Terps basketball gets immediate boost, landing L.G. Gill as a graduate switch

L.G. Gill, a graduate transfer from Duquesne, has committed to play basketball at Maryland and officially signed with the school on Monday afternoon.

Gill, who visited faculty Park this weekend, suggested Maryland's group of workers of his choice on Monday morning after considering along with his family. a protracted listing of schools had been in pursuit of the 6-foot-8 ahead given that early April, when he introduced he changed into leaving Duquesne after three seasons.

Gill had also visited Marquette ultimate month and became severely on account that joining the Golden Eagles, however Maryland become able to seal the deal following his two-day consult with over the weekend. A heavy component of Maryland train Mark Turgeon's pitch to Gill become the immediate have an effect on he would have as versatile vigor ahead within the Terrapins' gadget and the heavy position he would play in assisting bolster a roster that must exchange four starters from ultimate season.

"I selected Maryland as a result of I consider it's the most effective healthy for me from a basketball standpoint and for my future success after I'm carried out enjoying basketball," Gill talked about in an announcement. "I actually have dependent a pretty good relationship with teach Turgeon and the personnel all over this recruiting manner. instruct Turgeon has talked with me numerous instances about how he's going to make the most of me in this application and his beliefs in my capabilities."

[Gill was needed target for Terps roster facing heavy attrition]

Maryland's recruitment of Gill, which become spearheaded by using assistant Dustin Clark beginning in early April, additionally concentrated on the success that Turgeon has had with transfers. Turgeon introduced eight transfers over the outdated four years, including Dez Wells (Xavier), Evan Smotrycz (Michigan) and Logan Aronhalt (Albany) in 2012, Richaud Pack (North Carolina A&T) and Robert Carter Jr. (Georgia Tech) in 2014 and Rasheed Sulaimon (Duke) in 2015.

"We're excited to welcome L.G. to the Maryland basketball family," Turgeon talked about in an announcement. "he is a major addition to our software who may be able to make immediate contributions. L.G. become a really productive player at Duquesne and superior each and every season. he's an excellent shooter and rebounder and is extremely athletic. As one in all two seniors on our roster, he'll deliver high character, strong leadership and journey to our team and will even be an ideal fit for our locker room. We basically loved attending to comprehend L.G. and his terrific household all through this procedure and seem forward to having him join us on campus."

not like last may additionally, when Sulaimon dedicated to Maryland as a graduate transfer to finished a blockbuster offseason, Gill's pledge comes right through an offseason of heavy roster losses. Maryland not handiest need to exchange its two most skilled gamers in Sulaimon and small ahead Jake Layman, however also its whole front court docket after Carter, a junior vigor ahead, and freshman middle Diamond Stone each declared for the NBA draft final month. Maryland is still watching for note on the way forward for sophomore element protect Melo Trimble, who's testing the NBA draft waters however may still return to college by using may additionally 25 as a result of he has now not yet employed an agent.

may still Trimble leave for the NBA draft, Turgeon would return a roster that accounted for simply 25 p.c of the crew's minutes played final season. There are nevertheless skilled pieces – sophomore take care of Dion Wiley is utterly healthy after lacking final season with a knee injury, and he's expected to elevate the burden at taking pictures safeguard.

Maryland will also return juniors Jared Nickens and Jaylen Brantley, and it has skilled front courtroom gamers in senior center Damonte Dodd and junior core Michal Cekovsky. whereas Turgeon and his group of workers are nevertheless looking for the capabilities of former UNLV commit Justin Jackson, a promising 2016 forward who visited school Park previous this month, it is going to also rely on an incoming rookies type that contains Anthony Cowan of St. John's faculty excessive faculty in the District, big apple ahead prospect Kevin Huerter and  Huntington Prep (W.V.) ahead Micah Thomas.

Gill brings instant journey and depth on the perimeter and indoors, featuring the kind of versatility so as to support alleviate the losses of Layman and Carter in particular. The Chesterfield, Va., native, who performed his high faculty basketball at Benedictine faculty Preparatory in Richmond, begun all 34 video games as a junior at Duquesne and averaged 10.1 aspects and 6.5 rebounds. He improved his scoring typical (+three.2), rebounding normal (+2.4), box aim percent (+.014) and 3-point percentage (+.014) from his sophomore to junior seasons. Gill is the first Duquesne participant to take knowledge of the graduate transfer rule.

"There changed into an rapid connection between me and my future teammates," Gill said. "I might just tell that they were shut like brothers and that is whatever thing that i would like to be part of."