Player updates..

[Great 2BA FL Gator]

What's going on with Burney, Gregory, and Dupree. Are we going to see one of them transfer? I don't understand how Dave Neal plays over Burney and Dupree. Burney has been here for two years, and both him and Dupree are good athletes. Are they progressing at all, anyone know?

[The Rick]

My guess is that Dave Neal is a player that works harder than anyone and that Gary Williams trusts on the court as a big off the bench to eat minutes and give Gist/Osby rest.

Another factor is how well Gist and Osby have been playing. The job's their's anyway, but they've made it very hard to take them off the court at all. As far as i'm concerned, it's a very good problem.

[Great 2BA FL Gator]

Yeah but these guys are going to have to step in next year without any real experience. I guess were hoping that they pull a landon milbourne?

[jerryterp]

With Gilcrest comong in, I figure Burney is sure to transfer(he NEVER plays) & either Dupree or Gregory will transfer to either UMBC or Morgan.

[Mashed Potatoes]

Walker had other offers from Boston College, VaTech, Vanderbilt, and George Mason... after playing for Stu Vetter at National Powerhouse Montrose Christian.

Burney had originally signed with Miami, before reopening his recruitment.

What does that tell you? It should tell you that plenty of others believed these were ACC caliber players.... which should not be hard for anyone to figure out... there is not some super abundance of 6'9 athletes.

Gilchrist had signed with VaTech, had offers from Depaul, Providence, and UVA.

Gregory was the Baltimore City / County Player of the Year... had offers from VaTech, and Xavier... so even though he has the skills of a 4, in a 3 man's body.. others thought he could play at a high D1 level.

Color me unimpressed. Lower tier ACC and Big East teams? Atlantic 10 teams? Maybe I have higher standards for Maryland than you do, but I want players who can do more than just play in the ACC. UNC and Duke have nationally prized players that were recruited by actual powerhouses at every position. We have arguably the biggest hotbed of high school talent in the country, we should be doing better at keeping our own.

Gregory and Burney are good bench options to have, Walker could be a good role player assuming we're more talented at our other positions. I like Gilchrest.

It doesn't inspire confidence that these guys could be serviceable in the ACC, I desire better. I agree with you about the not leaving early part though.

[glenn__davis]

The only guy I expected to see more minutes from in that group was Dupree, but I think the development of Osby has cut into his game as much as anything.

I like Walker a lot. I don't know that we'll ever see much out of Gregory. He works hard when he's in there, but he's just so undersized. I'm not sure what Burney's deal is. I am surpised he hasn't gotten a little more PT.

All of these guys will get a shot to get some major minutes next year. Saw a recent interview with Gary where he said the most important time for big men in his program is the spring of their freshman year. If these guys put in the work, they'll get their shot.

[Mashed Potatoes]

Wow, I could not disagree with you more.... these are prime examples of keeping our talent at home.

Walker and Burney are everything anyone should want long-term out of bench bigs.

My apologies I misread your post. I thought you were happy with Walker/Burney/Gregory starting in the front court. You viewed them as I did, good bench options behind Dupree/Gilchrist. Again I'll blame the illness, last night I talked about moving Snyder back to catch while completely forgetting we have a guy named Matt Wieters. Everything I say should be taken with an enormous grain of salt if not completely ignored.


Gary has long utilized a four man rotation between the PF and Center positions... having guys with the size and athletic ability of Walker, and Burney off the bench... guys willing to play defense, is a plus.

Yea I agree, see above.


Walker particularly has the ability to grow as a player... did not play basketball growing up in England, picked up the game in the last 5 years..

I like Walker which is why I didn't mention him in my post.


Read these reviews of the Capital Classic, and Charm City Classic All-Star games last year.

http://maryland.scout.com/2/633344.html
http://maryland.scout.com/2/631882.html

Thanks for those links.


Walker, Bowie, and Vasquez are Montrose Christian, Gregory Mt.St Joe... Dupree Calvert Hall.... Gilchrist NOVA.. Mosley St Frances....

Love Dupree/Mosley/Gilchrist. Like Vazquez and Walker (as a bench option). Very blah about Bowie, Gregory, and Burney but again not bad bench options.

[Ruzious]

With Gilcrest comong in, I figure Burney is sure to transfer(he NEVER plays) & either Dupree or Gregory will transfer to either UMBC or Morgan.
Why would they aim that low? They'd at least go for a mid major if they transferred.

[ccbird]

Neal shouldn't be getting minutes over any of the other options except maybe Gregory. It blows my mind that he is the 1st big off the bench. I know he is a fundamentally sound and smart basketball player but an absolute liability guarding anyone, even worse than Dupree if that's possible. Walker and Burney should be getting all of the minutes Neal is getting now.


That brings me to Burney. It makes no sense that the guy is getting no PT and didn't even get any run in late Dec and early Jan before we got into the ACC. He is probably our best defensive and most athletic big man on the bench. That is exactly what we need for 10 min a game right now. Something is going on behind the scenes and the writing is on the wall that he is the one most likely leaving.


From everything I've heard Bowman is a near lock to be here next year which means someone is leaving. Neal graduating early isn't likely just because his scholarship is in essence already saved for Kim in '09. If Neal were to graduate and Bowman was added in '08 then Kim has no ship for '09 unless someone transfers next year. Again, Burney is the one likely leaving but it could be Gregory or even a suprise guy who is currently getting minutes.

[Ruzious]

Heck, if I was Burney, I'd definitely be leaving. The guy had sci fi like blocks numbers in HS, he's added some muscle, and he doesn't even get token playing time. I don't know what it is, but there's gotta be something wrong there.

With DuPree, Walker, and Gregory, the situations seem very understandable, but with Burney - I'm guessing there's something we don't know about.