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As we focus on today’s Alabama-Maryland matchup, a fundamental story to consider is the possibility that this terps team could play it back next season. Jahmir Young, Donta Scott and Hakim Hart all have one final season due to the NCAA’s COVID-19 waiver.
I’ve met with Scott and Young for updates.
Scott says he “didn’t think too much about it” and that his attention is on “the moment we’re in right now.” However, he acknowledged the possibility of playing a fifth season.
“You’re always weighing your options,” he said. “I’m going to weigh that option, see if I like it or not, and if not then I’ll move on to another option. You know what I mean? (return) is an option I need to consider. Just because when I come back I’d be able to help a lot of guys understand the roles on the pitch and how you really go about trying to win games.”
Scott, 22, a four-year starter at College Park, has played 128 career college games. He averaged 11.5 points and 6.0 rebounds this season.
As for Young, the second-team All-Big Ten point guard is in an interesting place. He spent the first three years of his college career in Charlotte. His move to Maryland and the Big Ten went as well as anyone could have imagined, and he now has a taste of playing high major ball. The question is, does he want more?
Young, 22, told me he will “make a quick decision” soon after the season ends, whether tonight or in two weeks.
“I’m really just sitting down with my family, discussing my options, discussing my future, what do I want to do,” Young said. “Well, I’m not getting any younger. So, it’s really just for seeing, can I do it again? I’m really just asking myself a few tough questions. I’m going to sit down and make the best decision I can for myself.
One thing that is apparent is that some return or exit decisions affect other return or exit decisions. Young said having a teammate like Scott deciding to come back for another year “definitely weighs.”
“There’s a lot that weighs in – definitely like other guys coming back too,” Young said. “It’s just communication, guys being honest with each other saying what they want to do but also what we can do together.”
Young is averaging 15.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists this season. If he returns, Kevin Willard would have the significant luxury of building his Year 2 team around an all-conference point guard.
Hart, 21, the third potential veteran returnee, averages 11.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He’s assigned to guard Brandon Miller tonight when Maryland goes man to man.
Notable about Hart’s decision is that he and Scott are both from Philadelphia and have been close friends since they were 10 years old.
(Photo: Marvin Gentry / USA Today)