Story By: Andrew Lang
Photos By: Sol Tucker
College Park, MD–
The Maryland Terrapins opened their 2024-2025 men’s basketball Big-Ten schedule tonight with a resounding win over Ohio State by a final score of 83-59.
Freshman Derik Queen recorded his fourth double-double of the season tonight, and Ja’Kobi Gillespie was the high-scorer with 23 points in this game. There were five Terps with double-digit points against Ohio State tonight.
Head coach Kevin Willard is getting to see many looks to his newly configured team, and certainly is getting a lot from his entire roster.
In the first game of the season, Queen’s 22 points were the most by a Maryland freshman in his debut game since Joe Smith had 26 versus Georgetown in 1993. Queen also posted the most rebounds by a freshman in their debut for Maryland and the most by any Big Ten freshman in a debut since at least 1996-97.
In the offseason, Willard and his staff revamped the roster with several key transfers and signing freshmen Derik Queen , a 5-star recruit. He entered as the second-highest ranked recruit in program.
On the transfer side, Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Selton Miguel, and Rodney Rice have added veteran leadership, instant scoring, and consistent shooting from deep.
Returning for his fourth season, Julian Reese is a key piece of the front court with his experience and talent. Regarded as one of the top front court players in the conference, Reese reached 1,000 career points last season and could hit 1,000 rebounds for his career this year.
Along with Reese, the development of DeShawn Harris-Smith, one of the top Power 5 true freshmen last year, and with Jordan Geronimo returning, they will provide key experience for the Terps. The return from injury of Chance Stephens adds another perimeter threat, while transfers Tafara Gapare and Jay Young provide athletic depth and dynamic defense to the line-up.
