Maryland lands Diamond Stone

Yeah, we're going to be figgin loaded next year.

Melo/Stone/Carter/Layman are all NBA draft worthy. Should see a couple of the other young guys now develop with so much talent around them.

Wouldn't be surprised if Ceko and Wiley transfer.

I really hope either doesn't transfer. I think Wiley could develop into a great scoring guard and Ceko really showed promise at the end of the season.

Just watching highlights of Stone, he loves playing above the rim. We're going to see some monster dunks next year.

Just watching highlights of Stone, he loves playing above the rim. We're going to see some monster dunks next year.

I thought Carter alone would open up the perimeter for Melo to drive or Layman to shoot. This is going to be a special team.

Also I have no problem eating crow because I thought there was no chance he was coming to College Park.

I'm speechless. This is so amazing.

I'd say Stone is the most highly rated recruit at least since Steve Francis and the most highly rated high school / prep school recruit at least since Brian Williams.

2015-16 Scholarships:

1. SR Jake Layman
2. JR Robert Carter
   
   
3. JR Damonte Dodd
   
   
4. SO Romelo Trimble
   
   
5. SO Dion Wiley
   
   
6. SO Jared Nickens
   
   
7. SO Michal Cekovsky
   
   
8. SO Jaylen Brantley
   
   
9. FR Ivan Bender
   
   
10. FR Diamond Stone
    
    

So MD has two more scholarships they can give out. And considering the certainty that Layman will be gone after next year and the possibility that Trimble, Stone, Carter could be gone (and of course the possibility of transfers), Turgeon won't have any reason to shy away from using both scholarships.

Of course it's possible (based on recent rumors) he'll give one to Varun Ram if he returns for grad school.

I'd say Stone is the most highly rated recruit at least since Steve Francis and the most highly rated high school / prep school recruit at least since Brian Williams.

2015-16 Scholarships:

1. SR Jake Layman
2. JR Robert Carter
3. JR Damonte Dodd
4. SO Romelo Trimble
5. SO Dion Wiley
6. SO Jared Nickens
7. SO Michal Cekovsky
8. SO Jaylen Brantley
9. FR Ivan Bender
10. FR Diamond Stone

So MD has two more scholarships they can give out. And considering the certainty that Layman will be gone after next year and the possibility that Trimble, Stone, Carter could be gone (and of course the possibility of transfers), Turgeon won't have any reason to shy away from using both scholarships.

Of course it's possible (based on recent rumors) he'll give one to Varun Ram if he returns for grad school.

If Ram comes back, I'd love to see us add another 3 point shooter with the final scholarship.

I'm not sure that some of these guys would be transferring. Stone could be a one and done type of player.

I'd say Stone is the most highly rated recruit at least since Steve Francis and the most highly rated high school / prep school recruit at least since Brian Williams.

2015-16 Scholarships:

1. SR Jake Layman
2. JR Robert Carter
3. JR Damonte Dodd
4. SO Romelo Trimble
5. SO Dion Wiley
6. SO Jared Nickens
7. SO Michal Cekovsky
8. SO Jaylen Brantley
9. FR Ivan Bender
10. FR Diamond Stone

So MD has two more scholarships they can give out. And considering the certainty that Layman will be gone after next year and the possibility that Trimble, Stone, Carter could be gone (and of course the possibility of transfers), Turgeon won't have any reason to shy away from using both scholarships.

Of course it's possible (based on recent rumors) he'll give one to Varun Ram if he returns for grad school.

Danny Miller and Mike Jones were both top 20 players coming in to College Park.

I think Ram will snag a scholarship and the other will be used on another 5th year slasher type transfer.

Who was the last Center of this caliber MD got? The Tourney isn't over and I'm already looking forward to next year. I should probably take back some of those things I said about Turgeon.

Here's a link to some video of Stone, bottom of the page. Looks very athletic and a nice touch around the basket.

https://maryland.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1751349

According Stone's father, MD has upside.

"All four teams were quality choices," his father, Bob Stone told IMS tonight. "Maryland, they've got upside."

http://maryland.247sports.com/Bolt/Diamond-Stone-Commits-to-Maryland-36447306

I would assume that is in reference to all the seniors graduating at Wisconsin vs. MD losing 1 star and a couple of low contributing role players. If Stone is as good as advertised, and ends up a 1 and done, then he doesn't want to play at a school "rebuilding". I use that term lightly, because Wisconsin will good next year, but probably not as good as this year. With MD, there is hope of much bigger things next year.

I doubt this to be the case. Wisconsin will be very, very good next year. Koening, Showalter, Dekker, and Hayes all return and Dekker will be an absolute monster next year. Hayes will be awesome and Koening is a study. From watching a ton of Badger basketball I can tell you that Showalter is better than Gasser (or will be) and they have a coach that can coach circles around Turgeon. Sorry, huge Terp fan, but Bo Ryan is a great, great coach. Their young guys (FR) get very litte time, but by next year he will develop them into very good role players.

Stone would have made their team title contenders in my opinion. Now we are title contenders, good for us!

I doubt this to be the case. Wisconsin will be very, very good next year. Koening, Showalter, Dekker, and Hayes all return and Dekker will be an absolute monster next year. Hayes will be awesome and Koening is a study. From watching a ton of Badger basketball I can tell you that Showalter is better than Gasser (or will be) and they have a coach that can coach circles around Turgeon. Sorry, huge Terp fan, but Bo Ryan is a great, great coach. Their young guys (FR) get very litte time, but by next year he will develop them into very good role players.

Stone would have made their team title contenders in my opinion. Now we are title contenders, good for us!

I think the assumption is that Dekker is leaving for the NBA - for good reason considering how he's looked in the post-season. Wisconsin will likely be a solid team, but losing Dekker and Kaminsky will leave a mark - and they don't have the upside MD has.

If Brantley and Trimble develop chemistry together - this MD team could win a national championship.

Wisconsin fans saying the only reason that he didn't get commit there is because his grades weren't good enough. That can't be true, right? Maryland is an excellent school academically. Probably more highly regarded than Wisconsin.

Anybody who thinks that academics has ANYTHING to do with the decision making of top 10 college basketball recruits is INCREDIBLY naive.

I think the assumption is that Dekker is leaving for the NBA - for good reason considering how he's looked in the post-season. Wisconsin will likely be a solid team, but losing Dekker and Kaminsky will leave a mark - and they don't have the upside MD has.

If Brantley and Trimble develop chemistry together - this MD team could win a national championship.

Dekker will be well advised to return - his stock is rising, but next year will be his team like this year was Kaminsky's. I could see it going both ways.