Maryland Basketball: Noah Batchelor’s development key for future
By Karl Heiser
Looking down the line, Maryland freshman Noah Batchelor’s development is key for building on Kevin Willard’s first season.
Maryland Basketball was one of the bigger surprises of the 2022-23 college basketball season under first-year head coach Kevin Willard. The Terrapins, projected by many to be an afterthought in the Big Ten, were actually quite competitive. Finishing with a respectable 22-13 record and 11-9 mark in conference play, Maryland reached the Round of 32 in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
The No. 8 Terps defeated No. 9 West Virginia in the Round of 64 before bowing out to No. 1 overall seed Alabama. Given such results in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the UMD program, there is plenty of optimism for what Willard can produce moving forward.
The Terps project to lose a large chunk of their rotational pieces heading into next season. There’s a chance players like Jahmir Young, Hakim Hart, or Donta Scott return with available eligibility, but that remains to be seen. With an influx of youth coming in, a solid veteran presence will be essential to keep Maryland in the top half of the Big Ten standings. Freshman Noah Batchelor’s development is thus a matter of priority.
A three-star recruit from IMG Academy, Batchelor saw limited action this season – 6.7 minutes per game over 22 games. He averaged 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds in that time. Lauded as a marksman coming out of high school, he struggled to find consistency, shooting 27.8% from the field and 25.8% from three. Given that Maryland’s lack of perimeter shot-making was a major weakness this season, those numbers will need to improve. With an offseason of work and more playing time on the way, he stands to deliver on his reputation as a sharpshooter moving forward.
Willard specifically referenced Noah Batchelor as a player he believed could be a key contributor in future years. Over the course of the season, Maryland’s first-year head coach was reportedly pleased with the improvement of the 6’6″ guard. In the same interview, Batchelor referenced his need to continue developing as a defender to consistently see the floor.
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After a winning season, the future is bright in College Park with a top-20 recruiting class on the way. Incoming talent aside, Maryland’s continuity will be the foundation for future seasons. Noah Batchelor has the skillset to become one of those valuable building blocks.