Maryland Basketball: Breaking down Alumni Basketball League roster

The Alumni Basketball League is a novel venture where the teams are all former college basketball players from a given school. Co-founders Kareem Rush and Jake Jackson sought to reestablish traditional rivalries and provide fans with the nostalgia of watching former college players while also empowering players to achieve success at home.

"“Only a few college kids end up going pro. Most of the guys that played high-level college basketball ended up having careers overseas. Fans, who followed them during their college careers, lose track of them. To come back from overseas and play in front of your college fans is enticing for players.” – ABL Co-Founder Kareem Rush, via the Baltimore Sun"

The idea for the ABL began in 2018 when Rush, a former Missouri Tiger, and NBA player, organized a game between alumni from Kansas and Missouri. The contest drew over 2,500 fans to the arena. Rush’s brainchild was shelved for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, but he is now starting to execute his vision.

The league’s first game will take place in the Washington, D.C. area with the hope that numerous alumni teams will be playing in 2023. Maryland’s ABL team is called the College Park Boys. The roster was released recently, and it features a number of recognizable names from the last 20 years of Maryland Basketball.

The CPB roster reunites the backcourt of Melo Trimble and Anthony Cowan Jr. while adding a scorer in Terrell Stoglin and a shooter in Sean Mosley. As for the frontcourt, Byron Mouton brings championship pedigree while two of UMD’s most prolific shot blockers join the squad in Ekene Ibekwe and Damonte Dodd. Travis Garrison serves as the team’s general manager after playing for the Terps from 2002-2006.

The College Park Boys will play their first game against DawgTalk, a team of Georgetown alumni. Maryland Basketball leads the all-time series between the two programs 34-15, but the two schools have only matched up four times since 2000. The alumni contest will take place at Xfinity Center on August 6th. Here is a breakdown of the CPB roster.

College Park Boys Backcourt

Sean Mosley (UMD Career: 2008-2012)

Mosley concluded his St. Frances Academy career as the 2008 Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Maryland. The Baltimore native was a top-50 recruit in the 2008 class when he committed to play for Gary Williams. He averaged 8.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game over four years in a UMD jersey. After his Maryland career, Mosley played professionally in Poland, Germany, and Israel.

Terrell Stoglin (UMD Career: 2010-2012)

Stoglin was a certified bucket-getter who left Maryland after two years. His 21.6 points per game as a sophomore is the sixth-best mark in program history. He also eclipsed 38% from three that season on over seven attempts per game. At season’s end, he received Second Team All-ACC honors. Since leaving Maryland, he has played in leagues across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Melo Trimble (UMD Career: 2014-2017)

A highly-rated recruit, Trimble quickly became a fan favorite after averaging 16.2 points per game and shooting 41.2% from three as a freshman. He was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team. The Upper Marlboro native concluded his three-year Maryland career with three All-Conference nods and averages of 15.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists.

Trimble’s true shooting percentage ranks third all-time in UMD history. He has since played professionally in Australia, Puerto Rico, Spain, and Turkey. After putting up 16.6 points per game on 41% from three for Galatasaray, he signed a contract with China’s Shanghai Sharks for the upcoming season.

Anthony Cowan Jr. (UMD Career: 2016-2020)

Cowan is the most recent Maryland alumnus on the roster and one of the most prolific guards in UMD history. Over four years, he averaged 14.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. He ended his time in a Maryland jersey as the program’s seventh-highest scorer and all-time leader in free throws made. Cowan was selected to an All-Big Ten team in his final three seasons and made the All-Defensive team as a sophomore. After being a catalyst for Maryland’s 2020 Big Ten regular season title, he spent some time in the NBA G League before signing to play in Greece.

College Park Boys Frontcourt

Byron Mouton (UMD Career: 2000-2002)

Mouton was a starter for Maryland’s 2022 National Championship team. After transferring from Tulane, the Louisiana native averaged 10.3 points and 4.5 rebounds over two seasons with the Terps. He made professional stops in China, France, Germany, and the Dominican Republic before returning to the DMV where he runs a youth basketball organization and coaches at Lanham Christian School.

Ekene Ibekwe (UMD Career: 2003-2007)

A former high school All-American, Ibekwe concluded his four-year Maryland career receiving All-ACC Honorable Mention and All-Defensive honors with season averages of 10.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. He also finished with the fifth-most blocks in program history. Since college, Ibekwe has played in a number of overseas professional leagues. He has also represented Nigeria in the FIBA World Championships and the Olympic Games.

Damonte Dodd (UMD Career: 2013-2017)

The Maryland local played for two UMD teams that finished Top 20 in the AP Poll, including the 2015-16 team that made the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. He ended his four-year career with averages of 3.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. Although his year-to-year stats do not jump off the page, he managed to accumulate the ninth-most blocks in UMD history. Dodd has played professionally in Poland and the Czech Republic.

The College Park Boys face off against DawgTalk on August 6th at Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland. Tickets are available here.