MM 5.2: Maryland men’s basketball officially announces four signings

This is a Maryland Minute, a short story followed by a roundup of Terps-related news.

By Rachel Lawrence

Maryland men’s basketball team announced the first four signees of the Buzz Williams era Thursday. All four have followed Williams from College Station to College Park.

Boston-born guard Andre Mills will join the Terps just a year removed from earning Player of the Year honors from the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) after averaging over 30 points and eight rebounds his senior year. Mills redshirted under Williams at Texas A&M last year.

Also an All-NEPSAC honoree, redshirt freshman guard George Turkson Jr. signed with the Terps Thursday. Turkson scored over 1,000 points at Bradford Christian Academy and was selected to the All-New England Basketball League.

6-foot-9 forward Pharrel Payne comes to the Terps after 96 career appearances with Texas A&M and Minnesota, averaging 9.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Payne rejoins Williams after shooting 64.6 percent from the floor last season, including shooting 80% for a combined 51 points across two NCAA Tournament games.

Solomon Washington, a 6-foot-7 rising senior from New Orleans, is also on his way to Maryland after averaging 5.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game across his career. Washington scored a season-high 17 points last year against Georgia.

In other news

No. 2-seed Maryland men’s lacrosse fended off No. 3-seed Penn State, 10-8, in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. Nolan Rogalski recapped the game.

Tahlia Williams previewed Maryland baseball’s weekend series at Penn State.

Maryland men’s golf’s Emil Riegger earned an All-Big Ten Second Team nod, while Florian Huerlimann was given the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

Maryland women’s tennis moved up to No. 53 in the newest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, while the doubles pairing of Danielle Hack and Kallista Liu ascended to No. 43 in the country.

Maryland Volleyball Director of Operations Kyle Thompson was named a team leader for Team USA at the NORCECA Pan-American Cup in Costa Rica in July.