Not only did Maryland finalize a deal with new assistant Dalonte Hill, it kept one of its recruits who previously wanted out when new coach Mark Turgeon arrived.
In all, not a bad Tuesday.
Hill, who was released from his letter-of-intent last week, recommitted because he wants to “play a big part” in Turgeon’s quest to build a national title contender. As Jeff Borzello of CBSSports.com reports, Faust decided Maryland “was the best place for me.”
The 6-5shooting guard was always the most likely of the Terps’ three recruits to stick around, but it still gave fans a small sense of relief that it actually happened. (Retaining assistant Bino Ransom was a key.) One-time recruit Sterling Gibbs is headed to Texas, but Maryland may still keep Martin Breunig. If that happens, consider it another victory for Turgeon.
But that’s the 2011-12 season. Now that Hill’s on board, expect the Terps to start owning the D.C./Baltimore recruits. Hill’s the guy who’ll get that done.
“If there’s one thing we all know, it’s that there are completely different ways to get the job done,” Dave Telep, ESPN.com’s national recruiting analyst, told the Baltimore Sun. “I think it’s abundantly clear that Mark Turgeon is going to put a premium on relationships with the high school and AAU coaches in the area. Dalonte Hill is probably the biggest departure from Coach Williams that Mark Turgeon could have, and it’s a very significant hire for Maryland recruiting because he’ll be a catalyst for a bunch of relationships.”
Relationships that result in ACC titles. At least that’s the plan.
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