vocal about it, but Terp fans like myself started to wonder as well. It was known that Terp greats Anthony Cowan and Jalen “Styx” Smith were leaving College Park.

So, the biggest need was a point guard and a big man, there could not have been a clearer need. So, as the transfer portal process began, just about every bigger name in the portal had Maryland either high or on their “list”. So, after it was all said and done the Terp’s did get a couple of nice players, but nothing that they were expected to get. So, needless to say, Coach Turgeon did a great job in coaching what he had to work with. Now we fast forward to the right now.

We stated earlier that the administration put a lot of faith in Turgeon in extending his contract and in return Coach Turgeon had to deliver. Terp’s fans, including myself, thought to themselves, God I hope we get some big transfers in particular a good point guard and big man. Could Turge deliver and get some talent to College Park and it didn’t take too long for Coach Turgeon to deliver. I believe we Terp fans, got excited, but I said to myself, this is silly (crazy).

Not only did Coach Turgeon sign an impressive incoming freshman class of James Graham III (Milwaukee, Wis.), Julian Reese (Baltimore, Md.), and Ike Cornish (Baltimore, Md.), but in my mind, he hit the transfer portal jackpot as Maryland added a true point guard, a quality big man and also added some depth to the 2021 – 2022 Maryland basketball program. All the needs that Maryland needed to be competitive this upcoming season will be coming to College Park to play for the Terps.

Here are the new faces that will be joining the Terp’s in College Park for the 2021 – 2022 season.

Guard Fatts Russell

The 5-11 Guard from Philadelphia is a graduate transfer from A-10 Rhode Island and brings experience at the point guard position, which was a major need for the Terps. Russell was a teammate of current Terp’s forward Donta Scott in Philadelphia. While playing for the Ram’s Russell averaged 13.4 points and 3.5 assists over a four-year career, appearing in 119 games (83 starts) and scored 1,594 career points.

As a senior, he averaged 14.7 points, 4.5 assists, and career-high 4.5 rebounds. In his junior year averaging 18.8 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.4 rebounds, while ranking second in the country with 2.9 steals. As a sophomore he averaged 14.2 ppg and as a freshman averaged 7.0 ppg.

Here are some of Russell’s accomplishments during his career at Rhode Island:

Naismith & Cousy Award Watch Lists
2019-20 Atlantic 10 First Team All-Conference
2019-20 Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team
2019-20 USBWA District I Player of the Year
2019-20 NABC District 4 First Team
2x Atlantic 10 Player of the Week

When it was announced by Maryland that Russell was transferring to the Terp’s Russell was quoted as saying “I’m extremely excited to have the opportunity to play at the University of Maryland for Coach Turgeon and join my new teammates. I know we are putting together a really good team and we have the chance to do something special. I played against Maryland a few years ago and I remember XFINITY was packed and rocking. I love playing in big arenas and in front of big crowds and can’t wait to play for Terp Nation this time around.”

Forward Qudus Wahab

The 6-11 Forward from Lagos, Nigeria is a Junior transfer from Georgetown, who appeared in 58 career games with 32 starts for the Hoyas and averaging 8.7 points and 6.1 rebounds. He is becoming a quality big man as last season in sophomore year at Georgetown as he started 25-of-26 games and averaging 12.7 points (.591 FG), 8.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks.

It was during the postseason that he exploded onto the scene with his play in the Big East Conference tournament, as well as the NCAA tournament, as Wahab was named to the Big East All-Tournament team after averaging 15.4 points in helping to lead Georgetown to the Big East postseason title.

When the announcement was made the Wahub would be transferring to College Park, he was quoted as saying “Qudus Wahab: “I chose Maryland because I want to win and take my game to the next level above anything else. I believe I can achieve both of those goals under Coach Turgeon and with my new teammates. I’m looking forward to playing in College Park, being on campus, and winning games at XFINITY Center.”

Guard Ian Martinez

The 6-3 Guard from Costa Rica is a freshman transfer from Utah in the Pac 12 conference. Martinez brings some added guard depth to the Terps. As we talked about earlier no one what the future holds the “Big 3” in Morsell, Wiggins, and Ayala, so Martinez is a great pickup. During last year in his freshmen season in Utah, he played in 25 games, averaging 5.2 points per game, while averaging 9.7 points over the final six games of the season, including an 18-point effort against USC in the Pac-12 Tournament.

Maryland coach Mark Turgeon was quoted as saying “We are excited to add Ian Martinez to our program. Ian is a combo guard who can score at all levels and still has tremendous room for growth. He brings a passion and flair to the game of basketball that I think will remind a lot of fans of Greivis Vasquez. Ian will provide a commitment to our program that falls directly in line with our culture and we look forward to having him in College Park.”

These are three major pickups that will be coming to College Park next year and all three players will immediately become impact players for the Terps in the 2021 – 2022 season. As a lifelong Terp’s fan I am excited about the potential for next year’s Terp’s.