With the departure of head coach Kevin Willard to Villanova, the firebombing of Maryland basketball is unfolding. According to insideMDsports, Ja’Kobi Gillespie along with Rodney Rice and Deshawn Harris-Smith entered the transfer portal on Monday. Derrick Queen, the 1st Team Big10 freshman, is expected to jump to the NBA and is a possible lottery pick. Rodney Rice is the only player of those four who could return to the Terps.
Gillespie is potentially the top guard in the transfer portal. In his first and apparently, only season at Maryland, he averaged 14.7 points per game, 87 three pointer made this season, which led the Big10. His 42% three point percentage also led the Big 10, and he averaged 4.8 assists per game which was top five in the Big10. Gillespie helped coach Kevin Willard and Maryland to the Sweet 16 for the first time in a decade.
In a report from insideMDsports, Gillespie is tied with big money offers to Tennessee and Kentucky. However, Kevin Willard was asked about Gillespie and his upcoming decision in which Willard was confident Gillespie could join him in Philadelphia at Villanova.
During his prep days, Gillespie helped guide Greeneville to their first two basketball State Championships. He also became the first Greene Devil basketball player to be named Mr. Basketball. Gillespie signed with Belmont University out of high school where he played for two seasons. Gillespie will have one year of eligibility remaining.
