Another local prospect has popped up on the Maryland men's basketball program's radar.
Devon Branch, a 2008 Aberdeen grad who currently stars for Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kan., will make an unofficial visit to Maryland this weekend, according to his uncle. InsideMDSports.com first reported the news of Branch's impending visit.
A 6-foot-5, 180-pound shooting guard, Branch received interest from George Mason, Virginia Tech and Tennessee, among others, coming out of high school. But the All-Harford County player missed NCAA qualifying standards and spent his first year out of high school working at the Holiday Inn in Aberdeen.
As a freshman at Cloud County, Branch averaged 14.5 points and 5.3 rebounds. He was named the NJCAA Player of the Week earlier this month after averaging 25.7 points in leading the Thunderbirds to three wins.
Check out video of Branch at Aberdeen below.
* NBE Basketball Report caught up with DeMatha center and Terps target BeeJay Anya at the National Hoops Festival last weekend.
On Saturday Anya gave a list of Texas, Syracuse, Kansas, UCLA, Indiana, North Carolina State, Maryland, Georgetown , Florida, Florida State and Louisville as schools figuing most prominently in his recruitment.
* UM women's commitment Tierney Pfirman powered South Williamsport (Pa.) to a 66-31 win over Montgomery.
Tierney Pfirman scored 28 points and grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds as South bounced back after a frustrating opening loss at Towanda.
Football recruiting
* Maryland's recruiting fortunes in the D.C. area are expected to improve dramatically with the impending hiring of Mike Locksley as offensive coordinator. Locksley, who played at Towson and was fired as New Mexico's coach earlier this year, was an ace recruiter on staffs at Maryland, Florida and Illinois. The Washington Post's Josh Barr spoke with several local coaches to get their take on Locksley's return to College Park.
Said Forestville Coach Charles Harley, who had four players on Maryland’s roster this past season: “Immediately guys will be willing to give it another shot with Locks. Guys who may be mad with Maryland for whatever reason. They get back in the door with a lot of [Prince George’s] schools and [District] schools immediately, because he is a guy people know and trust. … I think they get back in the game immediately with some local coaches and players.”
* Maryland linebacker recruit Brock Dean will play for a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class AAA championship on Friday at 7 p.m., when his Bishop McDevitt squad meets Archbishop Wood.
Middle backer Allen Holman leads the Crusaders with 107 tackles. High profile partner Brock Dean has 89 tackles in a variety of roles. Combined, the duo has 95 solo stops. One of the top tandems in the state in any classification.
* UM offensive tackle recruit commitment Mike Madaras was named to The Washington Post's All-Met first-team offense.
Outstanding blocker was leader up front as Falcons rushed for 236 yards per game and averaged 37 points. Wil play for Maryland.
* Terps linebacker pledge Shawn Petty was named to The Post's All-Met first-team defense and The Gazette's first-team All-Prince George's County defense.
Senior linebacker/quarterback, University of Maryland recruit, led the team in passing and rushing, but proved more valuable on defense with 49 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions.
* Maryland quarterback commitment Caleb Rowe will play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas game on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Spartanburg, S.C.
“I’m just having fun. Every play, every time I’m out here, I’m trying to have fun, trying to be a team player and just trying to enjoy myself. I’m enjoying every second of it and not just from a football standpoint, but just as an individual, just becoming teammates, getting that bond you need to play football games.”
* Abner Logan, a four-star linebacker from Brookline, Mass., reportedly has Maryland on his list of finalists.
"It seems like it's still between those three schools -- Maryland, NC State and Northwestern," [Dexter coach Casey] Day told [ESPN's Roger] Brown. "It looks like he'll be making a decision sometime before Christmas.”"
* J.C. Shurburtt of 247Sports.com reports that "for all intents and purposes," Gilman athlete Cyrus Jones is focused primarily on Alabama and Virginia Tech.
Hokies head coach Frank Beamer recently did his in-home with him and sources indicate that visit went well and that Virginia Tech feels good about its chances. At the same time, the Crimson Tide has been the team to beat for most of the process for Jones and Alabama equally feels well. It should be interesting to see how things progress in the coming weeks.
