The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Darryl Morsell is weighing all of his options about his future in basketball. The Maryland guard has declared for the NBA Draft and entered the transfer portal. However, he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of returning to the Terrapins for a fifth year.
“I feel it is important to consider all of my options, including the possibility of returning to Maryland, in order to make a decision that is best for my family and our future,” Morsell wrote in his announcement.
Thanks to the NCAA’s eligibility waiver for winter sports student-athletes amid the coronavirus pandemic, Morsell is allowed to return to play college basketball as a fifth-year senior. But first, he will try his hand at the NBA Draft.
He’ll go through the NBA Draft review. If the feedback isn’t appeasing to him, Morsell will enter the transfer portal. He will be allowed to talk to other schools if he chooses to pull out of the NBA Draft.
“I want to thank Coach Turgeon, the entire coaching staff, my teammates and all of Terp nation for making the last four years unforgettable. The University of Maryland developed me into the man I am today and I will always be grateful,” Morsell said.
In four seasons, the Baltimore native Morsell play in 108 games at Maryland. He averaged 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Last season he shot a career-best 48.6% from the field.
Morsell’s pending departure doesn’t free up a scholarship, as he was slated to graduate. If he returns to College Park he does not count towards Maryland’s scholarship limit due to the COVID-19 waiver.
“I applaud Darryl for considering all of his options and using the resources available to make an informed decision that is best for his future,” Turgeon said through a school spokesperson.
Many Terrapins fans had hoped Morsell would return for 2021-22 season after the program was able to land two top transfers in center Qudus Wahab (Georgetown) and Daron “Fatts” Russell (Rhode Island) over the weekend. Maryland could add more transfers before all said and done.
Morsell potentially leaving now shifts the spotlight to undecided juniors Eric Ayala and Aaron Wiggins on if they’ll return next season or declare for the NBA Draft. Any additional losses could damper the momentum, Turgeon appeared to gain with Russell and Wahab’s transfers.
