Story By: Andrew Lang
Photos By: Sol Tucker
College Park, MD–
Today was the day that we had a chance to see what Kevin Willard is putting together for the 2023-24 season in College Park.
Willard, who is entering his second season at the helm for Maryland has a lot of the early polls showing them high in the Top 25 preseason polls and the main reason is the return of Jahmir Young. Julian Reese and Donta Scott and the addition of Indiana transfer Jordan Geronimo.
Geronimo finally gives the Terps another big body who can score in the paint and take the pressure off of Reese which was a big problem in the tournament last season for the Terps.
“After the loss to Alabama, the biggest thing I realized is that we just weren’t athletic enough at times,” Willard said Tuesday during Maryland men’s basketball media day at Xfinity Center. “Alabama was probably the most athletic team in the country last year, so a little bit of a mismatch, but we really wanted to have someone who knew how to play the game but at the same time could help us athletically. And Jordan, although he’s not 6-11, is as athletic a player as I’ve seen in a while.”
Defense is one of the biggest assets Geronimo provides for Willard, who told us today he’s comfortable with the forward guarding any position. That versatility has earned Geronimo a nickname in honor of one of the most accomplished two-way players in the NBA, Kawhi Leonard.
Many expect a lot from Jahmir Young, who seems to have put on a bit of size in the off-season and says the trip to Italy this summer has allowed for him to bond with the players a bit more and get to know what they can do to help each other more than then did last season.
Maryland opens the regular season Nov. 7 at home against Mount St. Mary’s and plays its first Big Ten game Dec. 1 at Indiana.
