As other men’s basketball programs sought to restock their starting lineups this past offseason, Maryland Coach Kevin Willard was enjoying uncommon continuity in this era of the transfer portal and one-and-done freshmen.
Maryland
Maryland has the rarest of men’s basketball traits: Experience
With that trio of starters set to lead the charge in Willard’s second season, Maryland is setting its sights on climbing to the top of the Big Ten, where teams such as third-ranked Purdue, the reigning regular season and tournament champion, and perennial power Michigan State, ranked fourth, have been regulars.
The Terrapins (22-13, 11-9), coming off a fifth-place finish in the Big Ten, open the regular season Tuesday night against Mount St. Mary’s at Xfinity Center with a roster of decorated upperclassmen complemented by impact newcomers, some offering veteran stability and others promise as prized freshman recruits.
“It’s one of the most talented rosters I’ve been a part of, especially with the freshmen,” said Scott, referring to DeShawn Harris-Smith and Jamie Kaiser Jr. “They’re very talented, and a lot of the transfers, they’re very talented, very enthused to learn. I really feel like the talent we have this year will help us open the floor a little bit more.”
Scott, a 6-foot-8 redshirt senior, finished second on the team in three-pointers made (45) last season, drawing defenders away from the basket, and also possessed the physicality and length to back down defenders in the painted area and score over them.
In addition, Scott provides a thorough knowledge of the Big Ten, having played a team-high 129 games for the Terrapins, including 114 starts. Last season, the honorable mention all-conference selection started all 35 games and averaged 11.3 points and six rebounds in 31.3 minutes, matching Young for the most among returnees.
Scott commands perhaps the most reverence from teammates for maturity belying his 22 years. In 2021, for instance, he released his first book, “WIRED DIFFERENTLY: My School Journey,” in which he chronicles his firsthand experience navigating special education and managing behavioral issues.
“I think Donta Scott will be phenomenal this year; I really do,” Willard said. “He’s not getting talked about enough. He’s not getting enough credit. Everyone’s talking about Jahmir and Julian, for good reasons, and the freshmen, for good reasons, but Donta Scott had a great offseason. He’s poised to really have a breakout season even though he’s a senior.”
Scott’s chemistry with Young continued to develop this summer during a team trip to Italy, where the Terrapins won all three of their exhibition games.
During media day in mid-October, Scott recounted the frequency with which he has collected lobs from Young during extended workouts over the summer and how he sees that connection continuing to blossom this season. Maryland gained the benefit of 10 extra practices before departing for its first international tour since 2018.
Young’s comfort level has flourished, too, according to Willard. The fifth-year senior from Upper Marlboro averaged 15.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists on the way to being named second-team all-Big Ten.
Last season, Young became one of 10 active players to amass 1,900 points, 600 rebounds and 350 assists over his career.
“The biggest jump will come from Jahmir in the fact that I think he understands the league so much better,” Willard said. “He understands how we’re playing. He understands the system so much better. He’s thinking like a point guard now where last year he was just really trying to survive, and that tells you how good of a player he is with the year he had.”
Reese was an honorable mention all-Big Ten selection as a sophomore last season after leading Maryland in rebounds (7.2), blocks (1.2) and field goal shooting at 63.2 percent, the third-highest mark in program history.
Reese’s 14 points were the most for Maryland in the 73-51 loss to the Crimson Tide. The 6-9 forward-center also was the only Terrapins player to make more than half his field goal attempts (6 for 10) in a game in which the team went 19 for 54 (35.2 percent) from the field, including 1 for 8 on three-point attempts.
“Me, Jahmir, Donta, we know the feeling, know what it takes to get there,” Reese said of the NCAA tournament, adding he anticipates greater fluidity in pick-and-roll action in his second season with Young running the point. “We’re just working toward that and keeping it going.”