NCAA Basketball: Way-too-early top 25 power rankings for 2023-24 season
. . . Terrapins . 22. team. 439
2022-23 season record: 22-13 (11-9 Big Ten)
Expected losses: Hakim Hart, Donta Scott, Donald Carey, Ike Cornish, Patrick Emilien
With Carey leaving after his 5th year and Hart entering the transfer portal, what Scott does after his 4th year is the key. His coming back would give them one of the top frontcourts in NCAA Basketball alongside Julian Reese (11.4 ppg and 7.2 rpg).
The big news already for Maryland is that its best player has already declared his return for a 5th season. Jahmir Young (15.8 ppg and 3.1 apg) is returning and instantly is one of the top players in the Big Ten. Guard Ian Martinez is going to have a bigger role as a senior, while wing Noah Batchelor could be a breakout candidate.
Head coach Kevin Willard has made it a point to recruit better in the DMV area and did that with the incoming freshmen class. Four-star shooting guard Jahnathan Lamothe is joining the backcourt, while top-50 wings, Jamie Kaiser and DeShawn Harris-Smith, should have an impact out the gate.
There are some rumors going around the Terrapins program that if true, could vault them up the top-25 power rankings. But for now, they warrant a spot thanks to Young and Reese coming back.