Maryland
Maryland men’s basketball earns commitment from Georgia Tech transfer Tafara Gapare
Former Georgia Tech men’s basketball forward Tafara Gapare will transfer to Maryland, he confirmed Thursday.
Gapare’s decision was first reported by Jeff Ermann of InsideMDSports.
Gapare, who has two years of eligibility remaining, will become the fourth player to transfer to Maryland this offseason — and the first forward. The Terps previously added three guards: Rodney Rice (Virginia Tech), Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Belmont) and Selton Miguel (South Florida).
Head coach Kevin Willard now has just one open scholarship remaining for next season.
Gapare hails from New Zealand but played his senior year of high school basketball at South Kent School in Connecticut, where he was a four-star prospect in the class of 2022, according to 247Sports’ industry composite rankings. He was recruited by Maryland out of high school, but chose to start his collegiate career at UMass before transferring to Georgia Tech for his sophomore season.
As a sophomore, Gapare made 15 starts for the Yellow Jackets, averaging 5.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. His efficiency left much to be desired, as he posted a field-goal percentage of just 34.7% and a three-point percentage of only 16.9%. He finished the season strong, though, averaging 7.7 points and 6.1 rebounds on 41.7% shooting in the team’s final seven games.
When combined with his 6-foot-9, 206-pound build, Gapare’s innate athleticism has offered flashes of potential. His addition looks to be Willard’s response to the departure of Mady Traoré, who struggled to stay on the court in his one season with the Terps.
While Gapare adds depth and upside to Maryland’s frontcourt, his road to immediate playing time will be steep. The Terps return All-Big Ten forward Julian Reese, are bringing in five-star freshman Derik Queen and will have forward Jordan Geronimo back in the fold one season removed from making 26 starts.
Maryland
Ex-Maryland teacher sentenced to 30 years for having sex with student — but will only spend one year behind bars
A disgraced Maryland teacher who had sex with a teenage student nearly two-dozen times was slapped with a 30-year prison sentence – but will only serve one year behind bars for the crime.
Melissa Marie Curtis, 32, was handed the three-decade sentence with all but 12 months suspended for engaging in sexual acts with the 14-year-old while she was a teacher at Montgomery Village Middle School in 2015, Fox 5 DC reported.
Curtis — who was 22 at the time — had sexual intercourse with the minor more than 20 times between January and May 2015 — with illicit trysts occurring within the school, her car and several residences, including her mother’s home in Montgomery County, according to court documents obtained by the outlet.
The convicted perv also gave the eighth-grader alcohol and marijuana, the Montgomery County Police Department said.
Prosecutors said the pair were often left alone together after the young teen volunteered for an after-school program Curtis headed, according to court docs.
Police launched their investigation in October 2023 when the victim came forward with the abuse allegations.
Curtis, of Upper Marlboro, was a teacher for approximately two years and had also taught at Lakelands Park Middle School, cops said.
The sicko teacher turned herself in to police on Nov. 7, 2023, and was charged with sexual abuse of a minor and multiple counts of third- and fourth-degree sexual offenses.
She pleaded guilty June 20 to three counts of third-degree sex offenses in June, Fox 5 DC reported.
The sexual predator is required to register as a sex offender for 25 years and will be barred from having any unsupervised contact with minors other than her own children.
The judge also sentenced Curtis to serve five years of probation.
Maryland
Iowa Hawkeyes Make Horrible Decision Ahead of Maryland Game
Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes are set to face off against the Maryland Terrapins this weekend in their second to last regular season game of the year.
Ahead of this week’s game, Iowa holds a 6-4 record. They have had a couple of very disappointing losses over their last four outings. Losing to Maryland would simply compound upon what has already been a rough all-around stretch of games.
Unfortunately, heading into this week’s matchup, the Hawkeyes have made a horrible decision.
As most fans know, quarterback Brendan Sullivan has been lost for the season due to injury. That led to a new starting quarterback being need this week.
Ferentz and Iowa opted to turn back to Cade McNamara as their starting quarterback.
That decision is a bad one. McNamara has played poorly all season long and fans were desperately hoping for a change away from him long before the decision was actually made.
Why is the decision to revert back to starting McNamara a big mistake?
Jackson Stratton, the team’s sophomore quarterback, has shown the ability to throw the football well in very limited time. He also has a legitimate chance to be the team’s starter for the next two years.
Going back to McNamara does absolutely nothing for the program. He will be leaving following the 2024 season and has shown nothing on the field to warrant playing time. Seeing what the Hawkeyes have in Stratton is a major need and getting him valuable playing time could help him succeed in 2025.
Stratton has received very little playing time. Last week, he completed three of his six pass attempts against UCLA for 28 yards. On the ground, he chipped in a 14-yard run.
Those numbers should have made Iowa give him a chance. At the very least, they could confirm or deny that he’s capable of being the starter next season.
Giving the starting job back to McNamara only guarantees one thing. Fans are about to see more missed passes, frustrating decisions, and a lack of an ability to move the football through the air.
Maryland
Maryland burn ban: Dry weather fuels fire along Potomac River
Dozens of firefighters utilized boats and a helicopter while battling a Monday morning blaze along the Potomac River.
Officials said someone in Virginia initially spotted the smoke, which was coming from a large, rotted tree on Rocky Island in Montgomery County near Great Falls.
They aren’t sure how the fire started but said the large response was in part due to dry conditions, with low humidity and wind.
“It took hours and hours for them to cut it up and put the fire completely out,” said Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service Public Information Officer Pete Piringer, who added that those same conditions are why a statewide burn ban remains in effect in Maryland.
Piringer also said that just in Montgomery County, firefighters have responded to about 150 outside fires since October 1.
“Fires spread very quickly when the conditions are like this,” he explained.
As a result, officials are urging the public to remain vigilant, saying that when it comes to fire danger, the region’s recent rain has helped – but it’s still not enough.
-
News1 week ago
Herbert Smith Freehills to merge with US-based law firm Kramer Levin
-
Technology1 week ago
The next Nintendo Direct is all about Super Nintendo World’s Donkey Kong Country
-
Business6 days ago
Column: OpenAI just scored a huge victory in a copyright case … or did it?
-
Health6 days ago
Bird flu leaves teen in critical condition after country's first reported case
-
Business3 days ago
Column: Molly White's message for journalists going freelance — be ready for the pitfalls
-
Politics1 week ago
Editorial: Abortion was on ballots across the country in this election. The results are encouraging
-
World7 days ago
Sarah Palin, NY Times Have Explored Settlement, as Judge Sets Defamation Retrial
-
Politics2 days ago
Trump taps FCC member Brendan Carr to lead agency: 'Warrior for Free Speech'