Maryland basketball looks brand-new in College Park this year, featuring an exciting roster for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Head coach Buzz Williams and his staff had an outstanding recruiting offseason, signing 11 new players, including four top high school recruits. The Terps finished at No. 5 in the Big Ten and No. 14 in the nation in recruiting, according to 247Sports.com.
After a disappointing 4-16 conference season that left the Terps in second-to-last place in the Big Ten, the team needed a complete rebuild. This new roster features players who will fix what last year’s team lacked. Even Williams told reporters that he is excited to see these new faces.
Pharrel Payne returns to Maryland after an injury-riddled season last year. Maryland also added key upperclassmen via the transfer portal. DJ Wagner and Bishop Boswell come from SEC teams that made deep NCAA tournament runs. Other impactful transfers like Mike McNair and Tomislav Buljan were brought in to address the team’s scoring and rebounding issues.
Then there is the historic freshman class, the best Maryland has ever had. Hometown hero and five-star recruit Baba Oladotun (Blake High School) is expected to have a stellar year. Meanwhile, his freshman peers, four-star Kaden House and Adama Tambedou, are another promising addition to the first-year class.
Maryland has won both of its exhibition games against Georgia Tech and West Virginia. The Terps toppled the Yellow Jackets 85-70, then defeated the Mountaineers 90-81 in overtime. From upperclassmen to lowerclassmen, the Terps showed grit and effort in both matchups to secure the wins.
In honor of the 25th anniversary of their 2002 National Championship run, the Terps look to bounce back.
Returners and Veteran Transfers Look to Lead
Two key returners, Pharrel Payne and Andre Mills, are favorites to drive the team to success this year. Payne appeared in only 10 games last year after a heartbreaking foot injury following a dunk attempt. Fortunately, Payne has recovered and is back for his fifth season, and Coach Williams called him a leader.
Payne and Mills dominated in the two wins, leading the team in scoring and executing on both ends of the floor. Payne scored 16 points, and Mills had 11, in their 15-point win over Georgia Tech. In their next game, they combined for 53 points in a hard-fought overtime victory over West Virginia.
- Pharrell Payne: 26 points, 13 rebounds (10 offensive), two blocks, 10-18 shooting
- Andre Mills: 27 points, eight rebounds, 9-15 shooting, including four made three-pointers
Boston University transfer Mike McNair added nine and 15 points in the two wins, scoring exclusively from three-point range. He showed his shooting efficiency on limited attempts, shooting 60% from beyond the arc.
McNair earned a spot on last year’s All-Patriot League First Team as a gifted shooter. Last season, he averaged 16.9 points per game, shooting 44% from three-point range and making three three-pointers per contest. McNair is projected to be Maryland’s go-to knockdown shooter.
Another key transfer is former Arkansas Razorback DJ Wagner. Coming off an underwhelming season under Coach John Calipari, Wagner looks to bounce back with the Terps this season as the primary ball-handler. So far, Wagner has shown his playmaking with seven combined assists in the exhibitions and looks comfortable in Williams’s offense.
The Freshman Class Has Dominated in Its First Games
In their first-ever college game against Georgia Tech, all four freshmen played well despite receiving limited minutes.
- Kaden House: 14 points, two steals, one block in 14 minutes
- Baba Oladotun: Six points, two steals in 24 minutes
- Adama Tambedou: 10 points, eight rebounds, two blocks in 10 minutes
- Austin Brown: Five points, four rebounds in 14 minutes.
Oladotun did struggle offensively; however, his peers still believe in his talents. Senior transfer Robert Jennings spoke highly of his game on media day, calling the freshman “an elite talent.”
ESPN’s 2027 mock draft still projects Oladotun as a top-25 pick.
Meanwhile, Kaden House has been a stud in both games. After his first game, where he scored 14 points in 14 minutes, he was the only freshman to get significant minutes against West Virginia, playing 27 minutes. House then started and ended the overtime period, scoring 10 points as the Terps’ sixth man. So far, he has been Maryland’s best freshman and has showcased his early talents. The 6’3″ combo guard could place himself into mock drafts if he continues to play this way.
This Maryland team has the potential for a strong conference season and a possible shot at a tournament appearance. As a member of the best conference in America, the Terps hope to grind out the year and return to a consistent winning culture.
