Vasquez

It took a special brand of confidence for freshman guard Pe'Shon Howard to arrive at the Maryland men's basketball team's media day Thursday wearing a crisp white jersey bearing No. 21 — Greivis Vasquez's old number. "I had [No. 21] in high school," said Howard, who is from Los Angeles and attended Virginia's Oak Hill Academy. "Greivis said he didn't mind. At first he said he wasn't sure. He had to see me and make sure I was tough enough to wear it. " If Howard seemed bold — and it certainly takes self-assurance to wear the number of Maryland's second-leading scorer of all time — he wasn't the only one. Unlike last season, when media day was ruled by Vasquez (now with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies)

A dream that began years ago in a South American country known for producing more shortstops than jump shooters and took shape at Maryland the past four seasons became reality Thursday night at New York's Madison Square Garden. Greivis Vasquez silenced his doubters, at least for the time being, after getting chosen by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA draft. Vasquez was the 28th player taken overall. He didn't shimmy his shoulders in celebration, as he had done so many times as a Terp, but punched the air and celebrated with friends and family members.

Greivis Vasquez is moving closer to a destination he has often dreamed about since leaving Venezuela to attend high school in the United States: the NBA. With the NBA draft Thursday night at New York's Madison Square Garden, Maryland's second-leading career scorer seems as passionate about making it at the highest level of professional basketball as he once was about proving himself as an elite college player. Not surprisingly, Vasquez is showing his typical bravado by predicting where he might be drafted.

In their minds, it's still unfolding. Korie Lucious is making his 3-pointer and slowly turning to run down court, his mouth guard dangling from his lips, as green-clad Michigan State teammates rush from the bench to greet him. For Maryland's three starting seniors, the last moments of their 85-83 NCAA tournament loss are like a ringing in their ears that won't quite be silenced. "I see it all the time," said forward Landon Milbourne, one of the three starting Terrapins for whom the Lucious shot on March 21 is the final memory of otherwise bright college careers.

Two days after winning the Bob Cousy Award given to the nation's top point guard, Maryland senior Greivis Vasquez picked up three additional honors. On Saturday, Vasquez was named a second-team All-American by the NCAA, earned a spot on the State Farm Coaches All-America second team, and was one of 10 players chosen for the Wooden Award All-America team. Vasquez was joined on the All-America second team by Cole Aldrich (Kansas), James Anderson (Oklahoma State), DeMarcus Cousins (Kentucky)

Two days after winning the Bob Cousy Award given to the nation's top point guard, Maryland senior Greivis Vasquez picked up three additional honors. On Saturday, Vasquez was named a second-team All-American by the NCAA, earned a spot on the State Farm Coaches All-America second team, and was one of 10 players chosen for the Wooden Award All-American team. Vasquez was joined on the All-America second team by Cole Aldrich (Kansas), James Anderson (Oklahoma State), DeMarcus Cousins (Kentucky)

Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtics guard Bob Cousy was the type of fearless playmaker known for his leadership skills and charisma - much like Maryland's Greivis Vasquez. The similarities were recognized by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday when it named Vasquez the winner of the 2010 Bob Cousy Award, which goes to the nation's top point guard. It is the latest in a series of awards for Vasquez, who was the Atlantic Coast Conference's Player of the Year, was a second-team All-American and is one of 10 Wooden Award finalists for national player of the year.

Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtics guard Bob Cousy was the type of fearless playmaker known for his leadership skills and charisma -- much like Maryland's Greivis Vasquez. The similarities were recognized by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday when it named Vasquez the winner of the 2010 Bob Cousy Award, which goes to the nation's top point guard. It is just the latest in a series of prestigious awards for Vasquez, who was the Atlantic Coast Conference's Player of the Year, a second-team All-American and is one of 10 Wooden Award finalists for national player of the year.

Maryland senior point guard Greivis Vasquez was named to the All-America second team by the Associated Press on Tuesday. Vasquez, the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year and the second-leading scorer in Terrapin history, led Maryland to a 24-9 record and into the second round of the NCAA tournament. He averaged 19.6 points and 6.3 assists in 2009-10, both team highs, and added 4.6 rebounds per game. Vasquez earned first-team All America honors from Sporting News and FoxSports.